Los Mirlos continue writing one of the most important pages in the internationalization of Peruvian music. The emblematic psychedelic Amazonian cumbia group debuts their performance on NPR Tiny Desk, the most reputable and influential live session showcase worldwide where, in addition to their music, they also brought a concrete message about the issues present in the Peruvian Amazon in their song Llanto en la Selva: “Amazonian cumbia is a celebration, but it is also the voice of the land. This is how the jungle roars when it calls for help… we dedicate this song to the indigenous brothers who defend the lung of the world even with their own lives.”
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The session was recorded on July 28, a very significant date as it coincides with Peru’s National Holidays, turning this performance into a celebration of music, identity, and Peruvian Amazonian culture before a global audience. The band wore hand-embroidered shirts with kené art made by Shipibo-Konibo master artisans under the creative direction of designer Alessandra Durand.
On this occasion, the veteran group performed five songs; La Danza de Los Mirlos, La Fuga del Jaguar, Llanto en la Selva, Las Noches and La Pandilla / Doña Guillermina.
The arrival of Los Mirlos to NPR Tiny Desk was managed by Rockass Online Music, a New York-based production and music agency that has supported the group’s international expansion, promoting new opportunities and strategies to position their legacy and Peruvian Amazonian cumbia before new audiences.
Beyond the music, Los Mirlos’ performance on NPR Tiny Desk was deeply marked by a message of identity and belonging. Throughout the session, the group paid tribute to the majesty of the Amazon, its cultures and traditions, and highlighted Amazonian cumbia not only as an expression of celebration but also as a voice of the land. Los Mirlos dedicated one of their songs to the indigenous peoples who defend the Amazon and its biodiversity, while their founder Jorge Rodríguez recalled the group’s origin in Moyobamba, San Martín region.
The arrival of Los Mirlos to Tiny Desk represents a new chapter in a career spanning more than five decades bringing the sound of the Peruvian Amazon to different generations and stages around the world.
This new milestone comes after making history at Coachella and bringing their Amazonian cumbia to New York’s Lincoln Center. In May 2026, Los Mirlos released The World Meets Los Mirlos, the first album in their 53-year career conceived entirely around international collaborations, featuring Juanes, Bomba Estéreo, 311, Guaynaa, Monsieur Periné, Los Bunkers, Los Bitchos, LA LOM, Toy Selectah, Mireya Ramos, La Coreañera, Chicha Libre, Funky Munchies, and Big Sempa, jointly published by Revancha Records and BMG.
