Miss Colombia

by Lido Pimienta

Overview

In 2017, boundary-pushing Colombian expat Lido Pimienta came seemingly out of nowhere to capture Canada's coveted Polaris Music Prize with her vibrant, self-released second album, La Papessa. Her alluring music is awash with strains of cumbia, porro, synth pop, and soaring electro-orchestral arrangements that mix with sounds of her indigenous Wayuu and Afro-Colombian heritage. Now signed to Anti-, Pimienta makes another ambitious leap forward with Miss Colombia, her third outing. Recorded between her home studio in Toronto and a remote village in Colombia with the help of co-producer Prince Nifty, the album's ironic title was inspired by the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant gaffe when host Steve Harvey accidentally presented the crown to Miss Colombia instead of the winner, Miss Philippines. Described by Pimienta as a "cynical love letter to Colombia," the transgressive, shape-shifting Miss Colombia that she presents recasts the traditional beauty queen image into a defiant multicultural artistic polymath, tackling issues of racism, indigenous inequality, love, and loss. The album is bookended by a gorgeous matched pair of mostly a cappella songs, "Para Transcriber SOL'' and its partner, "Para Transcriber LUNA," helping to give a cohesion to the diverse contents located in between. Standout track, "Eso Que Tu Haces" fuses nimble cumbia rhythms to celestial synth pop while Pimienta's voice soars over lush, percussive woodwinds, admonishing "that thing you do is not love." More breathy woodwinds and brass collide on the ethereal "Coming Thru" while steel drums give a breezy Caribbean influence to "Te Queria." About halfway through, the album detours sonically and geographically to the Colombian village of San Basilio de Palenque, known historically for its heritage as a place of asylum for African slaves who had freed themselves from the Spanish. There Pimienta meets up with revered percussion ensemble Sexteto Tabala, whose leader, Rafael Cassiani, contributes a spoken word piece before the group collaboration on "Quiero Que Me Salves," which plays like a field recording. From there Pimienta dials back out, dabbling with Latin, Afro-pop, and reggaeton vibes on the sprightly "Resisto y Ya" before winding down with the breathtaking vocal showpiece of "Para Transcriber LUNA." There are many layers in Miss Colombia's 11 vivid tracks, all of which are well-worth exploring. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2020
Label:	Fontana
UPC:	0823675139925
Rank:	153290

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lido Pimienta   Primary Artist,Vocals,Voices,Sampling,Keyboards,Processed Vocals
Joao Salgado Julio   Featured Artist,Bongos
Juan Canate Teheran   Vocals,Voices,Maracas,Featured Artist
Li Sumet   Featured Artist
Pedro Cassiani Canate   Guacharaca,Featured Artist
Sexteto Tabala Members   Vocals,Guest Artist
Matt Smith   Synthesizer,Drums (Snare),Drums (Snare),Keyboards
Burgos   Featured Artist
Teresa Salgado   Vocals,Guest Artist
Manuel Valdez Canate   Timba,Featured Artist
Rafael Cassiani   Vocals,Featured Artist
Brandon Valdivia   Percussion
Isla Craig   Vocals,Guest Artist
Tara Kannangara   Trumpet
Liliana Saumet   Vocals,Guest Artist
Elizabeth Rodriguez   Vocals,Guest Artist
Felicity Williams   Vocals,Guest Artist
Karen Ng   Flute,Clarinet
Magdelys Savigne   Vocals,Guest Artist
Robin Dann   Vocals,Guest Artist
Reimundo Sosa   Congas,Percussion
Estevinson Padilla Valdez   Marimbula,Featured Artist
Franklin Hernandez Cassiani   Claves,Featured Artist
James Gregoire   Steel Pan
Emelia Reyes Salgado   Vocals,Guest Artist
Doris Garcia   Vocals,Guest Artist
Ivy Mairi Farquhar McDonnell   Vocals,Guest Artist
Sexteto Tabala   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Juan Canate Teheran   Group Member
Pedro Cassiani Canate   Group Member
Matt Smith   Drum Programming,Drum Programming,Arranger,Producer
Andres Nusser   Mixing
Alberto Ramirez   Assistant
Philip Shaw Bova   Mastering
Manuel Valdez Canate   Group Member
Rafael Cassiani   Lider,Group Member
Lido Pimienta   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Drum Programming
Paz Ramirez   Art Producer
Prince Nifty   Engineer
Orly Anan   Art Direction
Estevinson Padilla Valdez   Group Member
Franklin Hernandez Cassiani   Group Member
Joao Salgado Julio   Group Member
Carlos Romero   Art Producer,Art Direction
Daniel Murillo   Photography