Chicha Libre

Olivier Conan, who runs a nightclub in New York, originated Chicha Libre after a journey through Peru exposed him to chicha, a largely overlooked 1970s Peruvian subgenre that fused Colombian cumbia with American rock, psychedelia, and surf instrumentation. Back home, he issued the compilation The Roots of Chicha; its surprising popularity led him to assemble a multinational ensemble dedicated to updating the style for the present era. Located in Brooklyn, the group at first existed mainly to revive classic chicha numbers, yet it soon broadened into an open-ended exploration of psychedelic tropical music that encompassed original songs, influences from assorted international pop and traditional forms, and partnerships with sympathetic musicians. An early wave of releases included the albums Sonido Amazonico (2008) and Canibalismo (2012) along with the EP Cuatro Tigres (2013); afterward the band kept playing concerts while largely avoiding the studio until the EP Tequila y Aguardiente surfaced in 2024.