Latin Grammy nominee Jimena Angel returns to Yuksek’s Partyfine with a colourful new album of global grooves – ‘Aguacero. ’Cumbia, Latin electronica and pop hooks characterize this love-fueled and sunny sound.

Jimena is a singer, producer, guitarist and DJ from Bogotá who has already put out three albums, several singles and picked up a Grammy nomination. As well as touring the world as a solo artist and performing everywhere from Glastonbury to Roskilde, she is recognized as a Spanish rock pioneer who has been in Colombian bands Pepa Fresa, Sidestepper, and Alerta Kamarada since the 90s. 

Fresh off the album’s release, we caught up with Jimena to discuss growing up in Columbia, her earliest musical memories, the album itself, and more! 

WWD: Hey Jimena! Thanks for being here and welcome to When We Dip 🙂

Thanks to you!

WWD: Where are you from originally and where are you based today?

I am from Bogotá Colombia, and I live now in Buritaca, a small town by the Colombian Caribbean.

WWD: Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up?

I grew up in a neighbourhood in Bogotá with a large central park where we children played without mobile phones or tablets, rode bicycles and listened to music on cassettes and the radio on our tape recorders.

WWD: Was there a music scene in your hometown?

Yes! When I was a teenager, which was when I started my music career, there was a strong local grunge scene. There were several bands and we all supported each other, both by attending each other’s gigs and collaborating musically.

WWD: How far back does your love of Latin music really go?  Can you remember a song from when you were a kid that stuck with you?

Well, when I was a girl, I spent a lot of time with my nanny, who was from the Colombian Pacific coast, and we had long sessions of dancing and singing to the tropical hits of the moment. The first song I learned to play on a wind organ that my parents gave me was “El Africano” by Calixto Ochoa, and I used to drive my sister crazy on Sunday mornings by playing it really loud, since I had no control over the volume.

WWD: Did your family play music at home a lot when you were a kid? 

Yes, but I remember more from the car trips from Bogotá to Medellín, listening for hours to the music my parents listened to. My dad liked boleros, tango and music from the Andean region of my country, and my mum liked romantic pop ballads or what we call here ‘music for ironing’.

WWD: When did you first start to explore your own musical taste and how did this manifest?

As a teenager, I loved spending hours listening to the radio until the song I wanted to record on cassette came on. The same thing happened when I had the chance to watch MTV on a trip abroad or at a friend’s house with cable. Back then, at 13 years old, I loved Guns N’ Roses, INXS, Madonna, and Janet Jackson.

WWD: What kind of stuff were you into in your teens?

Later in my adolescence, between the ages of 14 and 18, I liked alternative stuff like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, bands from the 60s and 70s like Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, funkier stuff like Chic, Jamiroquai, singers like Björk.

WWD: Who were the artists from the past that have inspired your musical tastes today?

The music I like now is a mix of disco, reggae, Afrobeat, highlife and Antillean music… So I would say that of those genres, the most representative artists who have inspired me today would be Bob Marley, Chic, Kiki Gyan, Ebo Taylor, Oriental Brothers, Joe Arroyo and Kassav.

WWD: If you knew then what you knew now and the music industry, what advice would you give to a younger Jimena?

I would tell her not to take anything personally and to always seek expert advice on issues she is unfamiliar with and that cause her fear and laziness.

WWD: Are there any direct inspirations of artists on your new album ‘Aguacero?’

Yes, of course! I was very inspired by the music of people I admire greatly, such as Bosq, Voiláaa, YUKSEK, Biga Ranx, and Blundetto. I was even lucky enough to work with some of them on the album!

WWD: How long did the album take to come together?

Well… it took three years to compose, produce, record and mix the album, and then I spent a year and a half looking for the record label that would be Partyfine, who helped me master it and finally bring it to your ears.

WWD: What was the first track you made and how did it take shape?

The first track I made was ‘Adios’ in 2020, which started out as a more electronic reggae/dub track. With the help of Daniel Michel, we gave it a more organic sound to make it more in line with the rest of the songs on the album.

WWD: Did you have a particular vision for this album and what is it?

As I wrote the songs and noticed their diversity, I decided to make an eclectic album, where different moods and genres could come together through the voice and the story behind the inspiration for each song, which would be the constant rainstorms (AGUACERO) that accompanied me during this time. I wanted this album to be as eclectic as my tastes, my DJ sets, and myself.

WWD: Do you feel you have achieved what you set out to do with the album?

Absolutely!

WWD: What other musicians did you work with on the album?

I collaborated on the production with Bruno Patchworks, Nickodemus, iZem, Captain Planet, Maga Bo, and Daniel Michel. León Pardo, Marco Fajardo, Alex Martinez, Luis Luque Niño, Juan David Lacorazza, and David Cantoni participated in the recording of the album.

WWD: How did your relationship with Partyfine begin? 

I have always liked and followed YUKSEK’s music. I tried to contact him many times (without success). Until one day he sent me a message on Instagram saying that he really liked the song I did with Tigerbalm (Cumbia Calypso) and asked me if I wanted to collaborate with him, to which I obviously said yes. I then showed him my album and today I am signed with Partyfine!

WWD: Can you tell us a little about this brilliant label?

Partyfine is Yuksek’s record label, specialising in indie and dance music. I’ve been following it for quite some time, and I really like all of its artists. I feel special to be part of it, even with my eclectic-tropical character, and I think its sounds influence what I do now in a good way.

WWD: If you had to choose one aspect of what you do – singing/ songwriting/ performing – which aspect would you be most in love with?

I love all these crafts, but I think singing comes more naturally to me, and thanks to this I can compose, produce, perform and mix.

WWD: Do you always write songs with stories within the lyrics? Do you ever write songs without a story?

Not always… sometimes I write lyrics without a story, as is the case with ‘Llamameya,’ ‘Maní’ and ‘Selflove.’

WWD: This is a timeless package of blissed-out Latin Balearic brilliance. Where do you think is the perfect place to listen to this music and what do you think we should be drinking?

Ay, thank you very much! As it is so varied, I think it would be best to listen to it somewhere where you can sit and watch the sea and get up and dance when the rhythm calls for it, with a good sound system and a mezcal cocktail in your hand.

WWD: What else is Jimena Angel working on right now?

I am currently working on my next album, some new collaborations, and preparing for my upcoming tour in Europe between March and April 2026.

WWD: Wow, you don’t stop! Thanks for the chat 🙂

The ‘Aguacero’ album is available here