Lina turns turntables

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Bogotá DJ Lina Una
More and more women are willing to spin turntables in the city’s growing club scene. Kofi Martin meets Lina Una a Bogota DJ whose goal is to “play so well, people forget you're a girl.”

Women in Colombian popular music lead the country’s Grammy award-winning groups: Goya of ChocQuibTown, Liliana Saumet of Bomba Estereo, and Catalina García in new headlining group, Monsieur Perine are today’s descendants of Toto Momposina and Matilde Diaz.  They serve as national symbols in complete defiance to constricting stereotypes and represent pride in being Colombianas.

Lina Una joins the ranks of these frontrunners by literally remixing her role as investigative anthropologist from the University of the Andes and her interest in traveling to discover world music. “Honestly, I just really like what really makes people happy.  My shows are about celebrating life through sounds from all over the world.” After recent shows in major cities in India, Mexico, Spain, and Argentina, she’s known for her particularities in musical curation.

An independent DJ, Una just completed a year-long world-tour and research project and now performs throughout major cities in Colombia.  Among her performances in Bogotá, she has been an invited artist for Apple Colombia and nightclubs such as La Puerta Grande, Centrico, Latora y Cuatro Brazos and KEA.  She is also sought after by independent party organizers and co-sponsors Cartel Urbano and Shock Magazine for their special events Noches de Cassette, and All Tomorrow’s Party.  Una also collaborates with DJ collective El Freaky.

Around the world in 80 beats

A visit to Una’s residence is like entering a collection of a world artifacts museum representing over 20 countries which, for her, affect the aesthetic tapestry she is recognized for. “For example some shows I performed in China, I purposefully selected a few popular reggae tracks that wouldn’t normally cross the sound palette of the crowd I was performing for, but it was a great fit.  People went wild.”

Lina insists a good DJ is someone who adheres to the concepts of the scene of a party but also subliminally educates the crowd to explore and redefine their preconceived musical tastes.  Party organizers, to her, obviously have the agenda to please the crowd.  “But really, the best ‘spot’ is a middle ground between your identity as a DJ and what you perceive that the crowd wants and needs.”

Lina is one of a kind. She is a DJ.  Although she has never had an altercation for being a DJ and a girl, to her, the idea of thinking it could ever be a problem to overcome takes time away from crate-diving and finding new music.  “Of course the music I like and perform comes from my experience as a young woman and as a Colombian.  But music is music.  I don’t complicate it or even entertain the idea that I am perceived differently; if anything, being different is a good thing.”  Other Colombian girl DJ’s Fiona Beeson, and Margarita Moreno continue their work despite the lack of representation. Despite this Lina continues to look for music that celebrates humanity.  “I was born to do this and listening to music and really understanding it takes a lifetime.  Fame is an accessory to the experience of living my dream.”

Lina chases her dreams.  She is currently in post-production and will compete together with her party crew and Andrea Gamboa in the Adidas Originals for a chance to be sponsored for a tour.

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