Houston - Vertigo is the word that defines
the Colombian group Doctor Krapula.
Vertigo is in their songs at the rhythm of
intense rock, reggae, cumbia, ska, rap and punk.
Vertigo is in the lyrics of acid
critics to the powerful, the ecological devastation and social inequalities.
In his new
album 'Viva el Planeta', Doctor Krapula, faithful to his vertigo, carries on his
denounces that have characterized him since the
band’s foundation in 1998 and that, through
his songs, operate as a healing catharsis for young people living in the
marginalized neighborhoods of Bogota.
"Doctor
Krapula was formed in marginal neighborhoods of Bogota ... and we have always believed in
the use of music to raise awareness of others about problems that we have, as the
lack of education, lack of access to public transportation, unemployment, lack
of health care ", said in a telephone interview from Bogota David
Jaramillo, the bass player.
Social
protest
Beside David
Jaramillo, the other group members are Mario Munoz (vocals), German Martinez
(guitar), Sergio Acosta (keyboards and accordion) and Nicolas ‘Niko’ Cabrera
(drums), who have made significant songs for social protest like 'Mas vale tarde que nunca ',' Mister
Danger ',' Mi Sol’,' La Verdadera Lucha ',' Sagrado Corazon 'and the
spectacular, fast-paced punk-ska' Somos'.
The themes
are contained in records like 'Dele la wuelta al Disco’ (2003) and the masterpiece 'Corazon Bombea Live' (2011).
For his
style, Doctor Krapula is on the same line and level of artistic excellence of
other rock mestizo-combative groups, as the Mexican Panteon Rococo and the
North-american Ozomatli.
In 'Viva el
Planeta', which came out last July [in the U.S., ndt], Doctor Krapula presents
10 songs in the key of his eclectic style but, unlike the earlier works, now
focus on global environmental problems such as 'Antidoto ',' Solo Soy ',' En la
Jugada ',' Buscando el Amor ', and the powerful punk' Exigimos' which is a
petition to the governments of the world to protect natural resources.
"The
water, at least in Colombia,
is at risk of being privatized, sold to the highest bidder, as well as the land
of the natives, and plants of the woods and forests. Doctor Krapula’s been raising
his voice to complain for a few years, now to give eco to the alarm about the
ecological devastation that follows," says Jaramillo.
The
recognition
In 2012 Doctor
Krapula has been awarded, with 'Viva el Planeta', the nomination to a Latin
Grammy. His song 'Exigimos' has been nominated in the category of Best Rock
Song; prize which eventually took away the Uruguayan group 'El Cuarteto de Nos'
with the song 'Cuando sea grande' during the awards ceremony on November 15 in Las Vegas.
"The
truth is that a nomination like this is a great honor and a great recognition,
but we're not behind any prize," says Jaramillo.
His guests
In 'Viva el
Planeta' accompany Doctor Krapula great guests as the Uruguayan rocker Emiliano
Bracciari from the group 'No te va Gustar', the Argentine rocker Jorge Serrano
from 'Los Autenticos Decadentes' and the Colombian pop-rock singer Juanes, as
guitarist in 'Amanece', a spectacular romantic song of reggae-cumbia-ska.
"Juanes,
apart from the aesthetic differences that we may have in respect of what we
play, is a great guitarist and a friend who, in turn, is concerned about the
ecological devastation ... we invited him to register as a guitarist, nothing
more, and he accepted . In fact, he does not appear in the official video,
"says Jaramillo.
By DAVID DORANTES - 2012
