From Cochabamba to the world. A day like today, July 4, in Bolivia a new musical group called Kumbiera Wave, in the midst of a pandemic. Although they are only two years old, Diego Soria, ‘Panita’ and ‘Morita’ They have achieved great acceptance by the Bolivian public.
Onda Kumbiera came to our country to ask the Peruvian public for an opportunity to listen to the music they compose. In addition, they were happy because they will continue touring Latin America. In August they will be in Chile and Argentina.
—Onda Kumbiera was born in 2020. Do you feel children of the pandemic?
Yes, practically. Precisely, we were all confined, nobody could go out and the first time we have met was on July 4th via Zoom. So, we wanted that date when the group was born. Since then we have tried to make something good out of the bad. If perhaps there was no pandemic, Onda Kumbiera would not have been born. Practically, it was a dream to gather several friends and be able to put together a beautiful orchestra. Most of the members of the orchestra had previously worked in other bands, we already knew each other.
“In the same genre?
Yes, in the same genre. So, it has been easier and people already recognized us. There has been quite an impact and people have loved that we are together.
—From the beginning they were clear that they were going to be a fusion group?
—In Bolivia, orchestras with fused rhythms were coming in a lot. From that, I was starting to mix the rhythm; for example, the southern rhythm with winds, with percussion. That kind of fusion has worked for us. We started with a song of ours called “Pagarás”, which is a composition of mine. Then we made a song by the Peruvian singer-songwriter William Luna. We have had the opportunity to meet him and he is going to be in a concert with us there (in Bolivia).
—How did it go there with “Don’t lie to me” by William Luna?
—The song “Don’t lie to me” was a total success in Bolivia. We did it in cumbia, we put the trumpets and they like it too much there. That got us a long way.
—Normally, orchestras start with a cover to sound faster. Why did you start with your own song?
—Well, we still started doing things to ‘fish’ people. We did the “Mix climax”, songs by Peruvian groups and authors that in the 80s the Grupo Climax of Bolivia had recorded. But we have done it our way and the mix was another great goal.
—In Peru and Bolivia there are already groups that do fusion. How do they seek to differentiate themselves?
—We are very characterized by the joy we have on stage. We have the dance, the staging and diversity of voices. There are ‘Panita’, ‘Morita’ and I (Diego Soria). Also, we don’t do a single beat. There are groups that close in a single style from start to finish. We like to vary. We have that versatility on stage. I greatly admire Grupo 5 and Corazón Serrano, who have different rhythms in their shows. We want to get to that.
—With which Peruvian group would you like to do a collaboration?
—With Group 5 and Corazón Serrano. They are groups that give a lot to talk about internationally and stand up for Peru. Through Gastón Morales, who is our representative, we have a good relationship with Group 5. Hopefully later it will be possible and the opportunity will be given.
—In Bolivia, do you listen to the Peruvian cumbia a lot?
“Not all groups. Corazón Serrano does break it in Bolivia; Group 5 as well. They are the two groups that sound the most there.
-In cumbia, what group is your reference?
—I greatly admire Los Ronisch, who are the ambassadors of Bolivia. It is a group that from the beginning has always released pure own songs. They have never gone to do this cover thing. I sang for about six years in the group Elipsis, who are nephews of Los Ronisch. They are the most representative groups of Bolivia in terms of cumbia. There are also David Castro, Iberia and Enlace.
—Do you think that in Bolivia international artists are given more space than local ones?
—It is so. I think Bolivians are too supportive of foreigners. There is not much support for local groups. Suddenly the local groups leave, there is no production, they don’t prepare. It depends on the artist who gets noticed. They have supported us from the beginning. Thank God, the group is doing very well.
—They only have two years as a group. Don’t you think they’ve had a bit of luck?
“Actually, yes. I think there is a luck factor, but it is also very hard work because we have had to juggle to make ourselves noticed in the midst of a pandemic. It has not been easy because we are from Cochabamba, but where we have had a good deal of acceptance is in La Paz. We had to travel as clandestine, passing the bars. We have done everything to make ourselves known, because in that time of pandemic nobody was encouraged to make media, to make a recording or some investment; and we have taken the opportunity to make a video and a song, all through social networks.
Diego Soria, ‘Panita’ and ‘Morita’, singers of the Bolivian group Onda Kumbiera. Photo: Sandy Carrión Cruz / The Republic
—How easy is it to sound on Bolivian radios?
—Now it is more accessible because social networks are a competition for entry to radio and television, because now everything is Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. So, the radios already have to look for you. Before it was very difficult because we had to go knock on doors.
—How has cultural reactivation occurred in Bolivia?
—We are already with 100% capacity in the events, everything is fine. And it is reactivating more than before. There are more concerts and that suits us all.
—What’s coming for Onda Kumbiera?
“We’re going to release a record very soon.” We are making a fusion of the sanjuanero rhythm that Peru has. And with that we want to conquer the Peruvian people. Precisely, we will do it with the producer Álex Muñoz, who made “You are not man”, the last song of Corazón Serrano. He also composed a few songs for us and we are going to release them very soon. I think you will like it too much.
—What would you say to Peruvians who love cumbia?
Just asking them for an opportunity so that we can show our music, the style we do and nothing else (…). Now we have wanted to come to Peru with something of our own. We are premiering the song “Because of you” and we hope that everything turns out very well, that the mix of styles that we are doing here likes it. Afterwards, the same people will be able to decide and choose if we come often or if we stay (in Bolivia). We are always predisposed to give our best in every show we do.
Onda Kumbiera will share the stage with William Luna in Bolivia. Photo: Sandy Carrión Cruz / The Republic
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