When two of Latin America’s most forward-thinking musical collectives — Colombia’s electro-tropical pioneers Bomba Estéreo and Venezuela’s genre-blurring Rawayana — announced their collaborative project Astropical, it felt like a natural cosmic alignment. Their joint album, rooted in the mysticism of zodiac signs and spiritual exploration, signaled not only a fusion of musical styles but also a deeper philosophical synergy. On a balmy August evening at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, the Astropical tour made its explosive mark on a sold-out crowd, offering a transcendent blend of sound, color, movement, and meaning.
The formation of Astropical was less a reinvention than an expansion. Li Saumet, frontwoman of Bomba Estéreo, has long been celebrated for channeling ancestral rhythms through a futuristic lens, layering cumbia and champeta with electronic flourishes and lyrical introspection. In contrast, Beto Montenegro, the charismatic vocalist of Rawayana, has steered his band through reggae, funk, and Latin soul with a breezy, genre-fluid coolness. When the two visionaries collided creatively, the result was electric: a band that doesn’t dilute their respective identities but rather crystallizes a shared ethos— one grounded in cultural pride, astrological wonder, and the idea that music can be both ecstatic and enlightening.
Their debut album under the Astropical banner, takes listeners on an interstellar journey guided by the twelve zodiac signs. Each track channels the elemental energy of its sign — fiery, watery, airy, or earthy — through experimental instrumentation and bilingual lyricism. But what truly elevates the record is its underlying intention: to align the body and spirit through rhythm. It’s not just music to dance to — it’s music to feel with your entire being. That ethos carried over seamlessly to their live show, where every detail — costuming, lighting, choreography — seemed imbued with cosmic symbolism and earthy celebration.
From the moment Saumet and Montenegro stepped onto the vividly lit stage, it was clear this was more than a concert — it was a ritual of joy. Saumet, never one to shy away from statement fashion, stunned in a grinch-green furry coat, a matching cap that shimmered under the LED strobes, and metallic gold pants that reflected the pulsing light like a disco ball. Montenegro, equally vibrant, wore a neon red and orange themed sweater top and carried around a purple hand fan, exuding a warm charisma that counterbalanced Saumet’s electric presence. Their microphones were adorned with red plastic sun and moon attachments — a visual representation of balance and celestial harmony. As they danced across the stage, the duo even unfurled Colombian and Venezuelan flags as capes, reminding the audience that Astropical is also a celebration of cross-cultural solidarity.
The stage visuals were an otherworldly trip in themselves. Swirling mandalas, kaleidoscopic galaxies, and elemental symbols morphed in real-time behind the band, matching the tempo and mood of each track. The immersive graphics didn’t distract — they deepened the experience, pulling the audience into the spiritual narrative unfolding on stage. Every beat seemed to summon another layer of color, every synth triggered a new celestial motion. The result was synesthetic: a show you didn’t just watch — you experienced in every sensory channel.
One of the most powerful moments of the night came with their performance of “Me Pasa (Piscis),” a standout track from the duo. The song, already hypnotic in its recorded form, took on new life in concert, with Saumet pouring raw emotion into each verse. Before launching into song, she paused to address the crowd, explaining how this track became a catalyst for the entire project. “It was during the recording of this song,” she shared in Spanish, “that I felt a shift—like the universe was calling us to expand, to collaborate.” The room buzzed with resonance, as if her words had pierced a collective veil. Montenegro joined her in a soaring harmony that echoed with both vulnerability and power, sending chills across the venue.
The energy flipped from introspective to playful just minutes later when the band launched into a slyly exuberant cover of Proyecto Uno’s ‘El Tiburón’. The crowd, already on their feet, erupted into synchronized bouncing as the group gave the merengue-house classic a psychedelic twist. With rubbery basslines, percussive breakdowns, and neon animations of cartoon sharks swimming across the screen, the number was both homage and reinvention — a cheeky nod to the ’90s that fit surprisingly well within Astropical’s universe.
Throughout the performance, the atmosphere remained buoyant, yet charged with a strange, magnetic awareness. There’s something about Astropical that feels more elevated than most party bands. Whether it’s their use of sacred imagery, their spiritual allusions, or the subtle way they infuse themes of healing and unity into their lyrics, there’s a third-eye sensibility at play. Theirs is a celebration, yes — but one rooted in the idea that joy itself can be radical, even divine. The crowd seemed to sense it too: strangers hugging, hands raised skyward, eyes closed during instrumental swells. It was a party, but also a shared meditation.
By the final track, the band stood side by side, bathed in warm amber lights. They bowed, embraced, and exited the stage to a standing ovation that refused to fade. In a world increasingly defined by fragmentation, Astropical’s performance felt like a salve — a reminder of what happens when we merge, collaborate, and channel the stars together.
LoudSound Magazine 
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