A Quick Guide to Latin Music in Japan with Pablo Borchi // 30-01-21

Although relatively unknown around the world, Japan has a very effervescent cumbia scene that is developing its unique sound by fusing cumbia with influences from other alternative scenes such as punk, psychedelic rock, reggae, as well as local folk music, producing artists such as Minyo Crusades or Los Oxxos Sexos. The inclusive and pro-diversity energy of these artists contrast with the other famous Latin scene in Japan, salsa, which although has produced superstars such as Orquesta de La Luz has a tendency to isolate their music from any other influences. In this show Borchi takes us through some of the most characteristics tracks from Japan’s cumbia scene in an attempt to understand its birth and evolution during the past 20 years.