Tag: Elsa y Elmar

Colombian Artists Prove To Be an Unstoppable Force on the Global Music Scene

March 4, 2024

From Shakira‘s magnetic moves to Juanes‘s electrifying Spanish rock and Carlos Vives‘s vibrant blend of pop and vallenato, Colombian music resonates globally. Undeniably iconic, Colombian artists invite the world to groove and sing along in Spanish. Across the globe, fans are familiar with the meaning of “Tusa” and feeling “tragados,” and they frequently utter “Mor.” It’s hardly surprising that 84% of Colombian artists’ Spotify streams come from international listeners.

The distinctive sounds, spirited expressions, and dynamic personalities from this Latin American country have effortlessly become favorites worldwide, with Mexico, the U.S., and Spain leading as the top-streaming countries of Colombian artists. There’s been a 206% increase in Colombian streams internationally when you compare listens from 2018 to the present. Genres like urban, pop, vallenato, música popular colombiana and salsa are some of the most popular.

Colombia is regarded as a beacon of culture and creativity, reaching new heights through the power of global exposure. Spotify has played a crucial role in this, enabling anyone, wherever they call home, to dance to a paisa rhythm or belt out songs with the passion of a barranquillera.

On Spotify, more than 830 million user-generated playlists feature at least one song by a Colombian artist.

Ultimately, Colombian talent—refusing to conform to a single genre—has charmed the world and proudly carries the “Made in Colombia” flag.

Want to know what it means to be Made in Colombia for different artists? For the Record talked to Carlos Vives, Blessd, Elsa y Elmar, and Nico Hernández.

Carlos Vives

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It means being someone who embraces incredible diversity. The coolest part is just that: its diversity.

What do you think Colombia sounds like?

It sounds like music from the heart.

Share your best Made in Colombia moment. 

It happened with a recent song I released called “Eso es mondar.” Although it’s a universally relatable story, it has to do with our Hispanic America and what connects us through our language. It’s definitely a very Colombian expression, especially from the coastal region.

Blessd

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It’s all about representing who you are, where you come from, your neighborhood, your streets, and the culture that makes us so grand.

What’s the most “chimba” thing about Made in Colombia music?

The coolest part is that energy, our flow, and representing the sounds.

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.

“Medallo” could be, it’s a song that has that flowcito.

Elsa Y Elmar

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It means having this attitude of joy, creativity, loving your family, the people, the land, the great weather, and the music in your blood.

What’s the coolest thing about Made in Colombia music?

It’s how diverse it is. We’ve got everything from Caribbean sounds to guabina, reggaeton, Pacific rhythms, and even music from Amazonian communities. Honestly, it’s the best.

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.
“La Plata” by Diomedes Díaz and many other hits by Binomio de Oro.

Nico Hernandez

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It’s about being kind, pushing forward, celebrating for any reason, and making friends everywhere. Being Made in Colombia means being talented, creative, rooted in tradition, and multicultural.

What’s the coolest thing about Made in Colombia music?

That it’s made by Colombians. We all share a unique essence, a unique force that drives us to achieve the impossible. 

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.

“La Invitación” by Jorge Celedón.

To hear these artists and discover so much more Colombian sound, tune into our Made in Colombia playlist.

Las artistas colombianas que están llevando el pop a otro nivel

July 10, 2023

El pop colombiano está generando un eco poderoso tanto en la escena musical local como en la internacional. Con el crecimiento en reproducciones de artistas colombianas en este género, esta reciente ola, impregnada de ritmos adictivos y letras llenas de fuerza, está desafiando las normas y reimaginando lo que conocíamos de este estilo musical. 

En el corazón de este movimiento se encuentran cinco artistas femeninas del país. Todas han hecho parte de los programas de Spotify y, con su innegable talento y autenticidad, están trazando nuevos caminos en la industria. De hecho, el 90% de los streams y el 88% de los descubrimientos de pop hecho localmente en 2023 provienen de fuera de Colombia.

Elsa y Elmar

Reconocida por su estilo único, Elsa y Elmar ha experimentado un aumento del 24% en reproducciones en Spotify en el último año. Su música, incluyendo canciones populares como “Ojos Noche“, “Planeando El Tiempo“, y “Grecia“, resuena en México, España, Estados Unidos, Argentina y su Colombia natal, sumando hasta 2,7 millones de oyentes mensuales en Spotify.

