Andrés Cabas

Andrés Mauricio Cabas Rosales (born October 7, 1976) known worldwide as Cabas, is a Colombian musician. His music is characterized by having a modern Caribbean-like sound, mixing genres from Tropical and Cumbia to Trap and Rock in a completely original manner.

Cabas was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. His father Eduardo, a musician and composer himself, began teaching Cabas music at the age of five. He formally studied piano and became skilled at this and various other instruments, including percussion. In his teenage years in Bogotá, he acquired a taste for classical music, rock and roll, electronic music, and for his native cumbia and fandango music. His former music teacher, Helbert Ballestas, at the Colegio San Carlos helped him develop the idea of fusing Colombian and rock music.

As a young adult, Cabas traveled to Paris and later New York; it was in New York's nightclubs that he met prominent figures of jazz and salsa, inspiring him to write and compose music. Perhaps paradoxically, New York was also an unhappy phase in Cabas' life, where he felt alienated and depressed. The period resulted in his self-titled debut album, Cabas, in 2000 which became a huge success in Colombia. His single "Mi Bombón" ("My Bon-bon") topped the country's charts for three consecutive months, earning him a gold and a double platinum disc. To consolidate this success, Cabas toured Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador in 2001.

In 2002, Cabas promoted his music in other parts of Latin America and the United States, receiving positive feedback from critics and an article in Billboard magazine. "Mi Bombón" became a hit throughout Latin America and Mexico. He performed his first concert in the United States in late 2002. Cabas has performed with artists like Lenny Kravitz in Mexico, Shakira, and Miguel Bosé in Spain.

His second album Contacto (Contact- 2003) defined his style. Contacto mixed percussion and drums with bass and rock beats. The first single, "La Caderona" ("The Big-hipped woman"), had success similar to "Mi Bombón". Cabas' first music video, for the song "Leche" ("Milk"), premiered on MTV Latin America. Another single, "Bolita de Trapo" ("Little Rug Ball"), also topped the charts in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

His participation in a tribute concert for Carlos Santana increased his exposure. Cabas earned a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist, and gained notoriety for simply walking to the awards instead of taking a limousine. At the MTV Latin Awards he was nominated for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Interpretation, the People's Prize and Best Rock Video for the Lo Nuestro Awards.

In 2005, Cabas recorded his third album, Puro Cabas (Pure Cabas), with the support of famous Colombian composer Kike Santander, musician Sargento García, and producers Toy Hernandez and Sacha Triujeque. Puro Cabas proved to be another huge success. Its first single, "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Gold Chain"), was a major hit in Latin America, along with its music video that stayed in MTV's top ten for quite some time. The song was even featured on the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 07. It was followed immediately by his second single, "Increíble" ("Incredible"), and performances at various Latin American music festivals.

He recorded 3 more albums, all with great success during the next years, through Si Te Dijera... ('If I Told You' - September 2011) even though his record company, EMI Colombia closed its doors during that period and Cabas semiretired for a number of years. He returned 'indie' and in June 2013 Cabas released the single and music video, "Que Prenda La Mota", which hit the top 10 in Colombia.

Children's music

In 2006, Cabas composed a series of 37 children's songs commissioned by the Swiss-based ZERI Foundation. By September of that year, he completed the task and successfully recorded the song cycle, under the guidance of his father Eduardo, in different music styles and with lyrics that promoted a positive message to children. The song "Yo Quiero Vivir en Un Mundo Mejor" ("I Want To Live in a Better World") is a sing-along track that immediately caught the attention of children. The songs accompanied 36 fables written by Gunter Pauli, the Belgian economist turned scientist dedicated to exposing kids to over 1,000 academic subjects with the objective of inventing ways to bring water, food, housing, health, energy, jobs, and education to all. The DVD with all 37 songs and the 36 fables presented in English and Spanish was released as a limited edition album in April 2007. The commercial version became available in 2008. Later in 2008, Cabas returned to the Latin Grammys with "Bonita," a song from his album Amores Dificiles (Difficult Loves - EMI June 2008), which was #1 for 35 weeks in Colombia and #1 in Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina. "Bonita" was nominated for Recording of the Year at the Latin Grammys. Amores Dificiles was followed in December 2011 in Colombia by Si Te Dijera (If I Told You - EMI), his 5th album, which contained special collaborations with Andres Calamaro, Vicentico, Mala Rodriguez and Ale Sergi, of the Argentine group Miranda!. The album was released internationally as Somos Dos (We Are Two - WEA International).

