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Aterciopelados was formed by former members of Delia y Los Aminoácidos -- Andrea Echeverri, who plays acoustic guitar and sings lead, and Héctor Buitrago, who plays bass guitar. The original drummer Andrés Giraldo was replaced by Alejandro Duque in 1995 and the original guitar player Charlie Márquez was replaced by Alejandro Gómez Cáceres in 1997. Among Echeverri's contributions is singing backup vocals, by Gustavo Cerati's request, on "En la Ciudad de la Furia" for Soda Stereo's MTV Unplugged album Comfort y Música Para Volar. Echeverri released a self-titled solo album in 2004. Buitrago released a solo album titled CONECTOR in the spring of 2006, featuring vocals by Andrea Echeverri, Julieta Venegas and others.
In November 2007 they won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album for their recent album, ?Oye? (Nacional Records).
Essentially a collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Andrea Echeverri and bassist/arranger Hector Buitrago, Aterciopelados has recorded eight albums since they originally teamed up in Bogota, Colombia in the early '90s as "Delia y los Aminoacidos". "Hector was an essential revelation in my personal and musical life," said Andrea. "He brought new aesthetics, unsuspected rebellion, and truckloads of music." Buitrago came from a hardcore rock background, heading up a group called La Pesitilencia, while Echeverri had been drawn into the fledgling scene through art school friends. "When I was young I listened to bugaloo by Richie Rey and later stuff like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Yes," said Hector. "The first time I bought a bass guitar, I'd never had one in my hands before. I began to write songs by ear." Hector and Andrea went on to open one of Bogota's only rock clubs, and their relationship is one Latin rock's most successful artistic partnerships.
Their first album, Con El Corazon en la Mano, features crashing, distorted guitars and a punishing punk drumbeat.
With their second album, El Dorado, Aterciopelados began to expand their horizons, including traditional llanera rhythms of the Colombian countryside as well as the flamenco-bolero sound of their first big hit, "Bolero Falaz." "At first what we were doing was very elementary", said Andrea. "But since we've played out a lot, learned to compose, and made a few records, even though we haven't had a lot of formal training in music, we've just learned how to develop. We've done it in a very instinctive way, but I think it's very valid." The hit song "Bolero Falaz" not only had a strong rock-ballad feel, but it showcased Andrea's powerfully seductive voice, one influenced by her mother, who sang boleros, rancheras, and tangos, and the great legends of nueva canción, Iike Juan Manuel Serrat, Mercedes Sosa, and Pablo Milanes. The song broke the band on MTV Latin America and made them stars all over Latin America.
Their third album, La Pipa de la Paz, was recorded in London with legendary Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera producing. The album's signature songs, "Cosita Seria", "Chica Dificil", and "Baracunatana" were hard-driving Latin rock classics that defined Echeverri's coy, new-feminist attitude by teasing macho men. After releasing La Pipa de la Paz Aterciopelados was able to tour in the U.S., recording an MTV Unplugged appearance in early 1997.
The following year Caribe Atomico which was recorded in Manhattan with guest appearances by guitarists Arto Lindsay and Marc Ribot further expanded Aterciopelados' sound into the world of electronica.
Gozo Poderoso (Powerful joy), their fifth album, is a melodic, moody manifesto for the vibrantly eclectic Latin alternative movement. It is world music for a new world. Recorded in Bogotà and produced by Hector Buitrago, this album led the way to independence and development of their own true sound.
A couple of years later came Evolucion, a collection of greatest hits.
In 2006, Aterciopelados released Oye (Nacional Records), a return to the more organic, rock sound reminiscent of their earlier work on albums like La Pipa de la Paz. Produced by Hector Buitrago and mixed by Thom Russo (Johnny Cash, Juanes, Kinky) the album's first single, "Complemento", is an upbeat declaration of love from someone who has found her soulmate; the person who complements her. The album also features Aterciopelados' trademark social and political commentary on songs like "Don Dinero", which questions the idea of money as the resolution to all problems, and "Oye Mujer" which asks of women "Are you a human being, or the erotic fantasy of some guy?". The band continues to win over audiences around the globe playing shows in Mexico, Central and South America, Europe and the U.S.
Aterciopelados' latest single and video "Cancion Protesta" ("Protest Song") is continuing to make waves for its outspoken social and political commentary against war and injustice. The video features the group using guitars fashioned out of former machine guns ? the special guitars were given to Aterciopelados by the United Nations in support of its efforts to take guns off the streets of Colombia.
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