Colombian-Canadian musician Lido Pimienta, known for winning Canada's Polaris Music Prize over Leonard Cohen, is releasing her new album Caribenya on July 17 via Anti-. The album, which she describes as “Enya-mode,” embraces dancefloor rhythms and resists commercial trends.
Political Concerns and Artistic Freedom
In an interview ahead of Colombia's presidential election, Pimienta expressed fears about right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who won a narrow victory. De la Espriella had previously said he wanted to “disembowel” the left, later dismissing it as a figure of speech. Pimienta stated that left-wing artists like her “would be target number one” under his presidency.
The 39-year-old artist has never shied away from politics. Her 2016 album La Papessa beat Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker for the Polaris prize. She says, “People tell me I have the best voice but that I'm ruining my career by always singing about politics. What is the point of having a voice, though, if I can't speak freely?”
Musical Evolution and Inspiration
Pimienta's 2025 album La Belleza challenged classical music and the “world music” label, while Caribenya turns to the dancefloor. She drew inspiration from the joy and resistance of Colombians amid political turmoil. “We created beauty. We blast our music in our homes made out of cardboard and we find joy as our resistance,” she says.
She also cites Enya as an influence: “I've always admired the I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-none-of-you-ness of Enya. She lives in her castle, she got no kids, she pops out every decade with a soundtrack that makes her even more rich, and she doesn't sell perfume or shoes.”
Background and Activism
Growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia, Pimienta experienced racism as a Black girl with Indigenous Wayuu roots. She found freedom in the DIY punk scene. After moving to Canada as a teen, she faced more racism but also developed empathy for disenfranchised white communities. “Everyone wants to be a billionaire but I think being a billionaire is so tacky. I miss the days when wealthy people would build theatres!” she says.
The album's track “Toxica” addresses a friend who told her to stop talking politics and said she wouldn't go far because she was fat. Pimienta responds: “I'm an artist, not an entertainer – I don't want to rely on looks or appealing to the male gaze.”
Creative Process and Future Plans
Caribenya was created on her laptop using Ableton software, made while caring for her three children. She sees it as the second half of a double album with La Belleza. Her contract with Anti- expires after this release, and she is uncertain about future projects. “My mission is to give beauty to the world but I'm always asking if it's worth it,” she says.
Pimienta will tour the US and Europe from September to November. “I want people to play the songs so loud in their car; I want them to dance so hard, cry and laugh and get angry. Because we're not mad enough,” she concludes.
