Five Minutes with El Gran Mono
![Five Minutes with El Gran Mono](https://mpavilion.org/assets/files/2024/12/EGM-Crowd-1600x1066.jpg)
Ahead of their highly anticipated event CALENTURA, we sat down with El Gran Mono – the first picó sound system of its kind to be built outside Colombia – to explore the rich origins of Picó sound system culture and how its ethos inspired bringing this dynamic celebration to Australia, turning MPavilion into a pulsating hub of tropical beats, reggaeton, and Latin hip-hop—an unforgettable celebration of music, pride, and belonging.
The Picó sound system has deep roots in cities like Barranquilla and Cartagena. How do you see it adapting to Melbourne’s landscape and audience?
It was important to us that El Gran Mono was never meant to be an exact replica of the sound system parties of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, but to pay homage to the great Golden-Era picó systems. While our name on one hand literally translates to “The Great Ape,” “mono” is also Colombian slang for someone who is blonde or a foreigner.
In adapting Colombian picó culture to the Australian context, we approach the process with deep respect and transparency. Our aim is to try and preserve the essence of the picó communal music experience while at the same time ensure it resonates with Melbourne’s diverse audience. This involves curating events that blend Colombian, Afro-Caribbean, and African elements together with local flavors, creating an engaging and dynamic melting pot that brings people together. This celebration of diversity we hope creates a positive cultural narrative, and a dialogue which promotes unity through the universal language of music.
CALENTURA is very special, as it connects the picó with our good friends Bellaqueo, a crew of Colombian producers in Melbourne who have been throwing some amazing Latin focused parties.
Your sound system, hand-painted by William “El Maestro” Gutierrez, is the first of its kind outside Colombia. Can you tell us about the process of creating this Picó and what it represents to you?
I had been living in Addis Ababa, and travelling through West and East Africa collecting vinyl records, and when I returned to Australia, I connected with Fabian Altahona Romero in Barranquilla through our shared love of music. Fabian invited me to Barranquilla, both as an introduction to the vinyl music scene and also to see the picó sound system culture.
That trip was incredibly inspiring, with Fabian introducing me to many of the picó owners and other influential people in the culture. We also attended many picó parties. A couple of years later my friend Johnny visited Barranquilla, also connecting with Fabian and being immersed in the culture.
Fabian’s passion was infectious, as he was driven to internationalise the picó sound system and shine a light on such an incredible cultural strength of Colombia. Working together with Johnny and under Fabian’s guidance, we began to develop a plan to build El Gran Mono which came to fruition in 2018 with our launch.
El Gran Mono represents three things to us; firstly we wanted to create a vibrant sound system that would engage audiences in Australia – but we also wanted to create a large authentic picó that Colombians would be very proud of, and finally that ultimately we’d play an active role in helping internationalise the culture.
To us, working really closely with the great picó sound system artist Master William Gutierrez, El Gran Mono is a synthesis of picó culture with Australian influences, symbolising the harmonious convergence of traditions. This goes right down to the recognisable elements from Melbourne in the artwork, such as a tram and Flinders Street Station along with our key identity, a giant King Kong type ape.
With a mix of reggaeton, dembow, and Latin hip-hop, you’re bringing a blend of influences to the pavilion. How do you choose the music and performers that make each Picó experience unique?
We’ve always been very deliberate in how we produce El Gran Mono parties, and any others who we collaborate with to put the shows together. Our shows never set out to create exact copies of the picó parties in Colombia, but more to produce vibrant, powerful, engaging, and primarily fun events which connect the cultures of Australia and Colombia.
El Gran Mono parties are similar to events in Colombia in that we like to program around a series of picótero or DJs selecting tropical music, however we also try to have MCs to engage the crowds, and other live elements to bring extra flavour to the performances.
We’re very lucky for CALENTURA to work with Bellaqueo, who are our collaborators for the show and have had creative control over booking all the artists. Bellaqueo are a group of Colombian DJs and producers themselves, and have been leading DJ focused events highlighting sounds such as reggaeton and dembow.
The line-up chosen by Bellaqueo for CALENTURA is also very exciting, in that we not only have a great selection of DJs, but to also have some of Melbourne’s best Latin hip hop artists Anonymous Rappers and Cris Gamble performing.
How does the Picó culture resonate with the theme of “home” for you, especially in terms of creating a space where people feel they belong and can freely express themselves?
Since our launch in 2018, El Gran Mono has become a home for thousands, offering a space where people from all walks of life can gather, connect, and celebrate. For the community in Melbourne, across Australia, and even around the world, it’s been particularly special to see how the picó embodies pride and connection. We like to think that El Gran Mono is a vibrant representation of picó culture, bringing people together around the sound system to feel a sense of belonging.
Each event creates a unique experience, not only creating an opportunity for the community to connect and participate in an extension of the picó culture, but also creating new experiences by sharing this richness with our diverse audiences. For us, El Gran Mono is more than just a sound system—it’s a community. It reflects the essence of what “home” means: a shared space filled with music, joy, and freedom of expression. Each gathering grows this community further, fostering pride and celebrating the incredible culture we’re privileged to help share.
Which event are you most excited to experience during MPavilion Season 11?
I’m really looking forward to the BLAKitecture series, PlayReactive, and the work from Honey Bones Gallery. I love that MPavilion can provide opportunities for these concepts to be explored in a shared space, and with free entry is accessible for the whole community.
Get down for a warm afternoon of reggaeton, dembow, and Latin hip-hop. Join the party by making a free booking here.