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Rock band from Colombia

Aterciopelados , also known as Los Aterciopelados, is a rock band from Colombia, led by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago. Their music fuses rock with a variety of Colombian and Latin American musical traditions. Aterciopelados have recorded eight albums. The group has won four Latin Grammy Awards from eight nominations, including Best Alternative Album in 2007 for Oye, as well as four Grammy Award nominations. Their song "Bolero Falaz" topped Canal Viva Colombia's list of the 1,000 most important songs of Colombian rock, and several more of their songs also made the list, including "Maligno", "El Estuche", "Mujer Gala" and "Sortilegio". Aterciopelados are internationally recognized for their socially conscious message, and regularly discuss issues including political injustice, women's rights, and environmental destruction. They were honored by the United Nations for their work denouncing violence in Colombia.

Primarily a collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Andrea Echeverri and bassist/arranger Héctor Buitrago, who began collaborating in Bogotá, Colombia, in the early 1990s as "Delia y los Aminoácidos". Buitrago came from a hardcore punk background, leading a group called La Pestilencia, while Echeverri had been drawn into the nascent scene through art school friends. Buitrago had been a fan of boogaloo by Richie Ray in his childhood, and later bands including Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Yes, and taught himself bass guitar by ear. The track "Bandera" ("Flag") discusses immigration issues, inspired by the difficulties the band had experienced entering certain countries while touring. The Washington Post, Billboard, NPR's All Things Considered, and Vibe magazine. Aterciopelados launched an extensive tour of the United States in April 2009 in support of the album. Their most recent album Claroscura, from 2018, won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, and was nominated in the Grammy awards 2019 as Best Latin alternative, Urban album.

In 2005 and 2006, Echeverri and Buitrago made solo albums: Echeverri's self titled Andrea Echeverri and Buitrago's ConEctor. Andrea Echeverri is centered around Echeverri's experiences of pregnancy and becoming a mother. ConEctor, which translates as "with Héctor" or "connector", explores themes of contemporary spirituality, and features several guest artists including Echeverri, Alex Ubago and Julieta Venegas.

The band has a strongly socially conscious message. They regularly discuss social issues publicly, and have been involved in a range of projects related to progressive causes. They have been honored by the United Nations for their work denouncing violence in Colombia. Andrea Echeverri said in 2008: "If we are invited to a worthy cause, we are there. Only by respecting Mother Earth and the rights of everyone can the world truly live in harmony".

Aterciopelados' album Rio, released 21 October 2008, coincided with discussion of a proposed Colombian constitutional referendum to declare access to water as a fundamental right for Colombian citizens. "When I was growing up, the Bogotá River was considered a mythic and iconic place, and now it's a tiny stream", said Echeverri. Since 2010 the band have been organizing a global initiative called Cantoalagua, highlighting the importance of the planet's water on the planet.

Aterciopelados collaborated with Amnesty International and Link TV for a human rights project featuring a new version of "Cancion Protesta", from their 2006 album, Oye, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The song was re written to address issues of human rights, under the title "The Price of Silence". The United Nations granted unprecedented access to the United Nations General Assembly for the filming of the video. Other artists involved included Stephen Marley (Jamaica), Gilberto Gil (Brazil), Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Yerba Buena (PanLatin), Julieta Venegas (Mexico), Emmanuel Jal (Sudan), Hugh Masekela (South Africa) and Rachid Taha (France/Algeria).

In Colombia, Aterciopelados is involved with the Destierro y Reparacion (Displacement and Reparations) project, which addresses the issue of displacement of native peoples. Promoted by the Museum of Antioquía, the project aims to raise popular awareness of the dimensions and implications of forced displacement, as a phenomenon weakening social stability. Additionally, the project aims to identify possible methods and forms of reparation that would ensure the application of fundamental rights and protect the culture of the affected communities. The project features discussions, workshops, exhibits and concerts and includes the participation of more than 20 institutions. Aterciopelados contributed the song "Errante Diamante" (Wandering Diamond) in support of the project.