Juliana

Esta talentosa artista de Bogotá ha tenido un crecimiento del 203% en reproducciones en Spotify durante el último año. Ganadora del Grammy Latino a Mejor Nueva Artista en 2021, Juliana ha consolidado una base sólida de más de 590 mil oyentes mensuales en Spotify. Dentro de sus canciones con más reproducciones en la plataforma está “Toda la Vida”, “Muchachitos feat. Humbe”, “La Primera Vez”, y “Cóseme (2:22 am)”.

Susana Cala

Con un crecimiento del 131% en reproducciones en el último año, Susana Cala, una de las últimas incorporaciones al programa Equal de Spotify, ha conquistado los corazones de los oyentes en México, Argentina, España, Colombia y Chile, principalmente. Sus éxitos “Domingo – Acústico“, “Mi Canción Favorita“, y “No Fue Tu Culpa” han ayudado a sumar más de 426 mil oyentes mensuales en Spotify.

Vale

Este dúo de hermanas de Cartagena ha experimentado un crecimiento en reproducciones en Spotify del 27% durante el último año. Con éxitos como “Puente“, “Para Verte“, y “Aguaceros“, las artistas VALE han creado una sólida base de fans en México, Estados Unidos, Colombia, España y Perú, acumulando más de 268 mil oyentes mensuales en Spotify.

Valentina Rico

Con un notable crecimiento del 153% en reproducciones en Spotify en el último año, Valentina se está consolidando como una prominente figura en el escenario del pop colombiano. Sus canciones “Nada de Nada“, “Tensión“, y “No Voy a Ser Yo” , se oyen principalmente en México, Colombia, Estados Unidos, Perú y Argentina.

Estas artistas representan la vanguardia de una nueva era del pop colombiano, marcada por el poder femenino y la creatividad sin límites. Su influencia se extiende más allá de las fronteras de Colombia, dejando su huella en el panorama musical mundial y demostrando que el futuro del pop colombiano es brillante y resonante.

EQUAL Marks Two Years of Celebrating Women Artists And Spotify Announces the Next EQUAL FEST

April 28, 2023

From Japan to Argentina, Malaysia to the U.K., women artists, engineers, and producers continue to be vastly underrepresented in the music industry. But there’s incredible talent worldwide that must be highlighted and celebrated. So in 2020 Spotify launched EQUAL, an always-on global program to drive equity for women in music. EQUAL represents our commitment to amplifying the voices of women musicians and creators locally, regionally, and internationally. 

The more fans listen to women, the more opportunities that are created so that women can enter the industry. Through our suite of EQUAL playlists and marketing tools, we provide women with more space on and off our platform to share their work; at the same time, we’re giving fans the chance to remember that by listening, they too are taking action.

“EQUAL is about the power of raising voices together to drive equity in music and standing together to fight for a common goal that has no borders—it’s about acknowledging the difficulties and celebrating each other all year round,” says Bel Aztiria, Equity Global Music Programs Lead at Spotify. “It is much more than a program: EQUAL represents a mission and a community that stands together.” 

Celebrating two years of EQUAL

Two years later, the work is far from done, but we have a lot to be proud of as we continue on this journey. Our EQUAL artists have collectively wracked up millions of streams and advanced other women creators in the process. 

“On platform, in the studio, onstage, and on billboards, more women are having their voices heard, no matter where they come from and no matter at what stage of their career they are,” says Bel. “Beyond global support, EQUAL honors this as its mission with the deepest respect for each local culture. Since our inception, we have launched 40 local EQUAL programs. Thanks to these programs, we’ve been able to host the first-ever EQUAL Festival with an all-women lineup in Colombia, offer studio residencies in the U.S., and invite women to our offices in France to participate in mentorship opportunities; and we’ve seen sorority and artistry prevail every time we come together.”

Catch some of EQUAL’s notable stats.

EQUAL Fest resumes this September in Spain

Last April, we held the first-ever EQUAL Fest in Bogotá, Colombia. Thirteen outstanding women musicians, each representing a variety of genres, took to the stage at El Teatro throughout the month. The headliners—Goyo, Paola Jara, Lido Pimienta, Andrea Echeverri, Farina, Elsa y Elmar, Ventino, Karen Lizarazo, Juliana Velásquez, Nidia Góngora, María Cristina Plata, Bad Milk, and Las Villa—collectively represented over 3.4 million monthly listeners as made a statement for gender equality in music on stage. 

