CELEBRATING THE SOUNDS OF COLOMBIA’S ENIGMATIC PACIFIC COAST
In the vibrant world of music, a new gem has emerged, resonating with the soulful echoes of Colombia’s rich cultural heritage. Moretti, in a serendipitous journey to Colombia, has crafted ‘TAMBOR’, an EP that is not just music but a celebration of the region’s profound vocal artistry, harmoniously blended with grounding percussion, encapsulating the true essence of dance music. This debut EP is a reverent tribute to the matriarchs of bullerengue, a genre quintessential to the modern Pacific coast equatorial life, exalted through its queens – Totó La Momposina and Petrona Martinez.
Then there’s ‘ROSA’, a reinterpretation of a century-old Colombian standard, which originally hails from Cuba. Moretti’s genius lies in her ability to bridge generations, as she collaborates with Momposina’s family and friends from diverse locales like the Caribbean Coast, Bogota, and London. The track features Momposina’s granddaughters, Maria and Oriana, and her longtime collaborator, Jorge Aguilar, weaving a tapestry of sound that is both historic and refreshingly modern. The result is a drum-fueled electronic dance ballad, a musical journey laced with the threads of history.
“Through my travels, I discover musicians, sounds and genres that I may not have otherwise. While in Colombia earlier this year, I met and fell in love with bullerengue. I was transfixed by the way the voices on these records commanded the music. I was very lucky to find some of these rare records, they led me down a long, beautiful path that eventually became this EP.
MIA MORETTI
Completing the trio is ‘PIANO DE LA SELVA’, featuring the illustrious “Queen of Bullerengue,” Petrona Martinez. This track is a harmonious fusion of bullerengue’s call-and-response style with the trance-like repetition of classic house music. Moretti artfully integrates percussion with the hypnotic rhythms of the marimba, layering Martinez’s captivating voice to narrate a compelling story. The track begins with the mesmerizing sound of the marimba, building up to a crescendo that perfectly introduces Martinez’s vocals, evoking the spirit of the marimba goddess.
‘TAMBOR’ is more than an EP; it’s a journey through the heart of Colombia’s musical soul, a tribute to the power of female voices that Moretti has championed throughout her career. It follows her previous work, including “You and Me” and “Sweet Juju”, continuing her mission to celebrate the influence and artistry of women in music globally. This EP is a testament to the timeless allure of Colombian music, blending tradition with modernity, and it’s an invitation to experience the rhythm of life through dance and music.
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