By KAYLIN PICKETT
BG Independent News
LADAMA is bringing their blend of Latin American musical influences to Bowling Green during the Black Swamp Arts Festival
The group was founded in 2014 by Lara Klaus, Daniela Serna and Mafer Bandola during their artistic residency for OneBeat. Each of them was chosen to represent their countries and discovered a connection through their music.
In 2015, they embarked on their first tour together through South America and the U.S., having spent a year planning and raising funds. This started their journey as a tour band and gave them a chance to start preparing for their first album, which was released in 2017.
Since LADAMA’s formation, the members have been scattered throughout North and South America, forcing them to work together from a distance. What started as an obstacle for the band became a strength when working on their second album, which was released during COVID-19.
“We were not able to meet, but we already developed a whole system of emailing and doing things from a distance,” said Bandola.
LADAMA’s music is instrumentally driven, with each member specializing in a different instrument from their cultures that they blend together to create a unique musical combination.
Klaus, from Brazil, primarily plays the pandeiro, a hand drum from Brazil. Serna is from Colombia and plays the tambor alegre, a percussion instrument known as the Colombian happy drum. Bandola, from Venezuela, plays the bandola llanera, a stringed instrument originating from the plains of Colombia and Venezuela.
“We play our instruments when we create with the band that was our comfort zone,” said Serna. “We are very unique performers when it comes to the instruments that we are carrying. But it’s been so nice to see how, after 10 years, it has helped us all to explore different things.”
For the past three years, they have been working with Art Midwest and helping with different schools and performing at art festivals.
Now they are working on developing a new album to connect with younger generations. They’re also hoping to make a few different collaborations with other Latin American artists’ work.
LADAMA is performing at the Main Stage on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 3:30 p.m. after Christina Vane. They are the last headliners of the weekend.
The other headliners for the weekend include AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and Shadowgrass on Friday, Sept. 5; Alejandro Escovedo, and Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel on Saturday, Sept. 6; and LADAMA on Sunday, Sept. 7. The full line-up can be found here.
