La Perla | Colombia

The percussion and vocal trio from Bogotá, Colombia, came together in 2014 after meeting at various festivals in the Caribbean, not least bullerengue and gaita rueadas, or street dance events. The love for this music and for the culture and life it embodies is the very essence of La Perla. Inspired by drums and various indigenous instruments, the music is explosive, tasteful, street-influenced, tropically Bogotá and experimental.  

They draw on traditional music from the Colombian Caribbean, but also on rhythms that resonate in the wider Caribbean area. In addition, each of the three brings their own musical universe, personal taste preferences and impulses from urban music such as dancehall, rap, chucu chucu, champeta, salsa, punk, rock and more. 

"This has led us to experiment and try to create a dialogue between these musical universes, in search of our own sound. We sing about state violence, the resistance in the streets, the dignity of women, the Colombian countryside, partying, friendship, the night, the city and more - everything that brings us together and inspires us," says La Perla.  

They also want to empower women by breaking gender stereotypes. Traditionally in Afro-Colombian folk music, men play the “powerful” instruments, such as marimba, drums and gaita. Women are usually limited to singing and/or playing shaker instruments – but La Perla has turned this tradition on its head. 

Karen Forero 

Giovanna Mogollón 

Diana Sanmiguel