Image © Fernando Amador Chanto & Google

In 1928, José Raventós opened what is now the Melico Salazar Theatre in downtown San Jose to perform the operettas of Esperanza Iris. Fifty-four years later, Poas opened our first office a mile away from the same theatre that had been named in honor of the most important and influential Costa Rican lyrical singer, who was known worldwide.

We have seen our cities, roads, cars and fashions change through the years and of course, music has changed too. Costa Rica started to import musical genres, like disco, just as it did other trends.

In the ‘80s, more Costa Rican bands started making their own style of music like: La Banda, Marfil, Jaque Mate, La Pandylla with the unique Latin genre, Chiqui – Chiqui, a blend of Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Calypso and other Latin rhythms.

A decade later, there was another boom in Costa Rica music, which was now more rock-oriented with bands as Ghandi, Tango India, El Parque, Kadeho leading a new generation.

Ruben Blades with Editus

In the 2000, the Modern Jazz Band, Editus, put Costa Rica on the musical map by winning the “Best Pop Latin Interpretation of the Year” Grammy with Ruben Blades for their hit, Times. Three years later, Editus and Blades won two more Grammys, Best World Music Album and Best Tropical Contemporary Album, for their collaboration Mundo.

Today, Costa Rica has a great variety of genres, bands and stages. El Café Chorale, the most successful choir of Costa Rica started in 1994 and has been highly awarded worldwide.

Malpais at the National Stadium

Bands like Malpais, explore a contemporary folk genre with “Costa Rican New Song” — a tribute to folklore music with a mix of calypso, Latin, jazz. The band was formed by well-known musician, Manuel Obregon, who was the Minister of the Ministry of Youth and Culture. With the sudden death of lead singer Fidel Gamboa, a last concert and tribute was held at the National Stadium, with an attendance of 30,000 people — the largest crowd a Costa Rican band has ever attracted.

MishCatt, a Costa Rican artist, has hit the charts with 25 million plays of her music on Spotify. Her EP was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden and produced by Pontus Winnberg (Miike Snow, Amason).

Poas understands what it means to be Costa Rican and creating a new path. As a small, local company striving to make a name for ourselves, surrounded by well-known international brand franchises, we can sympathize with the fight that other Costa Ricans have had to establish themselves as artists in a very competitive, worldwide music scene. That’s why we want to share only Costa Rican music with our clients — from different genres, different parts of the country, and new bands that have worked hard to stand out.

Help us to welcome a new era of local musicians by clicking, sharing and enjoying!