Li Saumet On The Magic Of Bomba Estereo, Working With Bad Bunny And Nature

“In our case you by no means know what’s gonna occur with the Bomba Estereo album,” lead singer Li Saumet says in an understatement. Since I met with the band in early April in L.A., the place they have been filming a efficiency for La Banda Elastica , the band has a function with Unhealthy Bunny on his simply launched new album and the tune, “Ojitos Lindos,” introduced the band to a brand new excessive of quantity three on the worldwide Spotify chart.

The collaboration is one other milestone within the continuous success of the Colombian band that might. Seventeen years into their profession they proceed to achieve new heights. And teaming with Unhealthy Bunny will solely improve that success.

“I’m actually proud of this collaboration. It was a very fluid and pure dialog. Benito has such a transparent concept of what he needs and he’s open to discover new concepts, with out fears. I worth that a lot in an artist,” Saumet says. “Tainy labored his magic to construct the tune with Benito’s imaginative and prescient and our Bomba essence. Benito needed a pleasant and fairly tune so we labored collectively within the studio in Miami to make a pleasant and fairly tune and I believe the end result achieved that. We beforehand labored with Tainy on a remix for our tune “To My Love” which is a favourite amongst our followers to at the present time. “

She added, “I believe it’s necessary that the choice Latin music scene joins with the mainstream to make music and ship our message and artwork collectively. For me it’s an honor for this second to showcase our Bomba Estéreo sound in a brand new means on a wider platform.”

Tainy, who produced the tune, says, “This tune completely represents the vibe of the album. It’s a kind of songs that immediately transports you whenever you hearken to it. Listening to the mix of Benito (Unhealthy Bunny) and Li’s vocals was unbelievable for me. It’s one in every of my favourite tracks on the album.”

The tune’s prompt hit standing can solely add to the anticipation for the band’s upcoming fall tour in assist of the Grammy-nominated Deja album. The U.S. leg kicks off September 16 in Orlando and wraps October 3 in Los Angeles.

I spoke with Saumet concerning the new album, the affect of the seashore and nature on the music, the significance of syncs for the band and way more.

Steve Baltin: Do you will have a canine?

Li Saumet: I’ve three canines. One I rescue. He was named Coco, however he chew, so we’ve got to place him in one other home, as a result of we stay within the seashore. So he used to chew folks within the seashore. And I’ve a two boxers, white boxers. One is Luna, that is that, you’ll be able to hear. And one other is Junior, and they’re like twins.

Baltin: How a lot do you’re feeling this album was influenced by being stationary in a single place, on the seashore?

Saumet: We spent all the method there. I begin in Canada working with Lido Pimienta, who’s my pal. And we have been working, we began the songs and the whole lot, however the true course of to get the album prepared, it was in my home in entrance of the seashore. And it was lovely, as a result of we actually linked with the character, we actually linked with the sounds of the oceans, sounds of the animals. I stay in a spot, it is like a jungle. It is in all probability a jungle, so we will hear the monkeys within the mornings and we will see the sundown. We really noticed dolphins, like 30 dolphins once we was recording the album. So many magical issues occurred and I believe additionally, we carry the Mamo to ask permission for the album and the whole lot. So, the whole lot was like a ritual. And I believe whenever you do the issues in that means, the whole lot was completely different. I believe we all the time must ask permission to the earth or to nature for make issues. Extra like music and artwork.

Baltin: Was it being on the seashore and listening to these sounds that dictated the album turning into about connecting with the earth?

Saumet: I used to be all the time about that. I begin in my place, then after I traveled to Canada, however all the time was the identical feeling. I simply tried to carry all people to my home and make like just a little studio in the home, and to allow them to really feel what I really feel. However all the time was about that. However you understand, we human beings we have to not simply be within the nature, we want a stability. We go to town and go to the character and take the whole lot for in all places, and make a stability as a result of it is an excessive amount of. It is an excessive amount of. You want a stability all the time. It’s because we speak about 4 parts.

Baltin: Did you miss touring?

Saumet: I did not miss it for a very long time as a result of I used to be touring actually till I begin my profession and the pandemic. So I used to be touring rather a lot. So, I by no means had time for my household, I by no means had time for me, for my son and I lastly had time for me, for my household, for my son. We stopped one 12 months earlier than the pandemic, on function, as a result of we needed to take this 12 months forming the album. After which after the pandemic comes, so it is three years. So now I am prepared. I miss it now. However I get pleasure from for a very long time as a result of I am fortunate I stay within the seashore. So I get up to day by day on this lovely place, not in a tiny condominium with all my household, on this lovely place. So it is completely different for me, however yeah, now I able to go. [laughter]

Baltin: Do you now perceive extra the necessity for the stability?

