Andrés Cabas

Biography

Cabas was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. His father Eduardo, a musician and composer himself, began teaching Cabas music at the age of five. At six, Cabas formally studied piano and became skilled at this and various other instruments, including percussion. Through his teenage years in Bogotá, he acquired a taste for classical music, rock and roll, electronic music, and for his native cumbia and fandango music. He was also inspired by his former music teacher, Helbert Ballestas, at the Colegio San Carlos who helped him develop the idea of fusing Colombian and rock music.

As a young adult, Cabas traveled, first to Paris and later New York; it was in New York's nightclubs that he met prominent figures of jazz and salsa, inspiring him to write and compose music. Perhaps paradoxically, New York was also an unhappy phase in Cabas' life, where he felt alienated and depressed. The period resulted in his self-titled debut album, Cabas, in 2000 which became a huge success in Colombia. His single "Mi Bombón" ("My Bon-bon") topped the country's charts for three consecutive months, earning him a gold and a double platinum disc. To consolidate this success, Cabas toured Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador in 2001.

In 2002, Cabas began to promote his music in other parts of Latin America and the United States, receiving positive feedback from critics and an article in Billboard magazine. "Mi Bombón" became a hit all over Latin America as well as in Mexico. He performed his first concert in the United States in late 2002. Cabas performed with artists like Lenny Kravitz in Mexico, Shakira, and Miguel Bosé in Spain.

His second album Contacto (Contact- 2003) defined his style. Contacto mixed percussion and drums with bass and rock beats, and the first single, "La Caderona" ("The Big-hipped woman"), had success similar to "Mi Bombón". Cabas' first music video, for the song "Leche" ("Milk"), premiered on MTV Latin America. Another single, "Bolita de Trapo" ("Little Rug Ball"), also topped the charts in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. After this success, Cabas toured France.

His participation in a tribute concert for Carlos Santana increased his exposure. Cabas earned a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist, and gained notoriety for simply walking to the awards instead of taking a limousine. At the MTV Latin Awards he was nominated for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Interpretation, the People's Prize and Best Rock Video for the Lo Nuestro Awards.

In 2005, Cabas recorded his third album, Puro Cabas (Pure Cabas), in El Cielo Recording Studios, Monterrey, Mexico, with the support of famous Colombian composer Kike Santander, musician Sargento García, and producers Toy Hernandez and Sacha Triujeque. Puro Cabas proved to be another huge success. Its first single, "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Gold Chain"), was a major hit in Latin America, along with its music video that stayed in MTV's top ten for quite some time. The song was even featured on the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 07. It was followed immediately by his second single, "Increíble" ("Incredible"), and performances at various Latin American music festivals.

He recorded 3 more albums, all with great success during the next years, through Si Te Dijera... ('If I Told You' - September 2011) even though his record company, EMI Colombia closed its doors during that period. He turned indie and in June 2013 Cabas released the single and music video, "Que Prenda La Mota", which hit the top 10 in Colombia.

Children's music

Cabas has always loved children, which can be seen through the many pictures and messages he posts referencing his son Simon on Instagram (@cabasmusica) and Twitter (@cabasmusica). In 2006, Cabas composed a series of 37 children's songs commissioned by the Swiss-based ZERI Foundation, a significant musical challenge. By September of that year, he completed the task and successfully recorded the song cycle, under the guidance of his father Eduardo, in different music styles and with lyrics that promoted a positive message to children. The song "Yo Quiero Vivir en Un Mundo Mejor" ("I Want To Live in a Better World") is a sing-along track that immediately caught the attention of children. The songs accompanied 36 fables written by Gunter Pauli, the Belgian economist turned scientist dedicated to exposing kids to over 1,000 academic subjects with the objective of inventing ways to bring water, food, housing, health, energy, jobs, and education to all. The DVD with all 37 songs and the 36 fables presented in English and Spanish was released as a limited edition album in April 2007. The commercial version became available in 2008. Later in 2008, Cabas returned to the Latin Grammys with "Bonita," a song from his album Amores Dificiles (Difficult Loves - EMI June 2008), which was #1 for 35 weeks in Colombia and hit #1 in Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina. "Bonita" was nominated for Recording of the Year at the Latin Grammys. Amores Dificiles was followed in December 2011 in Colombia by Si Te Dijera (If I Told You - EMI), his 5th album, which contained special collaborations with Andres Calamaro, Vicentico, Mala Rodriguez and Ale Sergi, of the Argentine group Miranda!. The album was released internationally as Somos Dos (We Are Two - WEA International).

Theater work

In 2009, Cabas joined forces with Repertorio Español theater in New York and renowned Theater, Film & TV Director, Jorge Alí Triana for an adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's "Pantaleón y las visitadoras". Cabas composed the music for this original adaptation by father-and-daughter team Jorge Alí and Verónica Triana. The production premiered in October 2009. The original cast recording can be obtained by visiting www.repertorio.org/pantaleon.

Present

In late 2015 Cabas released the single "Enamorandonos" (APM) in Colombia, soon followed by Ecuador. The single went straight to the top of the charts in both countries, receiving extensive radio play. A very creative, low-budget but worldwide video clip was released in February 2016 and is nearing 8 million plays. "Enamorandonos" was released in Mexico in August 2016.

Cabas has been writing for his new album as well as for other artists. His music has been featured in commercials and television programs around the world - his latest track; "Enamorandonos" was featured in the Mexican movie "Treintona, soltera y fantástica" ('Thirty-ish, Single and Fabulous') starring Barbara Mori in October 2016. “EnamorándonosTV” also included Cabas' song as the main theme for the show launched in November 2016 on Mexican AZTECA TV. He is currently commuting between Bogota, Mexico City and Miami as he works on his next album, which for the first time will feature lyrics in both English and Spanish. The expected worldwide release is set for the spring of 2017.

Cabas (November 2002)

Contacto (September 2003)

Puro Cabas (September 2005)

De la Sombra a la Luz (September 2006)

Amores Difíciles (February 2008)

Pantaleón y las visitadoras (January 2010)

Si Te Dijera... (September 2011)

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Cabas has received an award from six nominations.