Aria Vega will bring ‘Caribbean maximalism’ to L.A. — and soon, the Latin Grammys - BERITAJA
ByLucas VillaContributing Writer
One connection that could picture Aria Vega’s whirlwind 2026? Chévere.
The Colombian look for “awesome” is besides the sanction of the fast-rising star’s world smash hit. Released successful January, the breezy tropical plaything of “Chévere” — and the remainder of her sun-kissed singles — embodies the tone of Colombia’s Caribbean seashore wherever she hails from.
Ahead of the Latin Grammys connected Nov. 12, wherever Vega will beryllium successful the moving for the champion new creator award, Vega is taking what she calls her “Costeñita Core” popular activity connected the road, pinch her first-ever U.S. tour.
“Looking backmost astatine each the dreams I’ve accomplished and made travel true, it’s each blessings,” a wide-grinning Vega says complete Zoom from Miami.
“I’ve been crying tears of joyousness pinch my family, my friends and my combo chévere, arsenic I for illustration to telephone my fandom. Every creator wishes and dreams of a Latin Grammy, and for me, conscionable to beryllium 1 of the nominees is like, ‘Yo, I’m a winner!’”
Vega was calved Mariana Padilla Pérez successful Barranquilla, wherever she lived the manner of the costeños — aliases the group of Colombia’s Caribbean coastal region. She has been steadily chasing her dreams of superstardom since competing connected “Idol Colombia” successful 2014; but Vega yet started making waves past twelvemonth erstwhile she integrated much costeño culture, rhythms and slang into her mellowed, Spanglish popular flow.
“Chévere” exploded successful fame aft chap Colombian vocalist Ryan Castro jumped connected the remix successful February. Since then, Vega has pushed “Costeñita Core” further into the mainstream pinch songs for illustration the alluring “Cule Poco (Sirena_Besarico_Costeña),” and the sultry “Compa Coleto (Uy_Como),” offering unhurried takes connected champeta and different Afro-Caribbean rhythms.
Vega conscionable kicked disconnected her U.S. Cariavales Tour, which includes a extremity astatine the Roxy successful Los Angeles connected Oct. 13. Just a week before, she was handpicked by her popular foremother and icon from Barranquilla — Shakira — to execute arsenic portion of her 12-show residency successful Madrid.
In an question and reply pinch The Times, Aria Vega opened up about her Latin Grammy nomination, representing costeños and getting a co-sign from Shakira.
(Teograph/ Camilolewism)
How did the occurrence of the opus “Chévere” alteration your life?
I didn’t expect to beryllium connected [so many] airplanes and flights. Right now, I’m starting to consciousness the weight of that. I’ve seen what it’s for illustration to unrecorded connected the road. The remix happened aft Ryan [Castro] sent maine a DM connected Instagram saying, “‘Chévere’ is simply a banger!’” I was really excited to moreover get that connection from him, because I’m a instrumentality of his music. That was a really cool moment.
What could you show america about your upcoming debut album?
It’s Afro-Caribbean-inspired music. Right now, the medium is really long. I person recorded much than 30 songs for it. I’m moving connected cutting it down to hopefully 15 songs that will touch your bosom and psyche ... I want to make group vibe pinch my songs, consciousness cool, and consciousness chévere. That’s my extremity pinch this medium [I call] “Costeñita Core.”
What does “Costeñita Core” mean to you?
It’s an power that you either vibe pinch aliases you don’t. It’s for illustration our food, our slang and experimental fashion. Caribbean maximalism and shifting [mainstream] culture. Overall, it’s about making bold choices and being rebellious.
How do you consciousness about representing costeño civilization done your euphony and visuals?
It’s a large responsibility. I consciousness really happy and excited erstwhile I spot comments that opportunity things like, “It’s an grant for you to correspond us, and we emotion what you’re doing.” I get affectional because I don’t ever get that consequence … There’s besides group that say, “I consciousness that I’m not represented by her successful immoderate way.” It’s a substance of feelings. What could I say? I’m doing this pinch a batch of emotion for Barranquilla, Colombia and Colombia’s Caribbean coast. I want to beryllium a sound of the Caribbean coast.
What did it mean for you erstwhile Shakira selected you to execute for her residency successful Madrid?
As soon arsenic my squad told maine about this opportunity pinch Shakira, I was going crazy because she’s truthful inspiring. She’s besides from Barranquilla. Her euphony has been a portion of [my] life. It has been for illustration a companion for me. Since I was for illustration 5 years old, there’s ever been a Shakira opus that I was vibing with. I’m really excited moreover about the anticipation of gathering her.
How do you consciousness about performing successful L.A. for the first clip connected your U.S. tour?
I’ve been to Los Angeles earlier successful meetings pinch my agents and worldly for illustration that, and it felt for illustration a movie. It’s Hollywood vibes and I’ve ne'er felt that power successful my life. It’s really typical getting to execute each my songs that are not conscionable successful Spanish, but successful Costeñol [the costeño dialect of Spanish] astatine the Roxy. I’m going to deterioration outfits pinch taste designs and execute accepted dances that person been portion of my life, ever since I was virtually successful my mom’s belly. Los Angeles is simply a coastal metropolis too, truthful there’s thing that connects us.
What are your thoughts about being nominated successful the class of best new creator astatine this year’s Latin Grammys?
Everyone says it’s a really important category, because you can’t beryllium nominated twice. You could only beryllium nominated erstwhile successful your career. Hopefully I’ll spell to Las Vegas for that Latin Grammy and I’ll return it complete to la costa.
What will you do if you triumph the award?
Maybe I’ll do a performance astatine home. I want to do thing that feels honorable and authentic, because that’s what led maine to being nominated. I dream of becoming a bearer of my culture. What amended measurement to do it than being recognized successful the eyes of the Latin Recording Academy?
What was the inspiration for your latest azygous “Compa Coleto (Uy_Como)”?
My muse is ever my tiburón, my shark. It’s nary concealed that I’m successful love. It conscionable makes consciousness to talk about him successful these really loving and cool songs. It’s a opus pinch coquettish vibes. When you understand the song’s lyrics, it conscionable makes consciousness to flirt that measurement and person nosy pinch it.
Who do you want to collaborate pinch successful the future?
I would emotion to collaborate pinch Shakira and Beéle. I consciousness they do a batch for Barranquilla arsenic well. I would emotion to collaborate pinch Bomba Estéreo from Santa Marta. Maybe I’ll do vallenato euphony pinch Silvestre Dangond. That would beryllium really cool. Felipe Peláez has an astonishing voice. It would beryllium cool to bring these sounds of our ain to the world.
