Astropical

Colombias Bomba Estereo and Venezuelas Rawayana, two award-winning Latin pop powerhouses, have combined forces in ASTROPICAL. What began as a collaboration on a single expanded to become a full-length eponymous album. ASTROPICAL contains two members of each: Bombas Li Saumet (vocals) and Jose Castillo (keys), and Rawayanas Beto Montenegro (vocals, guitar, bass) and Andre "Fofo" Story (drums). Saumet called Montenegro to collaborate on a single, and he agreed. After he sent her the demo for the first single, "Me Pasa (Piscis)," she finished it in six hours. They booked a small Miami studio and cut three more songs. Impressed, Montenegro traveled to Saumets house in Santa Marta, where they wrote the remainder of the album and recorded it in several studios. In January 2025, they issued that first single and announced this album. ASTROPICALs 12 tracks, spread over 34 minutes, meld African, tropical South American, Caribbean, tropical, and EDM rhythms with infectious melodies, soaring harmonies, and rousing choruses. Its songs explore feminine energy, eros, spirituality, club culture, and yes, astrology. Opener "Brinca (Acuario)" joins tropical house and bomba to an irrepressible melody. Montenegro sings about the healing power of music as Saumet underscores with a rapid-fire rap before they come together in the chorus. "Siento (Virgo)," a song about attraction and possibility, emerges with a subtle keyboard hook. Acoustic and electric guitars frame Saumets languid vocal. Montenegro joins her on the airy chorus, then alternates verses with her as she nearly chants the anthemic chorus with layers of organic and synthesized percussion. "Me Pasa (Piscis)" weds Afro-Latin beats, gaita flute, house, guitars, and passion as the duo alternately sing about the cosmic joy of dancing, champeta, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, and hippies in love, re: John and Yoko. With lead vocals by Montenegro, "Otro Nivel (Capricornio)" quickly escalates from ballad to driving tropical house to become a triumphant neo-electro jam. "Happy (Libra)," which combines organic South American percussion and punchy tropical EDM, is introduced by Saumet. The singers alternate in souled-out verses in this sensual anthem to gratitude and acceptance. "Una Noche en Caracas (Tauro)" melds bumping cumbia, Latin funk, and house with amorous intensity. "El Lobo (Cancer)" finds Montenegros protagonist in love as tropical house is kissed by vallenato and bolero in professing his intention while Saumet underscores the choruses. In the latter half, she responds in kind. "Quien Me Mando (Geminis)" adds an Afro-Brazilian tinge in its use of strummed nylon-string guitars, string sounds, and rhythm tracks that bridge samba, Puerto Rican bomba, Latin house, and pillowy psychedelic pop. "Corazon Adentro (Escorpio)" is a love song that adds gospel vibes via a B-3 organ. Its first led by Montenegro, professing gratitude for love, life, and family. Saumet raps and then sings her verses before the band lifts the tune as a chorus. ASTROPICAL isnt just a sparkling debut, its a remarkably hip, optimistically ecstatic, and holistic work that can soundtrack the dancefloor, spring and summer, and all major life events. ~ Thom Jurek