Balún

Balún, a Brooklyn-based electronic indie band, is known for blending transnational influences with a unique tropical sound. Emerging from San Juan’s indie scene over a decade ago, the band has navigated the worlds of music, academia, and the Puerto Rican diaspora, creating a signature style they call “dreambow”—a fusion of dream pop and reggaeton rhythms. Their 2018 album Prisma Tropical marked a milestone, combining traditional Puerto Rican instruments like the tiple and bomba barrel drum with dembow beats and electronic synths. The album was widely praised, landing on NPR’s Top 50 Albums and Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Latin Albums of the year.

After a brief hiatus, Balún returned with the single Los Problemas (Siempre Regresan), continuing to evolve their sound. They spent the last few years performing at major festivals, recording a Tiny Desk Session for NPR, and contributing original music to a critically acclaimed podcast series. Alongside these projects, the band organized fundraisers for Puerto Rico and recorded a cover of a classic song as part of a collaborative album.

Led by acclaimed composer Angélica Negrón, the current lineup of Balún brings together a range of musical backgrounds, from classical composition to electronic production, continuing to push the boundaries of Caribbean and electronic music. With their latest single, the band leans further into Caribbean rhythms while keeping their signature dreambow aesthetic at the forefront. Balún is gearing up for more releases in 2025, promising to showcase an even broader fusion of genres, blending folk, tropical, and electronic influences into their ever-evolving sound.