Superfónicos – Renaceré (Spaceflight Records, 2024)
Renaceré (reborn) is the new album by Superfónicos, a band formed by Colombian expats in Austin, Texas. Superfónicos has crafted an irresistible fusion of psychedelic cumbia, Afrobeat, boogaloo, dub reggae, and other tropical beats that pulse with the lifeblood of Colombia’s rich musical traditions.
This album is a profound musical journey that navigates themes of rebirth, resilience, environmental consciousness, and the cyclical nature of life. Superfónicos invites listeners to reflect on these universal themes through engaging songs that feel both familiar and refreshingly innovative.
The recording of Renaceré spanned several years, beginning just before the world was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic and concluding in early 2024. Much of the album was shaped within the walls of Lechehouse, under the expert guidance of GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, producer, and engineer Beto Martinez. Martinez captured the authentic sounds and textures of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, with instruments like the gaita flute and tambor alegre adding an organic depth to the music. The band also uses the unconventional bombardino (euphonium). Additional recordings at Public Hi-Fi with Jim Eno of Spoon and Electric Deluxe with Aaron Glemboski added layers of sophistication to the project.
“Bogotá Boogaloo” is a Latin soul-infused love letter to the beautiful yet complex city of Bogotá, Colombia. “La Verdad,” with its psychedelic cumbia vibes, spins a tale of a juglar (a traveling musician) who loses his mind in the search for his lost love, subtly suggesting that those labeled as “crazy” might be closer to the truth than we think. The track “Lunetta” mixes Jamaican dub with Colombian porro, serving as a heartfelt tribute to a nickname given to one of the band members’ wives in Italy.
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jaime Ospina explains: “This record is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit and life. We all went through hard times in the last 4 years but here we are; breathing, singing, dancing and what not.” Nicolás adds, “The cycle of life and the concept of rebirth play heavily into the theme of the record. Many ups and downs happened during this period, for the band and society as a whole, but ultimately we came out of the process stronger, like a blade forged in the flames.”
Superfónicos, a band rooted in Colombian funk, cumbia, and Afrobeat, has been active since late 2016. Although based in Austin, Texas, most of its members have strong ties to Colombia, which is reflected in their music. Their sound draws heavily from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, combining traditional rhythms with themes of the human spirit, displacement, folklore, and a deep connection to the earth and ancestry.
The band has performed at the ACL Festival in 2018 and 2021, and has shared stages with notable groups such as Ozomatli, Aterciopelados, Jungle Fire, Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Meridian Brothers, Sudan Archives, and Allah-las.
Their studio work includes the 2018 release Suelta, recorded with Black Pumas founder Adrian Quesada; and the 2019 track “Cumbealo,” produced by Spoon’s Jim Eno.
Musicians: Jaime Ospina on lead vocals, gaita, percussion; Nicolás Sánchez Castro on bass, melodica, vibes, backing vocals; Nick Tozzo on congas, tambor alegre, timbales, percussion; Daniel Sánchez on drums, percussion, backing Vocals; Chris “Zumbi” Richards on trombone, bombardino; Evan Marley Hegarty on keyboards; Erick Bohorquez on guitar, backing vocals; Andrés Villegas on guitar, backing vocals; and Mauro López on guitar on “La Semilla.”
Buy Renaceré.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.