“Being a part of the first EQUAL Fest was really an honor,” Elsa y Elmar, a singer-songwriter who creates synth-pop music with a folk flair, wrote to For the Record. “I am a woman musician from Colombia, but most of my music is done in Mexico City. So being considered as one of the first Colombian women to inaugurate this festival made me feel proud of my journey and actually very thankful for the support that Spotify has given me.” 

“As women, it can be a bit harder—if not much harder,” she noted. “So, it’s really a space for empowerment, it’s a space for acknowledging our place in the music industry, and it just feels really special. Sometimes music made from a woman’s perspective is different: It’s sentimental, it’s special, it has a different value than other music. So creating a space for that, where people know what they’re going to get, is just a very, very valuable thing.” 

On September 22, we’ll bring EQUAL back for a full-volume, all-women set of performances at EQUAL FEST held at the Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. We’re excited to share that Argentinian Spanish singer, songwriter, and dancer Nathy Peluso will headline alongside several other established and developing Spanish and Latin women artists. 

“There are so many women artists, and we are claiming our space and visibility,” says Nathy. “That’s why I’m happy to be a part of EQUAL and to continue to build fairer spaces. It’s an honor to perform at EQUAL FEST with so many incredible women.”

More must be done to put women artists front and center, and with Spotify EQUAL Fest in Madrid we’re turning up the volume on women and reminding everyone that they can be part of a more equal world. 

Tickets will be available soon—so stay tuned for more details. 

“We’re so proud of what EQUAL has achieved in its first two years: through our editorial, marketing, and partnership capabilities, we have celebrated and uplifted the voices of thousands of women artists on and off the platform, and our ambassador program has celebrated almost 800 women artists from over 50 countries,” Bel noted. 

And there’s much more to come. 

Stream our flagship EQUAL playlist below.

Spotify’s EQUAL Festival Brings Together Outstanding Colombian Voices in an All-Female Lineup

March 17, 2022

Over the past year, Spotify has brought the voices of talented women artists from around the world together through EQUAL—an on-platform initiative aimed at reducing the gender disparity in the music industry. Next month, this initiative will reach the stage for the first time with Spotify’s new EQUAL Festival in Colombia. 

Throughout the month of April, across seven performances, Spotify will bring together 13 outstanding women in music in Colombia at El Teatro in Bogotá. These women represent a great diversity of genres and sounds—and together, their monthly listeners on the platform equal more than 3.4 million. The headliners—Goyo, Paola Jara, Lido Pimienta, Andrea Echeverri, Farina, Elsa y Elmar, Ventino, Karen Lizarazo, Juliana Velásquez, Nidia Góngora, María Cristina Plata, Bad Milk, and Las Villa—are coming together in conjunction with Spotify to make a statement for gender equality at full volume.

According to the Spotify-sponsored USC Annenberg study on the representation of women in the music industry, only one in five artists on the charts is a woman. This knowledge has driven our commitment to generating more impactful opportunities for women artists.

“To begin to change this disparity, we must expand the work of creative women and create more opportunities for emerging artists. That is the reason for the EQUAL global initiative,” says Mia Nygren, Managing Director for Spotify in Latin America. “We want to do our part: We know that when we empower artists, more people listen, and that music shapes the future. We are excited to bring the EQUAL playlist to a live experience for the first time, hand in hand with a spectacular lineup.”

Hear from some of the artists—and see which dates they’re performing—below.

April 1: Goyo / Elsa y Elmar

“The best thing about being a woman in the industry right now is that we can use our platform to say a lot of things with our female voice, building a path for all women,” says Goyo, voice of legendary band ChocQuibTown, who will be performing her solo project at the festival. “I have always felt proud to use my platform as an Afro-Latin woman and thus continue the legacy of many artists like Celia Cruz who have opened doors for us.”

“Being a woman and a musician is walking on a rocky path, but one that has already been traveled by women before, especially women who were not willing to occupy the roles pigeonholed for their gender. Now we can be ourselves,” says Elsa Carvajal, known under the name of her multi-award-winning “spiritual pop” or indie folk project, Elsa y Elmar. “In my career, at no time have I had to divert my message or my music to fulfill a role. I feel proud to make my music.”

