Behind the Scenes No. 3 Interview with Andrés Cepeda

We spoke with Andrés Cepeda about his upcoming tour, Nuestra Vida en Canciones (Our Life in Songs), which will take him to Ibagué, Bucaramanga, Manizales, Medellín, Cali, and his first stadium show in the city where he grew up: Bogotá.

1. Well, you're about to play your first stadium show in Bogotá, a milestone in your career. What are your expectations for this new and special reunion with the city where you grew up?

Well, for me, it's very important to close this tour with my concert at El Campín Stadium; it has a very special meaning. Not only is it the biggest stage in my city, it's the stage where I went to see my greatest idols, dreaming of one day performing there, and that day has arrived. So, for me, it's a very important platform, the culmination of a process, and it has immense emotional and professional value in my career. It's something that fills me with joy.

2. In addition to playing in your hometown, Nuestra Vida en Canciones is a tour of several cities across the country. What new emotions does this musical journey through Colombia awaken in you?

Touring my country with music is always a source of joy and celebration, especially after touring other countries around the world, taking my music across many continents. Returning home and reconnecting with the audience that saw me born as a human being and as an artist is a joy. We're going to be bringing you a spectacular, high-quality show with a beautiful production, a unique repertoire, some very emotional moments, and an incredible band. We're going all out, with everything we've got.

3. We'd like to delve a little deeper into the tour's name: Our Life in Songs. It's not just a tour of several cities, but perhaps a retrospective of your musical journey throughout Colombia. Which song from your extensive repertoire brings back the most memories?

The tour's name makes us think about all these years of my career and all the songs we've been able to share with our audience, and for me personally, these songs in this repertoire make me reflect on my own story. I know that many of my fans will feel the same way. For me, there are three songs on this tour that are very special: one called "Tengo Ganas" (I'm Looking Forward), another called "Lo mejor que hay en mi vida" (The Best Thing in My Life), and a new one that will be on my next album called "Bogotá."

4. Your career has also been marked by being a representative of Bogotá, through your songs, your personality, and everything that surrounds you. Today, what does being from Bogotá mean to you?

For me, being from Bogotá, besides being a source of pride, is also a responsibility. I feel like an ambassador for my city, for its culture, for the unique character of its people, representing a city that is pluralistic, diverse, and welcomes people from all over Colombia and the world. A city that strives to be welcoming, that has its challenges, but that wants to be better. It's a city where we find incredibly interesting cultural offerings, not to mention Bogotá's nightlife, which is simply magnificent. So, I feel very happy representing my city and being an ambassador to other parts of the world for what it means to be from Bogotá.

5. This year isn't even halfway over; many months lie ahead. What new things can we expect from Andrés Cepeda throughout 2024?

Well, in 2024, which has been a very interesting year for me, something very special is still missing. It's not just this "Our Life in Songs" tour, which culminates with the concert at El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, but also the release of an album that I consider a very special work, if not the best I've done so far. It's called "Bogotá," after my city, and it tells a bit more about the stories of the place where I was born.

6. To conclude, we'd like you to recommend a Colombian artist and a Latin American artist.

Well, fortunately, there are many Colombian artists to choose from, so many people doing very different and interesting things. But to mention one, or rather, to mention one woman, I'd refer to an artist who I think is doing very interesting and serious work. Her name is Juliana. I highly recommend that if you don't know her, you look her up. And as for a Latin American artist, I recommend my all-time idol, Luis Alberto Spinetta, whom I listen to every day.

Interview by Jaime Cortés