From Bomba to Bad Bunny: Searching for the Sounds of Puerto Rico

Unpacked by AFAR

Puerto Rico has had a huge impact on the world's music scene, in comparison to its size. And on this week's episode, host Aislyn Greene travels to the island to find out why. She explores bomba and plena, two of the earliest forms of music that emerged from Puerto Rico’s African ancestors. Discovers jibaro music, or “hillbilly” music, though this style of music is incredibly complex and improvisational. Found the source of danza music, watched salsa musicians urge people to their feet, and met with reggaetón artists.

And though we couldn’t possibly capture all of the complexities of the island’s music in one episode, we hope it does reveal what she found: a place that is singularly committed to art and music. As one of her guides, Nory, put it: “We are artisans, we are painters, we are all musicians. That’s actually the identity of a Puerto Rican.”

Meet this week’s guests

• Margarita “Tata” Cepeda, owner of Puerto Rico Is Bomba, a dance and music school
• Maribel Martinez, guide at House of the Troubadour Luis Miranda “Pico de Oro”
• Melina Aguillar, owner of Isla Caribe Tours
• Norymar Maldonado, Isla Caribe tour guide
• Angelina Villapiano Luna, musician, dancer, and salsa teacher
• Petra Rivera Rideau, author of Remixing Reggaetón: The Cultural Politics of Race in Puerto Rico
• RaiNao, urbano musician
• Herson Guerrero, professor, photographer, and musician

Resources

• Read the full transcript of the episode.
• Listen to the playlist.
• Read Petra's Bad Bunny Syllabus
• Listen to the La Brega podcast.
• Explore club 58 at La Concha resort.
• Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
• Subscribe to Afar’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.