Saumet: Stability, positively. Yeah, I believe the world modified. We won’t stay in that velocity or what we used to have earlier than that was so quick, the whole lot. Now I believe we’ve got time to assume, perhaps we do not have to go so quick, perhaps we will take time to breath. And perhaps we perceive that now the fundamental issues are so necessary, like household, like simply keep in the home and join with your self, all these things. So I believe it by no means is gonna be the identical.

Baltin: Are there songs that you’re notably excited to do? Let’s begin with the brand new album first. Are there new songs that you’re notably excited to do?

Saumet: Yeah. I am so excited to play the brand new album as a result of it is so lovely and highly effective. And I am so excited to play “Como Lo Pedi,” it is a actually loopy tune, and I made with one other artist, however I gonna sing alone within the stage. So it’s tough to sing as a result of I am alone. So I do each elements, however in the identical time it is so like lovely to do it alone as a result of it is a lot energy. And speak about what I would like and the way I ask for.

Baltin: You say within the tune you speak about what, what would you like?

Saumet: I would like the Grammy. [chuckle] I need to hold working like that, hold altering minds, hold making music, artwork, completely different and giving a message to all people. I am so joyful what we doing now, so I need to hold doing that.

Baltin: If you see issues change as an artist, it’s a must to be in tune with the whole lot that is occurring. It has to invigorate you, ‘trigger in any other case there isn’t any level in doing it.

Saumet: Completely. I believe artwork, yeah, the whole lot is altering proper now, and we’ve got to take heed to that and we’ve got to carry a message to the folks. With the songs, with the lyrics, it is so necessary as a result of the era now are open to hearken to many issues. And I believe it within the Latin world too, we’ve got to say many issues as a result of I believe the message now’s getting like just a little bit simply celebration and stuff. So I’ve, we’ve got a duty to provide a message to the brand new era as a result of the whole lot is altering now.

Baltin: What’s the message you need to give to the folks?

Saumet: I would like folks to be extra acutely aware about the whole lot, about join. I believe persons are actually disconnected. So the message is all the time to attach with ourselves, principally dancing or like loving, however being good, Simply pondering in events and simply doing it in a great way. Be acutely aware and for those who’re gonna dance, you are gonna do it in the proper means, like a ritual. And also you gonna be linked with the character and with the folks and with the fundamental factor with all people now, pondering like me, me and the selfish issues. I believe it is necessary to speak about that.

Baltin: Are there artists for you that actually encourage the message you give and that you just additionally admire the way in which they have been in a position to develop and evolve?

Saumet: Yeah. I believe all people is non secular. It is simply one thing that individuals disconnect, however really the artists, we’re non secular channels between the heaven and the earth. So if we wish, if we stay within the gentle, we will do that. If we stay within the darkness, we will do one other factor. However I believe the purpose to be an artist, to be a channel, is assist folks like therapeutic, so that is spirituality. I believe all people in essence right here is non secular, simply it’s a must to discover a strategy to do it. And I believe all of the artists in some level, perhaps not like within the face, however all people has some spirituality there. However some folks do not take it actual like, “Okay, I am a channel.” No, simply they need some cash and no matter and selfish issues, you understand, they loves it. However I believe lots of people is getting extra acutely aware about that.

Baltin: Do you keep in mind rising up who have been these first artists that expressed the spirituality for you?

Saumet: I grew up listening to Afro Caribbean music and Caribbean music, and I believe in a roundabout way all these artists are linked with the spirituality. So I believe in some ways in which all of the music that I pay attention after I grew up, was the type of non secular music as a result of it is linked with the basis.

Baltin: Discuss concerning the affect syncs have had for Bomba Estero.

Saumet: Now we have this story about syncs, for instance. I used to be simply watching motion pictures generally and I hear the songs and assume, “That is my songs.” I by no means know the place it is gonna be. And it is like a bunch of syncs, Bomba Estereo, like loopy syncs in all places, and commercials, motion pictures. Nonetheless like two weeks in the past, final month and the whole lot. And that is wonderful since you by no means know what’s gonna occur. I believe each single band have completely different instances, however our case is completely like, you by no means know what’s gonna occur with the Bomba Estereo album. It is now gonna explode perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in two years, perhaps subsequent 12 months. I do not know. It is lovely as a result of it is just like the music haven’t got limits. We sing in Spanish. We sing a music that isn’t mainstream for instance. However it’s in all places. In order that’s wonderful.