Bomba Estéreo Announce New Album, Share First Three Singles

Colombian psych-cumbia group Bomba Estéreo have announced they'll return this spring with their sixth album, Deja. Today, they share three tracks from the upcoming release: "Agua," "Deja," and “Soledad," plus, they share a video for the track "Agua," directed by vocalist Liliana "Li" Saumet and Jhoy Suarez, and featuring guest vocals from Lido Pimienta and OKAN.

The band describe the new LP as a concept album, divided into four parts: Agua, Aire, Tierra, and Fuego, or, the four elements of earth. “The album is about the connection and disconnection of human beings — from the planet, from one’s own self,” Li explains in a press release. “It’s about how we’re disconnected, more connected to electronic devices and virtual things than real things. So we decided to use the four elements, because they’re part of the equilibrium of human beings.” 

While they began writing the album while on tour in 2018, it wasn't finished until Li and beatmaster/composer Simon Mejía quarantined in a Caribbean beach house in Santa Marta with a “community” of collaborators, including guitarist José Castillo, percussionist Efrain “Pacho” Cuadrado, and Li's longtime friend Pimienta. 

“I wanted to collaborate with Lido to try new sounds with my voice,” Li explains. “She has that underground edge that I like, and she also invited some Cuban collaborators with her, a duo named OKAN. It was beautiful to have more women with me, I felt more supported, safer and at ease.”

Deja was self-produced with mixing by Damian Taylor (Björk, Arcade Fire), and will be released this spring. Check out the three new singles, along with the video for "Agua" below, along with a throwback to the band's 2013 in-studio session at KEXP.