April 6: Ventino / Juliana Velásquez

“We return to the stage for the EQUAL Festival. We are proud to be women in the industry, breaking the stereotype that women cannot work together to achieve our goals,” say the members of the pop group Ventino.

“We can dismantle preconceptions such as the fact that our voice does not have as much repercussion as that of men,” says pop singer-songwriter Juliana Velasquez. “You only have to look at the lists to see that there are many women who have a lot to say in all genres, from indie to pop to urban. That vulnerable image has changed a lot, and we can go out and sing things that make us feel uncomfortable, represent us, and make us feel powerful.” 

April 8: Karen Lizarazo / Las Villa

“We are very excited to announce that this is the first time we will perform in Bogotá as part of the EQUAL Festival,” say twin sisters Laura and Lucia, who form the urban pop duo Las Villa. “For us as women, it is very important to be part of this movement and continue opening the way for other girls who come after us.”

April 20: Paola Jara

“I am proud to be able to represent women in this first edition of the Equal Festival and of course my genre, the popular music of Colombia,” says Paola Jara, who is considered one of the greatest in Colombian folk singing, earning respect in a genre dominated by male artists.

April 22: Lido Pimienta / Nidia Góngora

“The best thing about being a woman artist is that through music we can break stereotypes, transform, and educate. We get the chance to bring love and joy to many people,” says Nidia Góngora, an Afro-Colombian singer-songwriter from Timbiquí and ambassador of the characteristic marimba music of the Colombian Pacific coast.

April 27: Andrea Echeverri / Maria Cristina Plata

“We are expanding awareness, and spaces are being conquered thanks to today’s feminist movements. I see that songs I wrote 25 years ago like ‘Cosita Seria’—which speaks about harassment and gender violence—are being validated and make more sense because they are perfect for everything that is happening,” says Andrea Echeverri, founder and voice of the legendary rock band Aterciopelados. 

April 29: Farina / Bad Milk

“Women today have a platform and the means to make our point of view prevail,” says Medellín-born singer-songwriter Manuelita García of Bad Milk. “We come from a country that has always been marked by gender violence and where women in the music industry have been overshadowed. I feel proud to represent women and give them a voice that many artists used to do with me.”

Get more information and buy tickets to the festival here. And in the meantime, enjoy the sounds of these artists with the EQUAL Colombia playlist.

El Festival EQUAL de Spotify reúne a destacadas voces colombianas en un cartel exclusivamente femenino

March 17, 2022

Durante el año pasado, Spotify reunió las voces de mujeres artistas talentosas de todo el mundo a través de EQUAL, una iniciativa en la plataforma destinada a reducir la disparidad de género en la industria de la música. El próximo mes, esta iniciativa subirá al escenario por primera vez con el nuevo Festival EQUAL de Spotify en Colombia.

A lo largo del mes de abril, Spotify reunirá a 13 mujeres destacadas de la música en Colombia a través de siete funciones en El Teatro de Bogotá. Estas mujeres representan una gran diversidad de géneros y sonidos, y juntas, sus oyentes mensuales en la plataforma suman más de 3,4 millones. Las artistas en el cartel —Goyo, Paola Jara, Lido Pimienta, Andrea Echeverri, Farina, Elsa y Elmar, Ventino, Karen Lizarazo, Juliana Velásquez, Nidia Góngora, María Cristina Plata, Bad Milk, y Las Villa se unen a Spotify para hacer una declaración a favor de la igualdad de género a todo volumen.

Según el estudio Annenberg de la USC sobre la representación de las mujeres en la industria de la música patrocinado por Spotify, solo una de cada cinco artistas en las listas es una mujer. Este conocimiento ha impulsado nuestro compromiso de generar oportunidades para las mujeres artistas.

“Para comenzar a cambiar esta disparidad, debemos expandir el trabajo de las mujeres creativas y crear más oportunidades para los artistas emergentes. Esa es la razón de la iniciativa global EQUAL”, dice Mia Nygren, Managing Director de Spotify en América Latina. “Queremos hacer nuestra parte: sabemos que cuando empoderamos a los artistas, más personas escuchan y esa música da forma al futuro. Estamos emocionados de llevar la playlist EQUAL a una experiencia en vivo por primera vez, de la mano de una alineación espectacular”.

