Né(e): Julia Worley, Cecilia Kelly, Silvina Costa, Mambo Sandoval, Damian Benjamin, Ale Coll, Andres Seranti, Juan Felipe Correa, Jose Gill, and Julio Sleiman.
Raíces: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sounds like: Traditional hypnotic cumbia rhythms heard in every corner of Buenos Aires, mixed with post-punk bass and the folky sound of the cuatro.
You should listen to Betty Confetti because… You love cumbia and Leonard Cohen equally, and can dance to both Bailanta and Disco.
Originally from Portsmouth, England, Betty moved to Buenos Aires and loved its music scene. Previously of the Buenos Aires-based lady indie-rock band, Las Kellies, Betty was hypnotized by traditional cumbia rhythms which she incorporated in her project, Betty Confetti y Su Conjunto Tropical. The songs talk about the end of love, parties, addictions, and in particular, the Buenos Aires bus system. Betty told Remezcla about her last album;
Camina Sobre Fuego is an idea of cumbia inspired by many different cumbia styles that I discovered living in Buenos Aires… I was listening to Juaneco y Su Combo, Gilda, Los Angeles Azules, America Pop, Ramonita Vera, Los Pibes Chorros constantly; a kind of hypnotic romantic dance obsession.”
Her cover of a Los Angeles Azules song is proof that women also get the cumbia blues.
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The song “Permiso” describes a typical Buenos Aires experience, feeling trapped inside a crowded bus on the way to a party. Betty told Remezcla; “it was written by a German friend, Tobi Hassels, who was visiting me as I was starting the band. He heard people saying ¨permiso¨ and ¨dale¨ all the time, and was fascinated.”
For next time you find yourself in a crowded vehicle…
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(Photo by Jor Ge)