The supergroup formed by Li Saumet of Bomba Estéreo and Beto Montenegro of Rawayana sits down with Wonderland to discuss their self-titled debut album, a celebration of their South American roots.
The stars aligned, the timing was perfect, and everything fell into place effortlessly. That’s how Li Saumet of the Colombian tropical group Bomba Estéreo and Beto Montenegro of the Grammy-winning Venezuelan band Rawayana describe the creation of their supergroup, ASTROPICAL. Before entering the studio, they already shared a deep mutual respect for each other’s artistry and were genuine fans of one another’s groovy, upbeat styles. It only made sense that they would come together musically.
After Saumet reached out to Rawayana last year, things began to come together quickly. A 3 a.m. message with a track from the band led her to finish the song “Me Pasa”, and soon after, they were at her home in Santa Marta, Colombia, working on what began as an EP. Six songs later, they realised they needed to create a full album. “When we went to make the EP, the concept of ASTROPICAL came about,” Montenegro recalls, sitting down with Wonderland. “Since there are 12 [astrological] signs, it forced us to make more songs so we could choose one track for each sign. It gradually evolved from there to the idea of blending the two bands, to present it in a fun way. And also, if we ever feel like inventing something again, we can do that too.”
ASTROPICAL’s self-titled debut album is nothing short of magic, whisking you away to a tropical paradise, surrounded by palm trees and sipping something fresh from a pineapple. It’s a true celebration of their South American roots, infused with a shared love for astrology, the heat of the tropics, and an undeniably positive energy. The result? An unresistible sonic adventure. As ultimate vibe curators, Saumet and Montenegro have created an album brimming with love, light, and an invitation to a feel-good, escapist musical journey.
Perhaps, that magic comes from how perfectly they complement each other throughout their creative process. “The soul of this project and our personalities, and everything we’ve done, has brought us to this moment,” Saumet says. “We’ve come together and made something very beautiful to give to the people of Latin America and the world. It’s music made to transcend, to dance to, to understand, or not.”
Collaborating creatively can be a challenge, but Saumet and Montenegro are here to show how it’s done. Their favourite memories together? A question they struggle to answer. “It hasn’t been just one thing, it’s been everything,” Montenegro says, reflecting on their first meeting, going to Saumet’s home in Santa Marta, seeing her in action as a mother, connecting with his own femininity, and all the intimate moments that weren’t seen or heard. Saumet agrees, remembering how she shifted into “mom mode” as they shared meals together leading up to the album’s release. “The Rawayana team is all men, and when there’s not a little bit of both [femininity and masculinity],” she says, “it tends to lean one way unless everyone taps into their feminine energy, spiritually and aesthetically. It makes everything more beautiful.”
To celebrate the release, the supergroup has announced a tour across Central and North America — grab your tickets before it’s too late!
May 2 – Guatemala City, GT – Empire Festival
May 24 – Montreal, QC – Fuego Fuego Festival
May 25 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
May 28 – Washington, D.C – The Anthem
May 29 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
May 31 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
June 1 – New York, NY – SummerStage in Central Park
June 3 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
August 23 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
August 24 – Tampa, FL – The BayCare Sound
August 27 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
August 29 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
August 30 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
August 31 – San Antonio , TX – The Espee
September 3 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
September 10 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl LV
September 12 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre Berkeley
Words — Natasha Melina Argudo
