'89 Birds' acts as tribute and warning for environmental efforts

A powerful tribute to the biodiversity of Colombia unfolds in an abstract musical project called "89 Birds," created by Tato Lopera and Felipe Valencia.

The duo says they always had the same visions when it came to combining technology with music. 

Lopera has been in the music industry since the late 80s and has always focused on electronic sound and production. His first group, Estados Alterados or Altered States in English, was revolutionary in the genre of electronic rock. The Colombian edition of Rolling Stone magazine placed their debut album at number nine on its list: “25 great national albums.” 

Valencia is the lead for a Colombian band, Normal Moodo, created in Mexico in 1998. His production is based primarily in electronic music and he has since branched out by creating compositions for documentaries, international movies and television series.

It was in 2019 when the two finally joined forces to create "89 Birds." Since then, their project and its influence has only grown, now preparing to perform at the Slingshot Festival in Durham on Oct. 4 and 5. 

Inspiration for the project is rooted in an appreciation for the rainforest and adjacent biomes, with songs including sounds of birds chirping and waterfalls. 

They also draw from their Colombian heritage. As stated on their website, they are “aware of the responsibility inherited by being born in Colombia, one of the most biodiverse areas with the greatest water resources on the planet.”

Where the project acts as a tribute, it also acts as a warning of eco-destruction and a call for environmental awareness. 

Kaua’i’ō’ō is one of the singles, named for a family of birds native to the subtropical forests of Hawaii that is now extinct due partly to deforestation. Through their music, Valencia and Lopera want to bring awareness to what humans are doing to the planet including decreasing biodiversity rates, destruction of habitats and illegal mining. 

Meant to be performed in a dome-like structure, visuals in their performances include flames that engulf the sphere-shaped room, contrasted with beams of light and colorful ripples of geometric shapes.

“We combine images of destruction and images of the beauty of our planet, and then we combine that with the music,” Valencia said. 

Director of the Slingshot Festival Kai Riedl said that 89 Birds’ blend between melodic and experimental music is what attracted him to the group the most. He said that the ability to be adventurous with sounds shows an advanced style of composition.

When choosing performers, Riedl said that Slingshot typically looks for groups that push the boundaries in electronic music, avant-garde pop and ambient music. 

“We look for people that are in [the electronic] worldview,” Riedl said. “We definitely try to bring as many people as possible from outside the states, to give people in Durham an opportunity to catch acts they would never normally get to see.” 

This will be the second time "89 Birds" will be performed at the Slingshot Festival.

For the last couple of years, Slingshot has incorporated “Spatial Sound,” which utilizes four speakers instead of two, into their performances. Riedl said the group was able to take advantage of the set-up to create a surround-sound experience.

“Buran A” and “Buran B” are two of their more inventive works because they are meant to be played at the same time, creating a unique sonic experience. 

“You play part A and the other person plays part B, you start at the same time, it sounds very, very crazy,” Lopera said. 

For Lopera and Valencia, the goal is to make a statement that will hopefully support existing worldwide climate efforts.

“Music is a good vehicle for [the message],” Lopera said.

Along with the Slingshot Festival, "89 Birds" will also perform at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Colombia at the end of October. 

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