Theater work

In 2009, Cabas joined forces with Repertorio Español theater in New York and Theater, Film & TV Director, Jorge Alí Triana for an adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's "Pantaleón y las visitadoras". Cabas composed the music for this original adaptation by father-and-daughter team Jorge Alí and Verónica Triana. The production premiered in October 2009.

Present

Cabas' "return" started in earnest in 2015 when he signed with All Parts Move Management in Miami. He released the single "Enamorandonos" (APM) in late 2015 in Colombia, followed by Ecuador and surrounding markets. "Enamorandonos" went straight to the top of the charts in both countries, receiving extensive radio play. A very creative, low-budget but worldwide video clip was released in February 2016 and is nearing 20 million plays. "Enamorandonos" was released in Mexico in August 2016 and was featured in the Mexican hit movie "Treintona, soltera y fantástica" ('Thirty-ish, Single and Fabulous') starring Barbara Mori in October 2016. The TV Azteca hit prime time TV program “Enamorándonos” started in late 2016, with Cabas' song as the main theme. It is still going strong. "Enamorandonos" was subsequently launched in Spain, through a joint venture between All Parts Move and Antena 3 Music, in the summer of 2017, Cabas performed in Barcelona in September 2017 and a Spanish tour is in the works for 2018.

In May 2017 Cabas released his first ballad "Tanto Que Te Amo Tanto" co-written and produced with Colombian producer Jose Gaviria. The song about missing someone very close and dear was written for his then 8-year-old son Simon and quickly became a love anthem and a favorite at weddings, divorces and even.... funerals. Cabas followed his first ballad with his first Cumbia-Reggaeton infused fusion single "Rompe Los Niveles", co-written with hit writer Descemer Bueno of "Baillando" fame. "Rompe Los Niveles" was released in July 2017, immediately inspired a storm of fan videos and is currently climbing the charts in multiple countries. In August 2017 Cabas performed the song for the first time live at the VIBRA Bogota radio TYM Festival in front of 15,000 plus people. The music video for "Rompe Los Niveles" - a major production directed by the Spanish directing team Javi Rojo and Fini Mazza and shot in Miami - was launched at the end of September 2017.

In May, 2018 Cabas released his first ever English language song; "To Stay". It is the result of his fans' strong appeal for an English version of the hit ballad; "Tanto Que Te Amo Tanto". "To Stay" was also co-written and produced with José Gaviria in Miami. In the first few days of its release, Cabas’ "To Stay" made Spotify’s Baladas Románticas playlist.

Cabas is currently working on his first new album in over 8 years. He has also been writing for other artists and for commercials and television programs around the world. He splits his time between Bogota, Mexico City and Miami when he is not in the studio in Medellin. His upcoming album will for the first time feature lyrics in both English and Spanish. The expected release is set for sometime in 2018.

Cabas (November 2002)

• "Susurro" ("Whisper")
• "Himno a la Mamita" ("Anthem to the Pretty Lady")
• "Mala Hierba" ("Bad Grass")
• "Mi Bombón" ("My Bombon")
• "Juancho"
• "Tu Boca" ("Your Mouth")
• "Ana María"
• "Jincho" ("Drunk")
• "Fandango Viejo" ("Old Fandango")
• "...Se llama Cumbia" ("...It's called Cumbia")
• "La Cantaleta" ("The Babble Sing")
• "Fiesta de Tambores" ("Festival of the Drums")
• "Colombia Tierra Querida" ("My Dear Colombia ")
• "A Veces Soy Feliz" ("Sometimes I'm Happy")

Contacto (September 2003)

• "La Caderona" ("The Big-Hipped Woman")
• "Golpe Negro" ("Black Hit")
• "Declaración del Bizco" ("Declaration of the Lazy-eyed")
• "Bolita de Trapo" ("Little Rug Ball")
• "Contacto" ("Contact")
• "Patasarriba" ("Upside down")
• "Adentro" ("Inside")
• "Arrastraíto" ("Dragged")
• "Confía" ("Trust")
• "La Conquista" ("The Conquest")
• "Puerto Jabalí" ("Wild Boar Port")
• "Monocuco
• "El Peregrino" ("The Pilgrim")
• "Cosa Sabrosa" ("Tasty Thing")
• "Machuca" ("Squish")
• "Primer Amor" ("First Love")

