Bogotá — the capital and largest city of Colombia — was founded 486 years ago today (Aug. 6), and Billboard is celebrating by spotlighting some of its musical gems.
Our list (in alphabetical order below) includes a mix of renowned and emerging artists from the likes of Latin rock giants Aterciopelados to up-and-coming pop star Ela Taubert. The former is a three-time Latin Grammy-winning band and five-time Grammy nominee. The latter, who’s gained traction on social media with her suave, melancholy vocals, recently nabbed the new generation – female award at the 2024 Premios Juventud.
Colombia, overall, is known for its rich musical culture — represented across genres by top-tier artists such as Cali’s Grupo Niche (salsa), Medellín’s Karol G (reggaetón), Montería’s Aniceto Molina (cumbia), and La Guajira’s Diomedes Díaz (vallenato).
In Bogotá — which was founded on Aug. 6, 1538 by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada and became Colombia’s capital on August 7, 1819 — the music scene is varied, but far more edgy, indie, alternative and pop-centric. Its music and live scene is so powerful and vibrant that in 2012 it was named a UNESCO City of Music.
“What is happening currently with Colombian music is, first, the reflection of a country that has many geographies and therefore also a lot of sound richness,” Aterciopelados’ singer, Andrea Echeverri, previously said to Billboard Español. “There are not only Caribbean sounds but there are Pacific sounds, sounds from the coasts but also from the inland. All this richness is now being shown to the world with a very powerful infrastructure.”
Below, check out a list of Bogotan artists to have on your playlist.
Andrés Cepeda
Image Credit: Ricardo Pinzon
Cepeda’s career began in the early ’90s, but it wasn’t until 2009 that he got on the international radar with “Día Tras Día.” With its poetic and metaphor lyrics backed by romantic rock melodies, Cepeda chants about falling in love every day with that special someone. For the most part, that’s who Cepeda is: a modern-day trovador and bolerista, and a romantic soul with a rockstar aura. In 2013, he won the Latin Grammy for best traditional pop album with Lo Mejor Que Hay En Mi Vida, and has collaborated with many artists, including Sebastian Yatra, Greeicy, Morat and Jesse & Joy.
Aterciopelados
Image Credit: Daniela Castañeda
WIth Andrea Echeverri on vocals and guitar, and Héctor Buitrago on bass, Aterciopelados has appeared on the Billboard charts with its album Gozo Poderoso (2001), which reached No. 11 on Top Latin Albums and No. 7 on Latin Pop Albums, while the song “El Álbum” (from that same set) entered the Latin Pop Airplay ranking. The Colombian band is known for timeless Latin rock anthems including “Florecita Rockera,” “Baracunátana” and “Bolero Falaz.”
Bomba Estéreo
Fusing Caribbean rhythms with electronic beats, Bomba Estéreo — led by Samaria singer, artist and composer Li Saumet and musician Simón Mejía — is an alternative band with roots in the colors, fruits and sounds across Latin America. Amongst Bomba’s most notable tracks are 2015’s “Fiesta (Remix)” with Will Smith, “Soy Yo” (2016), and the 2022 “Ojitos Lindos” with Bad Bunny — all of which entered Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, with the latter of the three also making the all-genre Hot 100 chart.
Diamante Eléctrico
Composed by Juan Galeano (vocals and bass), Daniel Álvarez (guitar), and Andrés Kenguan (guitar and synths), Diamante Eléctrico is known for its garage rock, blues-infused rock tunes such as “Roto,” “Las Horas,” and “Oro.” The Colombian trio is a four-time Latin Grammy winner including best rock album in 2015 for B and 2017 for La Gran Oscilación. In 2023, the band won best rock song for “Leche de Tigre.”
Don Tetto
Don Tetto — formed by Diego Pulecio (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Carlos Leongomez (lead guitar), James Valderrama (bass, vocals) and Jaime Medina (drums) — has been an established rock band since 2003. Known for its alternative rock vibe, the Colombian group has been nominated twice for best rock album at the Latin Grammys: with Mienteme-Prometeme (2011) and Don Tetto (2014).
Ela Taubert
Image Credit: Jaydee Lee/Getty Images
Forming part of the inaugural generation of Universal Music Latin’s Abbey Road Institute & Art House Academy, Ela Taubert is a well-rounded pop artist taken under the wings of Latin Grammy-winning producer Julio Reyes Copello. Her sweet, potent vocal range — which is both melancholy and mesmerizing — can be heard in her own original music, such as her 2019 debut single “Salto de Fe,” as well as “¿Cómo es que tú?,” and “Crecer.” Taubert has already shared the stage with Diego Torres and Alejandro Sanz, and this year won her first Premios Juventud award.
Esteman
Known for his signature electro-pop sound, Esteman is one of the most eclectic artists today, and he also doesn’t shy away from the vulnerability that comes with his piercing and emotional lyrics. After a breakthrough in the early 2010s, the singer-songwriter scored collaborations with artists like Natalia Lafourcade, Andrea Echeverri (from Aterciopelados) and Carla Morrison. In May, Esteman released his latest album, Secretos.
Fonseca
Image Credit: Mary Beth Koeth
Latin Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Fonseca has a vocal quality that can really stand out — one that’s been compared by Juan Luis Guerra to that of a “nightingale.” Throughout his 20-year career, Fonseca, known for his tropipop anthems, has blessed fans with songs like “Te Mando Flores,” “Entre Mi Vida y la Tuya” and “Eres Mi Sueño.”
Monsieur Periné
In 2015, Colombian group Monsieur Periné won best new artist at the Latin Grammys. Blending swing, alt, pop and Colombian rhythms, the ensemble released their debut set, Hecho a Mano, in 2012. Since then, not only Monsieur Periné has become not only a local favorite, but also abroad, with a significant fanbase in Europe and the U.S. Comprised of Catalina García and Santiago Prieto, Monsieur’s latest release is Bolero Apocalíptico.
Morat
Getting its start hand-delivering CDs in its native Bogotá, the Colombian pop-rock band released its first album, Solo El Amor Y Sus Efectos Secundarios, in 2016. That same year, it received a Latin Grammy best new artist nomination. Morat’s Si Ayer Fuera Ho, scored the band its first entry on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Albums chart, where it peaked at No. 18 on the tally dated Nov. 19, 2022. Composed of childhood friends Juan Pablo Isaza, Juan Pablo Villamil and brothers Simón Vargas and Martín Vargas, Morat most recently wrapped the South American leg of its first stadium tour.
Paula Arenas
This year, Colombian singer-songwriter Paula Arenas scored her second Grammy nomination, thanks to her gorgeous set A Ciegas. The 2023 release was also up for album of the year at the Latin Grammys. Throughout her illustrious career, the pop star — who made her debut with the 2017 EP Matices (produced by Julio Reyes Copello) — has received 15 Latin Grammy noms.
Honorary Bogotano: Carlos Vives
Image Credit: Natalia Gw
Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, Carlos Vives moved to Bogotá at the age of 12. There, he got involved in the local music scene and ultimately created a name for himself with his distinct tropipop style, which fuses vallenato, cumbia, champeta with Latin pop, reggaeton, and dance music. Vives has earned 30 songs in the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, including five No. 1 hits — such as his 1999 smash “Fruta Fresca,” which reigned for six weeks. Vives is a 17-time Latin Grammy winner, and two-time Grammy winner, and has been named the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. An honorary Bogotano, Vives owns a live music bar and restaurant in Bogotá called Gaira Café Cumbia House.
