Palenke Soultribe

"I must admit, the first time I put Palenke Soultribe in the player I danced in my living room. They are an Los Angeles-based band, exploring the Afro-Colombian connection with an electronic vibe. "
- Ariana Morgenstern Producer “Morning Becomes Eclectic” KCRW 89.9 FM - KCRW'S 89.9FM

Palenke Soultribe make a completely unique style of music. The elements combined produce a sound that can be compared to so few artists in this day and age. A sound that still echoes of the history of some of those styles involved. Juan Diego Borda and Andres Erazo fuse afro-columbian and electronic sounds brilliantly, and 'Mar' is the shining example of how well they've developed this sound.

The fact is that their brand new album includes and defies recent modern influences. It shows how talented these musicians are. The unexpected elements, the guest vocalists each adding a different flavour to their respective tracks. One of our favourites is without a doubt 'Africa is the Mother of the Beat' feat. Script. Simply put, the track could live in the world of 'edm' if it were released as an instrumental. Instead it takes on a whole new aspect as dance music that is truly making a point.
It'll be no surprise to you that the last album in the 3 record project was so highly regarded. This a group that we hope to hear everywhere. From dj sets, to the next party you throw this music will liven things up and keep you moving. There are a few other artists we can think of who have such a lively, varied, universal sound and Palenke Soultribe stand in a league of their own. - Fingersonblast.com

"The Colombia natives meld dancehall, cumbia and EDM into a party-starting punch. Mar, Palenke's new album, is a better Major Lazer record than the new Major Lazer record. Eat your corazón out, Diplo." - TimeOutChicago Sept 2013

"Colombian flavor with rock and electronica, Palenke Soultribe is in a category all their own."

How did you come up with your band name?
"Palenke, although the real word is spelled "palenque," was the name of the black slaves in the 17th century that were escaping from the Spanish. They were able to bring all of their culture, music and traditions to the small villages they formed in the jungle. They say it was the first free territory before the surrounding countries. As for Soultribe, we just feel like we are a collective of musicians based on the soul, wanting to do great art. We are not trying to be big rock stars in a band." - Spinner Magazine

Electronic trio Palenke Soultribe seamlessly combines Colombian rhythms with Chemical Brothers-style beats to create its own joyous mix.


"Oro," the first album in a trilogy, packs together dance anthems, live funk and cumbia, with Colombian folk accordion and percussion. Inspired collaborations with members of Kinky, Locos Por Juana, Elastic Bond and other cutting-edge acts give "Oro" a boundary-busting sense of adventure. Particularly catchy are the fast-paced cumbia song "Celosa" (with Locos Por Juana) and the accordion-infused house track "Corazon Bonito." If you throw on "Oro," the party will be good for the next hour. - Billboard Magazine

"For those who are into the Latin sounds. Palenke Soultribe are releasing their EP. And trust me on this one.. What a BOMB!!" - Mad Decent

"[PST] are virtually killing it with one of the strongest releases for this season!!"
"a tribute to legendary Colombian singer Petrona Martinez, featuring a house remix of one of her most beloved tunes, Las Penas Alegres. AND TOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE QUEEN HERSELF!" - TropicalBass.com

“10 Best Colombian Records of 2005
Robert Moog Award Best Electronic Record: Melodie Lounge 2005.

The track Daga En Pecho from Palenke Soultribe included in Melodie Lounge 2005 was written, recorded, mixed and produced by Juan Diego Borda at 59Studios in Bogotá, Colombia. - Semana Magazine December 2005

“Palenke Soultribe visited New York for the first time and left a great impression! Their music still sounds inside people’s ears. An electronic platform that fusions Colombian folkloric rhythms; Great!!!
They are from L.A. and are stepping hard. J.Borda, Popa and Andres Zuluaga unfolded in New York a ton of folkloric rhythms to combine them with dance music. The result is a delicious cocktail of rhythms that sweet the listeners ears.” - NYC Divino Magazine Published: Aug 2007

“…Out of Colombia, LA’s PALENKE SOULTRIBE blends traditional music with electronic beats to match the tropics and heavens”

“…Palenke Soultribe’s producers J.Borda (aka Insectosound) and Popa have found a home at LA’s WCMUSIC for an album that has a feel of live performance as its tracks develop/dekonstruct their brand of folkloric beats and house.”
- www.fly.co.uk/fly United Kingdom

“This month, the recommended vinyl record is proudly Colombian. Palenke Soultribe, a project founded in Colombia but based in Los Angeles, US. Their vinyl includes 4 songs that represent their unique style: A mixture of break-beats and progressive house, colored with folkloric rhythms hailing from the Colombian Atlantic and Caribbean coasts by using guiros, tamboras and accordions among other native instruments. The result is an interesting fusion of Colombian’s traditional sounds with the electronic tools that are available today.” - Terra.com by Guiadel Ocio

“Palenke Soultribe combines synths with native instruments and drums to create a unique world beat sound definitely worth listening. Their latest release entitled “Tropic N heaven”, spans the spectrum of electronic music from break beats, house and progressive to world music, heavily influenced by native Colombian bands.”

- www.outsidein.com. Palenke Soultribe Artist of the Day.

“…Colombian groove maestros Palenke Soultribe have mastered the rare and exhilarating art of blending intoxicating musical elements ranging from folkloric beats, house, progressive, turntablism, and live instrumental performances, delivering a live show that never fails to captivate an audience.” - CreateFixate.com Los Angeles, USA

“Palenke Soultribe, electronic music project, formed by three Colombians that live in Los Angeles US, fusions folkloric elements from popular Colombian music with electronic sequences by using computers and live instruments.”


- www.mac-center.com Palenke Soultribe Band of the month.

“Palenke Soultribe was selected along with other 17 artists to be part of Lounge.co, the most recent electronic music compilation made in Colombia. The album is a complete sample from today’s Colombian electronic music scene, from popular clubs to important festivals. Among other included artist in this compilation is Lucrecia, with a deep harmonic exploration, there is jazz echoes from Miles Davis in Ghava’s music, African close encounters in the proposals from Palenke Soultribe and La Morocha, erotic samples brought by Doctor Klub and South American chants with the band Sismo“. To submerge yourself, play the record, close your eyes and let yourself go.”

- Rolling Stone Magazine Spanish Version