Pop Montreal 2020 | Lido Pimienta pries open doors for a new generation of Canadian musicians
Pop Montreal brings you Lido Pimienta, Latin art-pop of empowering, socially conscious lyrics
Lido Pimienta’s headlining performance announced the end of 2020’s Pop Montreal Festival, and in a sense, the end of summer, hell, this was the end of life as we know it. The beginning of the fall, and the preface to a new kind of seasonal disaffection called red alert. If dancing were allowed, we would’ve all been on the floor that night, sweating and grinding and touching strangers and friends, building tensions and forging entire relationships out there on the dancefloor.
But as we all know, such exuberance is a thing of the past. Step right up, step right up, ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages, come feast your eyes and ears on the musical stylings of Lido Pimienta in a world gone rogue with the ‘Rona’.
Pop-Montreal’s 9pm Saturday night headliner @ the Rialto Theatre was a fun, and fantastic way to end the live portion of the festival. For the record Pop still offered treats to be enjoyed on Sunday, but they were all online.
Lido comes off as artistic and kind and kind of strange; youthful, honest, innocent, open and giving. She’s like a Hispanic Bjork, artsy (af) and never letting appearances get in the way of the truth. The Toronto based Colombian won The Polaris Music Prize back in 2017 and has since been on a cross country mission of world domination.
Her synth pop Afro-Colombian flavor is infectious. Her influences are myriad of complex percussion arrangements complimenting a youthful, angelic, aerial voice. It’s everything you’d hope from an artist rooted to her origins. That perfect marriage of Spanish melody with African rhythm.
In the world after Covid, sacrifices must be made, as such Pimienta wasn’t allowed to bring her full band and we didn’t get to witness the entirety of her act. We never got to see the interplay between leader and unit, the subtle bonds that flow between commander, crew and musical kinswomen.
What we witnessed was an introspective affair. A playful set, with an artist who isn’t afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve. She spoke of being a female sound mixer in a male industry, she talked about the pride and difficulties of being a single mother going on tour.
It was her and her beat machines, mixers, and loop pedals weaving a unique flavorful vibe. A little taste of the Caribbean on a warm end of summer night in Montreal.
This week, the province is once again forcing a generation back into hiding under red alert. Isolation is a must and the constant threat of neighbors turning into informants and friends turning to enforcers is looming high. But Saturday night ended on a high note… I’m not convinced that “Ça va bien aller”, not really… But last weekend: “Ça s’est bien passé en Tabarnak”.
Other memorable moments of Pop Montreal 2020 include Jonathan Personne’s performance. Check out our team review here!
