GRAMMYS 2026: Aterciopelados Returns With 'Genes Rebeldes', Cementing Latin Rock's Global Presence

MIAMI - As the 68th Annual Grammy Awards approach on Feb. 1, 2026, the Colombian duo Aterciopelados are once again in the spotlight with a nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for their latest work, Genes Rebeldes. Their recognition at music's biggest night underscores both a career spanning more than three decades and the persistent relevance of Latin rock on the global stage.

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As the Grammy Awards approach, Aterciopelados are preparing to return to one of the most visible stages in the global music industry. The Colombian duo, formed by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago in Bogotá in the early 1990s, are heading back to the Grammys with their fourth nomination, this time for Genes Rebeldes, an album that reflects both artistic longevity and a changing landscape for Latin rock.

The nomination comes as Aterciopelados closes a U.S. tour that has taken them through California, Chicago, Canada, New York, and several cities in the Southeast. Touring, they say, now requires a level of preparation that mirrors endurance sports. "It's a very intense physical effort," as they said in an interview with The Latin Times and ENSTARZ.

Echeverri said. "People think touring is glamorous, but it involves late nights, airports, soundchecks, cold weather, climate changes, and jet lag. Still, every time there's a concert and you see all those people who know your songs and applaud you, you receive a kind of affection that really gives you strength."

That exchange with the audience, she added, becomes essential fuel. "The level of demand pushes you to find strength you didn't even know you had," she said. "That part is beautiful."

A complicated relationship with the Grammys

Despite their long history with awards recognition, Echeverri remains openly ambivalent about the Grammys' red carpet culture. "Honestly, it kind of stresses me out," she said. "There's so much emphasis on the carpet, the designer, all the things I'm not really into." She recalled a past appearance when she wore an intentionally playful outfit that sparked strong reactions. "Some people loved it, but others hated me so much it was horrible. You suddenly find yourself in the eye of the storm over a silly little dress."

Still, she acknowledges the platform's reach. "At the same time, it's a window," she said. "People pay attention to what you do. There's a lot of press. You can't deny that."

Buitrago views the return to the American Grammys as distinct from the Latin Grammy experience. "It's a different audience, different artists, a different ceremony," he said. He also noted that their category reflects rock's current position in the industry. "It's not the most visible category, but it's interesting to see where the Anglo industry is right now."

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Genes Rebeldes, rebellion after three decades

Released in 2025, Genes Rebeldes marks one of Aterciopelados' most introspective and conceptually cohesive albums in years. Musically, the record blends alternative rock with electronic textures and Latin influences, while lyrically it explores aging, illness, identity, and resistance without nostalgia. The title itself suggests a rebellion that is inherited rather than performative.

For Buitrago, the album continues a mission the band has carried since the beginning. "It's about continuing to carry the flag of alternative music," he said. "Maintaining a critical vision of what's happening, doing things our own way, experimenting with fusions and mixes, and daring to do unusual things."

Echeverri's perspective is more explicitly rooted in gender and the body. "I write from the body of a woman," she said. "That has always been essential for me." She framed the album as a response to an industry and society that marginalize aging women. "This society doesn't want old people. It doesn't want old women," she said. "So it becomes an act of self-defense, and you also end up defending the women who look like you."

They address aging directly, with humor and vulnerability. "I have songs about getting older, about not going to the gym, about not dieting," she said. "It's existential." Buitrago approaches the subject differently on Otoñal, a track that reflects on aging with warmth from a previous album. "My song is more tender," he said, prompting Echeverri to laugh. "Mine is completely depressive."

A career defined by persistence

Aterciopelados have long been aware that audiences often prioritize their classic hits over new material. "People pay more attention to Florecita Rockera," Echeverri said. "New songs almost go unnoticed." Still, she sees continuing to create as essential. "Making music is both rebellion and necessity," she said. "You need to keep talking about yourself at every stage of life."

That persistence comes with practical challenges. "An album is a living thing, like a photo album, and it's expensive," Echeverri said. "No one is really paying for new music anymore."

Since their debut, Aterciopelados have become one of the most influential rock acts in Latin America, known for blending alternative rock with Colombian sounds and socially conscious lyrics. Over the years, they have earned multiple Latin Grammy Awards and several nominations at the Grammy Awards, including recognition for albums such as Caribe Atómico and Río. Their latest nomination for Genes Rebeldes reinforces a career that has consistently moved between the mainstream and the margins without settling into either.

Looking ahead

One of the most striking aspects of their current tour has been its multigenerational audience. "Kids," Echeverri said, half amused. "They make me nervous because I swear onstage." Still, she finds the experience meaningful. "It's beautiful when parents pass music on to their children. That doesn't happen as much anymore."

Looking forward, Aterciopelados are already planning for the 30th anniversary of La Pipa de la Paz in 2026. The duo intends to revisit the album through new versions and collaborations. "The idea is to create new adaptations, invite some guests, and reinterpret the songs freely," Buitrago said. The project will anchor a new tour cycle while offering a pause from the constant pressure of producing entirely new material.

As they prepare to return to the Grammys, Aterciopelados do so without illusion or nostalgia. Their presence reflects something quieter but enduring: a form of Latin rock that continues to evolve, question, and exist on its own terms, even as the industry around it shifts once again.

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