Lido Pimienta

Lido Pimienta is a Colombian-born artist from Barranquilla, based in Canada, with links to London and Toronto, Ontario. Born in 1986, she studies Fine Arts with the aim of becoming an art critic and curator. She works in Latin alternative music and art pop, and her songs address collective life, self-determination, cultural acceptance, sexual orientation, racism, and the abuse of Indigenous cultures.

Early life and performance background

She begins performing at an early age, making people dance on stage from around 11. By 13 she is playing regularly in rock bands and hip hop groups in Barranquilla. By 19, she is touring in Colombia and receiving invitations to travel abroad. She later moves to Canada, where she lives with her family, and she describes feeling isolated in her new environment. She speaks English fluently from the age of six and turns to the internet and technology as a way of finding community and continuing her work.

Music and style

Her writing combines political themes with direct and symbolic imagery. In some songs, such as “Humano,” she uses a chant-like approach and a soft vocal style, while in tracks such as “Mueve” she uses a wider vocal range and encourages listeners to move and be true to themselves. Her music presents ideas of struggle, freedom, and the importance of collective experience.

Collaborations and recognition

She attracts attention from established artists including Micachu and the Shapes, Julieta Venegas, and Javiera Mena, who invites her to take part in a 2010 album. She also works with a wide network of collaborators across Latin America and beyond, including Loka, Rob Pollinate, El Poirier, Pernett, Caballo, Ximena Sariñana, Juan Manuel Torreblanca, Carla Morrison, Juan Son, Christian Heyne, Pamela Fakuta, Daniela Dadalu, De Janeiros, Vic Alta Joya, Un Mono Azul, Frikstailers, El Remolón, Jóvenes y Sexys, Ulises Hadjis, Uproot Andy, and Geko Jones. Her collaborations include work with labels and collectives such as Ninja Tune and ZZK Records.