WATCH: Rawayana Pays Tribute to Venezuela With Their Win at 2025 Grammys
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: (L-R) Alejandro Abeijón, Alberto Montenegro, Antonio Casas, and Andrés Story of Rawayana winners of the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for “¿Quién trae las cornetas?”, poses in the press room during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
After a decade in the music industry, Rawayana won their first Grammy. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, the Venezuelan band paid tribute to their culture and its artists in a heartfelt speech.
Hailing from Caracas, Rawayana is known for blending Latine pop and alternative music with the sounds of Venezuela. The band released its debut album, Licencia Para Ser Libre, in 2011. Their breakthrough came in 2017 with Trippy Caribbean, which earned them a nomination for Best New Artist at the Latin Grammy Awards. Rawayana finally got recognition from the Grammy Awards when their 2023 album ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas? received a nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
Rawayana’s competition in the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album this year included Mon Laferte’s Autopoiética, Nathy Peluso’s Grasa, Cimafunk’s Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, and El David Aguilar’s Compita Del Destino. The band members were present at the Premiere Ceremony to accept their very first Grammy award. At the podium, Rawayna’s lead singer Alberto “Beto” Montenegro gave a speech in Spanish where he shouted out fellow Venezuelan artists like the late Canserbero, Akapellah, and Neutro Shorty. Montenegro then proudly added, “¡Que viva venezuela en esta mierda!”
Following last year’s contested presidential election in Venezuela, Rawayana’s songs have become anthems of pride for Venezuelans, especially the empowering “Veneka” with Akapellah. The band recently created a supergroup with Bomba Estéreo called Astropical.
