Dorance Lorza
One of the pioneers of Colombian salsa in the UK since arriving in the 1990s, Colombian bandleader Dorance Lorza is also one of the world’s leading salsa vibraphonists, awarded a special honour from the City of Cali for spreading the heritage of ‘salsa con vibes’ abroad. Lorza had an impressive reputation in Colombia as an arranger, composer and producer before arriving in the UK. Since then he’s recorded 5 excellent albums with his Sexteto Café, won his first LUKAS award in 2014, before going on to win more international awards, and a 2018 LUKAS for Best Tropical Album for ‘Tributo a Cali’
Lisey Tigra
This exciting British-Colombian singer and guitarist demonstrated an impressive range of skills on her first EP 'Crime Scene', which features her raw, sensual vocals paired with powerful, roaring guitar solos, aswell as her live performances at LatinoLife in the Park '22 and Brockwell Country Show '23. Praised by BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, W Radio, Noctis Mag, the accompanying music videos showcase Lisey's affinity for visual storytelling and performance prowess. Straddling diverse genres, from rock to reggaetón, infused with London influences, Lisey set a new standard for the Latin Urban genre in the UK.
Sasha Keable
Sasha Keable is a singer and songwriter of Colombian descent from South London. In 2013, she collaborated with Disclosure on the single "Voices" and toured with the duo around the UK. In 2014, she supported recording artist Katy B on her UK tour. She has released two extended plays to date, Black Book (2013) and Lemongrass and Limeleaves (2014). Both were signed to Tinie Tempah's independent record label Disturbing London.
Camilo Menjura
One of Latin London’s most loved singer-songwriters and choir master, this two-time LUKAS winner for Musician of Year specialises in Afro-Colombian, Afro-Peruvian and Andean Jazz. Menjura's latest album 'Loop Exploration' is the result of his adventure with a loop station, the hardware being championed by artists such as Ed Sheeran and Reggie Watts, to which he gives the Latino treatment.
Luisa Santiago
Luisa is a Colombian-born singer, songwriter and pianist. Her charismatic performances and innovative collaboration with London-based Sikh producer Deewaan Singh gave her Salsa-R&B a truly internationalist and London sound, rich in emotion, melody and rhythms from East and West. A Brit School graduate and daughter of a veteran salsa musician, her immersion in all the nuances of London's music world since childhood has shaped her journey and electrifying performances at the likes of Glastonbury, Jazz Café, Roundhouse and Havana Jazz Festival.
Nando Arias
British-born and self-taught vallenato accordionist José Hernando Arias Noguera, was chosen at the age of 21 to be part of the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy. He was the first Britihs Colombian to peform as part of the Proms in 2018.
Angelica Lopez
Talented singer-songwriter Angélica López brings the grace, charisma and diverse rhythms of Colombia through her powerful fusion of Afro-Colombian sounds and pop, rock. The only female vocalist to be awarded a LUKAS, Angelica has toured with renowned international artists such as Willie Colon & Rey Ruiz, collaborated with Colombian music royalty Herencia de Timbiquí, Fruko and Mayte Montero (gaita player for Carlos Vives) whilst enjoyed recording success with her recent solo album Madremonte.
Dukus
Award-winning Colombian musician producer, songwriter, sound engineer and musician Dukus grew up in South London, learning classical piano from the age of three while his mother sang in church and played the guitar. Salsa and latin music infused his childhood, and he would develop a love for reggaetón and bachata as well as being immersed in the sounds of London. Dukus has collaborated with Craig David, Ed Sheeran, Central Cee, Fredo, Knucks, SteffLondon, Millionz, Giggs and Stormzy, aswell as dancehall royalty Popcaan and Cream of the Crop and afrobeat artists Wiz Kid, Mr Eazi and Eugy. His accolades include 3 UK chart top 10 albums as well as a MOBO win for best album with Knucks in 2022. His own tracks releases include ‘Me Enamoro’ (with Guerrero), ‘Talking Spanish’ and Bambi.
Desta French
A talented Colombian from Camden who accumulated over 1 million plays on Spotify and got extensive radio play in Colombia, when she released her debut single 'Shame'. Desta French’s song ‘Aguanta’ particularly highlights the vibrancy of fusing a Latin-sounding guitar lick with a drill-like drum beat and Spanish lyrics celebrating endurance, freedom, empowerment, and faith in Pachamama, an Andean goddess of nature. “London’s diversity makes you want to be more experimental and innovative as a musician,” she says, expressing the desire found amongst all these artists for collaboration and a shared collective movement.
Sachellys
“People are attracted to what makes them feel good . . . and Latin American music has such a positive, happy vibe,” says Sachellys, a young British-Colombian artist, whose song ‘Pa Mi’ has over 1 million hits on YouTube. “We all by chance started writing in our languages, thinking that no one else was doing it,’ adds Sachellys. ‘But we were all actually doing it at the same time, which is a bit mad.’ Born to the sounds of Grupo Niche and Celia Cruz and raised to Chris Brown and Kali Uchis, Sachellys’ music is Colombia straight outta London. Her debut single Could You Be’ landed her a spot at local Pride Festival in 2019. And ‘Pa Mi’, her single, was selected as Trace Urban’s track of the week, and the video aired on sky 364 for a month as part of their top 10 chart show.
PMAN
Born in Belgium to Colombian parents from Medellín, P-Man, moved to the UK at the age of 5 and settled in Brixton surrounded by his family. P-man is a rapper and leader of the well known collective Roce 40, one of London’s most popular urban music collectives. “We're thinking about the bigger picture. We’re not just aiming our music at the UK. Latin America has not heard this type of sound." He says. "That's what we're aiming for."
Luz Elena Caicedo
Luz Elena is one of London’s most accomplished and versatile Latin American singers, as well as an ethnomusicologist and events organizer. She fronts and leads her own two bands, the renowned Conjunto Sabros Salsa band which she has successfully run for over 20 years, helping them to become a household name in the UK, and Matices Latinos Quartet, a more acoustic project focusing on folkloric and traditional Latin American rhythms. She also created and directs The Latin American Community Choir, and The Cimarrón Festival which celebrates the African cultural legacy in Latin America. Her ethnomusicology Masters dissertation 'Cantaoras' Guardianas de La Tradicion focused on the importance of female singers within 'Currulao', one of the main Afro-Colombian musical traditions of the Pacific coast.
KIKO
Born in West London to Colombian parents, Kiko released his first music video ‘Cosa Buena’ in 2019 and has since shown himself to be a versatile artist with his trademnark combination of real rap, jumpy drill vibes and catchy hooks,. Kiko recently released ‘Dinero’, a collaboration with one of Spain’s most in-demand drill artists, Patron970. Setting new standards with his music videos, Kiko has become one of London’s most viewed Latin artists.
