Around the same time that Simón Mejía of Bomba Estéreo sat down to write songs for the band’s acclaimed fourth studio album Amanecer, he also became a father for the first time. Simón was inspired by his young son to compose the music for the song “Raíz,” the last song on the album. Liliana Saumet, the group’s singer, wrote vocals for the song inspired by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta —a mountain range considered sacred by Colombian indigenous communities— and the connection between humans and nature. For Simón, it was a perfect fit. Go behind the curtain with Simón and hear how he and Liliana created “Raíz” from start to finish.

Featured image courtesy of Bomba Estéreo