Music of the Americas: Argentina and Colombia

Tuesday, September 30, 10 am

Jimena Ángel is a singer, producer, guitarist, and DJ from Bogotá, who was a member of Pepa Fresa, Sidestepper, and Alerta Kamarada before turning to her solo career in 2007. 

From Bogotá, she is back on En Casa with this video of "Self love." 

Wednesday, October 1, 10 am

Carolina Mama is an Argentine singer, composer, musician, and filmmaker whose work blends soulful storytelling with a transcendent vocal style. Rooted in Latin American and Spanish folk traditions and influenced by North African and American sounds, her music merges folklore with jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and cinematic soundscapes. After surviving a near-death experience in Argentina, she devoted herself fully to music as a means of survival and expression. 

Her debut album, Amina, is a bold and tender sonic journey honoring women’s strength and resilience, an immersive fusion of heritage, jazz improvisation, and storytelling that challenges and redefines narratives of womanhood. The song "Amina" is a tribute to every woman who has faced adversity, and the story woven into the heart of this track is a call for equality and a dedication to amplifying women’s voices. It’s a declaration of empowerment, urging women to rise, be seen, and be heard. 

"Through 'Amina'," Carolina Mama said, "I want to inspire women everywhere to embrace their power and stand tall." This album not only promotes gender-based violence prevention through music and storytelling, but also delivers a message to younger generations: speak up, stand firm, and never fear fighting for your rights.

Thursday, October 2, 10 am

Colombian multi-instrumentalist, educator, and composer, Oscar Salamanca is also the CEO of La Fórmula Music Productions, through which he shares Latin American music and his own compositions. La Fórmula is a collective of dancers, producers, and artists based in Cincinnati dedicated to spreading Latin American music. 

From Cincinnati, he sent us this version of "Niña Camba," a 1969 song by César Espada Morales based on the story of a man from the Bolivian highlands who falls in love with a lady from the eastern lowlands. The song has become an unofficial hymn for the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 

Friday, October 3, 10 am

From Bogotá, Manuela Ocampo is back with her brother Pedro in this video of "Peregrino," a song from her upcoming album, Ocasos y Albas. She released her first album in 2021, two singles in 2024, and is now preparing to release her second, produced by Richard Blair. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The 2025–2026 series is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University.