A new compilation album from DJ and music curator Edna Martinez on Strut Records, Edna Martinez Presents Picó: Sound System Culture From The Colombian Caribbean, offers a vibrant introduction to a musical world deeply rooted in community and resistance. Curated by Berlin-based Colombian DJ Edna Martinez, the album explores the culture of picós, based around the colossal, hand-painted sound systems that are the heart of street parties in the coastal cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.
As a 2018 Guardian photo essay, “Pico! Pico! Pico! The technicolour sound systems of Barranquilla1,” vividly illustrated, these are more than just speakers. Each picó is a unique, mobile work of art, emblazoned with “flamboyantly customised” hand-painted designs of everything from dragons to pop culture icons. The name itself is said to have likely derived from the Studebaker pickup trucks once used to haul the heavy equipment to parties. These towering systems became the epicentres of neighbourhood bailes (dances), fostering a unique musical ecosystem where local sounds like cumbia and champeta blended with rare African vinyl. Like the early UK sound system culture, which would guard their unique record selections and dubplates (a one-off, custom-cut record) to maintain a competitive edge, pico owners also prized exclusivity, with French sailors once bringing crates of soukous, Afrobeat, and highlife gems from Africa that were snapped up and are still played today. DJs would often rebrand these sought-after imports with piconemas—new names in local slang—making them exclusive anthems for their community.
However, the story of Picó is not just one of local celebration, but also resilience and migration. In 2018, ABC News Australia2 reported how the culture was facing pressure from authorities in its homeland, who have sometimes associated the vibrant street parties with violence. Today, it still faces challenges related to social stigma, cultural misunderstanding, and even attempts at censorship to suppress or control its expression. This has led to a fascinating new chapter in the Picó story: its expansion abroad. In a bid to preserve the culture and “change the cultural narrative of Colombia,” members of the Colombian diaspora have begun building authentic picós in new homes. One such sound system, El Gran Mono, was built in Melbourne, Australia, becoming the first of its kind outside of Colombia and a testament to the culture’s enduring power.
Martinez’s compilation brilliantly captures the rich tapestry of the culture, tracing the deep-rooted musical exchanges between Colombia, West and Central Africa, and the Caribbean, bringing together a carefully curated selection of these rare and sought-after tracks. It features legendary artists like Los Corraleros De Majagual, Peacocks International Highlife Band, and Zaïko Langa Langa. Martinez also includes her edits, reimagining these timeless rhythms for contemporary audiences while staying true to their original spirit. Through its extensive liner notes and carefully selected tracks, Picó! offers a powerful and authentic glimpse into a vibrant musical tradition that continues to resonate far beyond its coastal origins.
Edna Martinez Presents Picó: Sound System Culture From The Colombian Caribbean (June 20th, 2025) Strut Records.
Martinez is a regular guest on NTS Radio. Listen to her recent Champeta series here.
Watch a short doc about Picó:
- https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2018/apr/24/pico-technicolour-sound-systems-barranquilla-in-pictures ↩︎
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NreUuUvCQjI ↩︎