In an electrifying collaboration that is already making waves across the Latin music world, Colombian powerhouse Bomba Estéreo and Venezuelan breakout band Rawayana have joined forces to form the supergroup ASTROPICAL.
Today, ASTROPICAL unveils their debut single, “Me Pasa,” a track that fuses Afrobeats grooves with Colombian gaita flute, an impossibly nostalgic guitar line, and witty lyrical nods to the rich cultures of both bands. “De quién es la arepa, tú eres de las mías, déjame entrar esta noche, el piso se mueve, ¿qué me pasa?” the lyrics playfully ask, encapsulating the song’s hypnotic and head-spinning energy.
The official music video for “Me Pasa”, directed by Edgar Esteves, Paola Ossa, and Ana Peralta Chong, brings ASTROPICAL’s vibrant vision to life. Filmed in the heart of the Caribbean, the visuals capture the track’s breezy, yet electrifying feel. The single marks the beginning of an exciting new era, as the group gears up for their live debut in March at Vive Latino and additional festival appearances yet to be announced. A U.S. tour is also in the works, with dates set for major venues, including Hollywood Bowl and Central Park SummerStage.
Earlier this year, Tigre Sounds covered Li Saumet of Bomba Estéreo, who had been quietly creating music since the launch of Bomba Estéreo’s last album, Deja. She has also dedicated her time to other exciting projects, such as last year’s debut of the Flower Power Retreat in the heart of Santa Marta at the famed eco-resort Gitana del Mar. Read more on the sonic retreat here. As for Rawayana, the Venezuelan trailblazers recently lit up Miami with a sold-out show at Bayfront Park and have continued making music magic since their latest project, ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas?
For years, Li Saumet had felt a strong pull to collaborate with Rawayana. “I’m highly intuitive, and I always pay close attention to everything happening around me,” she shares. “They’re a band that knows how to reinvent itself. They have inspired and moved me, and the message was quite clear: we needed to make some music together.” Meanwhile, Rawayana’s Beto Montenegro, fresh off the band’s first Latin GRAMMY win and a 2025 GRAMMY nomination, felt an immediate connection. “Musically, I feel like I’m the son of Bomba Estéreo,” he says. “When Li called us, it was like a dream come true. I’ve always treasured the sonic universe that Bomba navigates.”
The collaboration took on a life of its own. What started with a single track at 3 AM quickly expanded into a full album. The group met in Miami for studio sessions, then traveled to Santa Marta, where Bomba Estéreo’s José Castillo and Rawayana’s Andrés ‘Fofo’ Story joined in to shape the project. In between recording sessions by the beach, Li and Beto bonded over astrology, reflecting on their respective Capricorn and Aquarius signs. This cosmic alignment led to the group’s name—ASTROPICAL, a fusion of the stars and the tropics that defines their sound. “Astrology has always been present in Latin American culture,” says Montenegro. “Since we were recording in the Colombian tropics, ASTROPICAL sounded like the perfect name.”
ASTROPICAL represents a musical rebirth for all involved. “This band has invigorated me and inspired me to make more music,” says Saumet. “Everything in this world is about energy. I love Nina Simone, and she used to say that the art we make is permeated by whatever is happening in the world. This project flowed like water. It is a ball of energy—and at the same time, it is surrounded by an aura of mystery.” With “Me Pasa” setting the stage, ASTROPICAL is ready to take listeners on an electrifying journey, one where tropical rhythms meet celestial wonder. Their debut performance at Vive Latino is just the beginning—expect more surprises as this cosmic collaboration unfolds.
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Photos by Valerie Amor