Many people were moving their bodies to the rhythm of the beat during a Colombian rock concert Thursday evening at Sacramento State featuring a Latin Grammy award-winning band called Aterciopelados.

Aterciopelados,which is translated as “The Velvets”in English,consists of six musicians, including Andrea Echeverri,thelead singer, guitarist, and songwriter, and Hector Buitrago,the bassist, arranger,song composer,and producer of the band.

Aterciopelados’ music is a mix of rock, pop, electronic, and has different music influences from Colombia, Latin America and India. All of their lyrics are sung in Spanish and have themes regarding different issues.

“We have themes that have been with us for a while. Ecological issues, anti-war issues, songs about the role of women in society,criticism about social and political things that happen in our country, immigration, we have love songs as well,” Echeverri said.

Echeverri said she wants Aterciopelados’ music to be constructive, make people feel good and make them aware of certain issues.

“The communication factor is important. Not only in words, but through intentions and energy,” Echeverri said.

Echeverri and Buitrago met through a friend around 20 years ago.

“He asked me if I wanted to sing in a band,” Echeverri said. “We went to our rehearsal and it was in Hector’s house and Hector was the bass player, so we met putting a band together.”

At that time, their band name was “”Delia y los Aminoacidos” (Delia and the amino acids), but they later decided to change their name to Aterciopelados because they didn’t like the previous name.

Aterciopelados started playing together in 1992. The director of the radio station where Buitrago used to work, wanted Echeverri and Buitrago to participate in an alternative rock program, so he offered them the studio to record songs for the show. One of their songs, “Mujer Gala” became a hit on commercial radio stations in Colombia. Soon afterward,BMG called Aterciopelados and asked them to record an album.

“We didn’t realize anything would happen,” Buitrago said.

“We just did it because it was fun and the major expectation was to play in a bar,” Echeverri said afterward.

The concert was sponsored by UNIQUE. Zenia Diokno, UNIQUE programs adviser, said some of her UNIQUE students decided to bring Aterciopelados to perform at Sacramento State because they are a fun, live band and they have good music.

Diokno said she likes how they cover so many different types of music.

“They’re not just a pop band – they’re not just a salsa band or anything like that. They have a little bit of everything for every type of taste. I think it’s the type of thing,even if you don’t understand what they’re saying, they’re still fun,” Diokno said.

Mayra Villarreal, junior sociology major, said Aterciopelados is currently her favorite band and that she enjoys them a lot. Villarreal thought the student ticket prices for the concert was a good deal.

“I know people who have seen them and bought tickets for around $40. $7 is a good deal for students,” Villarreal said.

Diana Tran, who does not attend Sacramento State, was not familiar with Aterciopelados’ music, but decided to go to the concert with her roommate. She wished some of the lyrics had been sung in English, however she still enjoyed the music.

“I wish some of it was in English so I could understand it, but their music is good music,” Tran said.

Christina Li can be reached at [email protected]