Doctor Krapula, the punk ‘healers’ attack again!

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