How I Created ‘Miss Colombia’: Lido Pimienta’s Journey

 

While Colombian singer-songwriter Lido Pimienta was always passionate about music, having played in a metal band at just 11 years old, it was her migration to Canada at 19 that ignited her exploration into Afro-Colombian music—a genre that surrounded her during her upbringing.

 

 

Pimienta has gained acclaim for her experimental sound, which blends traditional Colombian genres with electronic elements. Her 2010 debut album Color and her 2016 follow-up La Papessa, which won the prestigious Polaris Prize in Canada, showcase this unique fusion. This year, she released her highly anticipated album Miss Colombia, which she describes as a “series of cynical love letters” to her homeland. Through this album, Pimienta addresses issues of misogyny and anti-blackness in Latin America and beyond.

 

One standout track, “Pelo Cucú,” is written from the perspective of a young Afro-Colombian girl experiencing her first hair straightening. The song, arranged in the bullerengue genre, features a collaboration with the legendary Afro-Colombian group Sexteto Tabalá, an early influence on Pimienta’s music.

 

In this edition of “How I Made It,” which highlights Latino creators and their work, Lido Pimienta discusses her deep connection to traditional Colombian music, the inspiration behind Miss Colombia, and how she crafted a song that resonates with her own childhood experiences.