Riobamba is an Ecuadorian-Lithuanian producer, DJ and cultural activist based in Brooklyn. Riobamba’s rowdy, deeply researched live sets reflect back nightlife’s power as a site of joy and resistance, amplifying connective tissues between YouTube clips, dembow brujería, bodega soundtracks and noise hyperreality ‘supped up with a twisted, industrial gnarl’.

In continuing to explore the role of music as a site of visibility and resistance, Riobamba currently leads A&R and marketing projects for the iconic Nuyorican music label Fania, home to groundbreaking artists Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe and La Lupe, who set the path for the genres of salsa, boogaloo and Latin soul.

After earning a degree in political science from Boston University, Riobamba was the first Colombia-based participant in the Fulbright-mtvU programme, studying the subversive power of digital music production in a region enduring the effects of civil conflict and internal displacement. Her research documented collaborations with local musicians and communities, amplifying the sounds of cumbia gótica, political hip-hop and electro-champeta. Upon moving to New York City, she became the music editor of cultural platform Remezcla, where she worked for quality reporting in English-language media about Latinx musicians.

Riobamba is the founder of Boston’s transnational bass night Picó Picante, now in its sixth year, and was formerly resident at New York’s landmark global bass event Que Bajo?! with Uproot Andy and Geko Jones. She is also a member of the multidisciplinary Dutty Artz digital artist collective.

Free MACBA Saturday thanks to Uniqlo
Sábados MACBA
Uniqlo
Riobamba. Photo: Jared Skolnick

Programme

SATURDAY 14 JULY, at 6.30 pm
Venue:
Podium Plaça dels Àngels
Admission: Free. Booking not required. Limited places.

Public Programmes
macba [at] macba [dot] cat
Tel: 93 481 33 68