Puro Cabas (September 2005)

• "Intro"
• "Guacamaya" ("Macaw")
• "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Golden Chain")
• "Poseído" ("Possessed")
• "Vámonos de Aquí" ("Let's Get Away from Here")
• "Increíble" ("Incredible")
• "La Quejosa" ("The Whiner")
• "Llega la Noche" ("The Night Arrives")
• "Salvaje" ("Wild")
• "Caribe Soy" ("I am Caribbean")
• "Likua" ("Blend")
• "Chiles Rellenos"
• "¿Quién Dijo Que No?" ("Who Said No")

De la Sombra a la Luz (September 2006)

• "Guacamaya" ("Macaw")
• "La Cadena de Oro" ("The Golden Chain")
• "Poseído" ("Possessed")
• "Vámonos de Aquí" ("Let's Go Away from Here")
• "Increíble" ("Incredible")
• "La Quejosa" ("The Whiner")
• "Llega la Noche" ("The Night Arrives")
• "Salvaje" ("Wild")
• "Caribe Soy" ("I am Caribbean")
• "Likua" ("Blend")
• "Chiles Rellenos" ("Stuffed Chiles")
• "¿Quién Dijo Que No?" ("Who Said No")
• "Amor de Mis Amores"
• "Soñar No Cuesta Nada"
• "Cuando Tu Cariño"

Amores Difíciles (February 2008)

• "No Dejo de Pensar en Ti" ("I Never Stop Thinking About You")
• "Bonita" ("Beautiful")
• "Como Nuestro Amor No Hay Dos" ("There is No Love Like Ours")
• "He Pecado" ("I've Sinned")
• "Hoy Que Te Vas" ("Now That You're Leaving")
• "Maleta Sin Fondo" ("Bottomless Suitcase")
• "Amores Difíciles" ("Difficult Love")
• "Donde" ("Where")
• "La Niña Alicia" ("The Little Girl Alicia")
• "Apaga la Luz" ("Turn off the Light")
• "Futuros Recuerdos" ("Future Memories")

Pantaleón y las visitadoras (January 2010)

• "El teniente ejemplar" ("The Exemplary Lieutenant")
• "La pinga loca" ("Crazy Penis")
• "Los pantalones de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Pants")
• "Supermarket"
• "Soldaditos de plomo" ("Toy Soldiers")
• "La tienda del amor (instrumental)" ("Love's store" (instrumental))
• "Oda a Pantaleón" ("Ode to Pantaleón")
• "La amenaza del Sinchi" ("Sinchi's Threat")
• "El himno del batallón" ("The Battalion's Anthem")
• "Adiós, hasta luego" ("Goodbye, until later")
• "Las pesadillas de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Nightmares")
• "Te has vuelto ciego por la Brasileña" ("You've Gone Blind for the Brazilian")
• "La muerte de la Brasileña" (instrumental) ("The Brazilian's Death" (instrumental))
• "Despedida de Pantaleón" ("Pantaleón's Farewell")
• "El teniente ejemplar" reprise ("The Exemplary Lieutenant" reprise)

Si Te Dijera... (September 2011)

• "Si Te Dijera" ("If I Told You")
• "Despues de la Lluvia" ("After the Rain")
• "Irreversible" ("Irreversible")
• "La Kalora" ("The Karola")
• "Por Una Mujer" ("For a Woman")
• "Lo Que Dejamos Atras" ("What We leave Behind")
• "Somos Dos" ("We are Two")
• "Tanta Belleza" ("So Much Beauty")
• "Dime Que Te Vas" ("Tell me you are Going")
• "Facil" (Easy)
• "Tranquilo" ("Calm")

Singles...

• "Soledad" (2011 - Andres Cabas / Fonseca (Fonseca's Album))
• "Que Prenda la Moto" (2013)
• "Besarte La Boquita" (2013 - Duina del Mar feat. Cabas)
• "Enamorándonos" (2015)
• "Tanto Que Te Amo Tanto" (2017)
• "Rompe Los Niveles" (2017)
• "To Stay" (2018)

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Cabas has received an award from six nominations.