Lido Pimienta, the Colombian-Canadian musician and visual artist, has released her latest album, “Caribenya,” continuing her exploration of Afro-Latin identity, beauty, and colonial history through a blend of contemporary and traditional sounds. The album, out Friday, follows her previous work “La Belleza,” a nine-track orchestral suite commissioned by the New York City Ballet, making her the company’s first woman of color to compose a score.

Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Pimienta draws from her Afro-Colombian and Wayuu heritage to challenge prevalent stereotypes about the Caribbean. She has spoken about her desire to move beyond exoticized portrayals of the region, which are often seen merely as vacation destinations, instead emphasizing its cultural richness and complexity. Pimienta describes her ethos as representing the “Caribbean sublime,” a vision that permeates the lyrical and sonic elements of “Caribenya.”

Musically, the album marks a stylistic shift from the Gregorian chants and dramatic strings that characterized “La Belleza” toward a warmer, pop-infused sound rooted in cumbia, a traditional Colombian genre. The title “Caribenya” reflects a fusion of "Caribbean" and the mystical aura associated with Irish singer Enya, signaling the record’s blending of influences. Themes in the album touch on fraught emotional dynamics, postcolonial critique, and natural imagery such as rivers and dragonflies.

Pimienta, now 38, moved to Ontario in her late teens to pursue studies in criticism and curatorial practice at the Ontario College of Art and Design after facing racial discrimination in Colombia. She initially struggled to gain recognition despite early success, including winning the Polaris Music Prize in 2016 for her album “La Papessa” and earning a Grammy nomination for 2020’s “Miss Colombia.” The latter was an outspoken response to anti-Blackness, Eurocentric beauty standards, and misogyny in her home country.

Her career gained further momentum through collaborations with international artists and producers, including Amigos Poderosos, Chancha Vía Circuito, and the British-based collective Grupo Jejeje. Notably, Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, a longtime friend, features on the track “Hoy Por Ti,” contributing vocals and co-writing lyrics in the studio. Furtado has praised Pimienta’s voice for its “healing” quality and expressed admiration for her ability to balance motherhood and an artistic career.

Pimienta has pushed back against the categorization of her music under the “world music” label, which she views as a Eurocentric construct that homogenizes diverse non-Western sounds. Instead, she emphasizes the fluidity of her work, which incorporates elements of electro-pop, reggae-ton, folk, and classical music, aiming to create art that resonates across cultures and remains relevant over time.

After facing personal challenges—including financial difficulties, a touring dispute, and the death of her father while she was abroad—Pimienta experienced a period of clinical depression. The opportunity to compose “La Belleza” for the New York City Ballet helped her rediscover a sense of purpose and beauty in life. Reflecting on her creative process, she likened herself to a “loose thread” woven back together by the collaborative efforts of her producers, featured artists, and technical team, drawing inspiration from the Wayuu textile traditions she admired growing up.

“Caribenya” represents both a continuation and reinvention of Pimienta’s artistic journey, underscoring her commitment to confronting stereotypes while celebrating the complexities of Caribbean identity and experience through innovative and heartfelt music.