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\n\tAn accidental supergroup emerged last week when the band Astropical<\/a> released its debut single, the lush, Afrobeats-based \u201cMe Pasa (Piscis.)\u201d The voices harmonizing together here are easy to recognize: Li Saumet, vocalist with Colombia\u2019s veteran tropical outfit Bomba Est\u00e9reo<\/a> (and also featured on Bad Bunny\u2019s<\/a> 2022 classic \u201cOjitos Lindos\u201d), joins Beto Montenegro, the velvety voiced frontman with Venezuela\u2019s recent Grammy winners Rawayana<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tThe collaboration began spontaneously when Montenegro sent Saumet a demo of \u201cMe Pasa.\u201d Six hours later, she had added vocals and completed the track. A short session at a Miami studio resulted in two additional songs, leading to a full album.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cLi\u2019s voice is sharp, nasal and high-pitched,\u201d says Montenegro during an afternoon drive to a Los Angeles recording studio. \u201cI\u2019ve always envied that kind of voice, because usually people tell me that mine sounds sweet. There\u2019s a contrast there, and that\u2019s why we sound so cool together.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAstropical<\/a> is now dropping \u201cUna Noche en Caracas (Tauro),\u201d a slick, dancefloor summer anthem, and the soulful \u201cCoraz\u00f3n Adentro (Escorpio),\u201d with airy harmonies and a memorable rap segment by Saumet.<\/p>\n \n\tThey\u2019re also announcing their self-titled full LP, which will include 12 songs, each corresponding with a different Zodiac sign. The band and album name derives from its members\u2019 shared fascination with astrology and tropical grooves, and the project will be out on March 7.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cBeto came to my house in Santa Marta for songwriting sessions,\u201d adds Saumet via Zoom from Colombia. \u201cWe were walking on the beach and started analyzing the traits of our respective astrological signs. I was looking for a fresh project because I\u2019m in a new stage of my life, and creating new music is always so inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tA quartet, Astropical is completed by Bomba Est\u00e9reo<\/a>\u2019s Jos\u00e9 Castillo on keyboards and guitars, and Rawayana\u2019s\u00a0drummer and multi-instrumentalist Andr\u00e9s \u2018Fofo\u2019 Story. The band will perform its inaugural concert in March at the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n