Escucha a algunas de las artistas, y ve en qué fechas se presentarán, a continuación.

1 de abril: Goyo y Elsa y Elmar

“Lo mejor de ser mujer en la industria en este momento es que podemos usar nuestra plataforma para decir muchas cosas con nuestra voz femenina, construyendo un camino para todas las mujeres”, dice Goyo, voz de la legendaria banda ChocQuibTown, quien presentará su proyecto en solitario en el festival. “Siempre me he sentido orgullosa de usar mi plataforma como mujer afrolatina, y así continuar con el legado de muchos artistas como Celia Cruz que nos han abierto puertas”.

“Ser mujer y músico es caminar por un camino pedregoso, pero que ya ha sido transitado por mujeres antes, especialmente por mujeres que no estaban dispuestas a ocupar los roles encasillados a su género. Ahora podemos ser nosotras mismas”, dice Elsa Carvajal, conocida con el nombre de Elsa y Elmar, un multipremiado proyecto de “pop espiritual” o indie folk. “En mi carrera en ningún momento he tenido que desviar mi mensaje o mi música para cumplir un rol. Me siento orgullosa de hacer mi música”.

6 de abril: Ventino y Juliana Velásquez

“Volvemos a los escenarios para el festival EQUAL. Estamos orgullosas de ser mujeres en la industria, rompiendo el estereotipo de que las mujeres no podemos trabajar juntas para lograr nuestras metas”, dijeron las integrantes del grupo pop Ventino.

“Podemos desmontar preconceptos como que nuestra voz no tiene tanta repercusión como la de los hombres”, dice la cantautora pop Juliana Velásquez. “Solo hay que mirar las listas para ver que hay muchas mujeres que tienen mucho que decir en todos los géneros, desde el indie al pop, pasando por el urbano. Ha cambiado mucho esa imagen vulnerable y podemos salir a cantar cosas que nos incomodan, nos representan y nos hacen sentir poderosas”.

8 de abril: Karen Lizarazo / Las Villas

“Estamos muy emocionadas de anunciar que esta es la primera vez que nos presentaremos en Bogotá como parte del Festival EQUAL”, dicen las hermanas mellizas Laura y Lucia, quienes forman el dúo de pop urbano Las Villa. “Para nosotras como mujeres es muy importante ser parte de este movimiento y seguir abriendo camino a otras niñas que vengan después de nosotras”.

20 de abril: Paola Jara

“Estoy orgullosa de poder representar a la mujer en esta primera edición del Festival Equal y por supuesto mi género, la música popular de Colombia”, dice Paola Jara, quien es considerada una de las más grandes de la música popular colombiana, ganándose el respeto en un género dominado por artistas masculinos.

22 de abril: Lido Pimienta / Nidia Góngora

“Lo mejor de ser mujer artista es que a través de la música podemos romper estereotipos, transformar y educar. Tenemos la oportunidad de llevar amor y alegría a muchas personas”, dice Nidia Góngora, cantautora afrocolombiana de Timbiquí y embajadora de la música de marimba característica de la costa pacífica colombiana.

27 de abril: Andrea Echeverri / María Cristina Plata

“Estamos ampliando las conciencias y se están conquistando espacios gracias a los movimientos feministas de hoy. Veo que canciones que escribí hace 25 años como “Cosita Seria”, que habla de acoso y violencia de género, se están validando y tienen más sentido porque son perfectas para todo lo que está pasando”, dice Andrea Echeverri, fundadora y voz de la la legendaria banda de rock Aterciopelados.

April 29: Farina / Bad Milk

“Las mujeres hoy tenemos una plataforma y los medios para hacer prevalecer nuestro punto de vista”, dice la cantautora nacida en Medellín Manuelita García, de Bad Milk. “Venimos de un país que siempre ha estado marcado por la violencia de género y donde la mujer en la industria de la música se ha visto opacada. Me siento orgullosa de representar a las mujeres y darles una voz como antes muchas artistas lo hicieron conmigo”.

Obtén más información y compra entradas para el festival aquí. Y mientras tanto, disfruta de los sonidos de estos artistas con la playlist de EQUAL Colombia.