Composer | Bassist | Vocalist | Multi-instrumentalist
Eli Obando is a Colombian-Australian composer, bassist, vocalist and bandleader whose work bridges the deep-rooted traditions of the Andes with Australia’s contemporary global music scene. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to music, leadership, and cultural creation across continents.
EARLY YEARS & MUSICAL ROOTS
Born in Pasto, Nariño, Eli demonstrated a strong inclination toward music and leadership from an early age. From around the age of 10, she began creating and leading musical projects, and at 11 formed her first Andean ensemble, Inti Andi, alongside fellow musicians from the Tuna Nuestra Señora del Carmen, a Catholic institution where she developed her skills across multiple traditional instruments in a collaborative environment.
During her education at Liceo La Merced María Díaz, a Franciscan institution, she led choirs, student ensembles, and a rock band, receiving strong support from the Franciscan sisters who nurtured her early artistic development.
This continuous engagement with music extended into her university years at Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, where she studied Business Administration while remaining actively involved in bands across genres including rock and Andean music—establishing an uninterrupted artistic path.
FOUNDATIONS IN COLOMBIA
At 18, Eli began performing professionally with the rock band Danta Nativa, touring and developing her identity as a bassist and performer. She later joined Bambarabanda, contributing to the early stages of the band and participating in the release of their debut album El Baile de los Obligaditos (2008) at Teatro Imperial.
Just days after this milestone, she migrated to Australia, carrying with her her debut solo project Eli Cold, marking a pivotal moment in her artistic journey.
AUSTRALIA: BUILDING A CAREER
Arriving in Melbourne in 2008, Eli founded her first project, Songosorongo, bringing Colombian traditional music into the Australian context. She soon became deeply involved in the salsa scene, founding Calle Luna, where she established herself as bandleader and musical director, including a long-term residency at the Hilton Hotel.
JAZZ, RECORDING & COLLABORATION
While studying Jazz and Contemporary Music at Melbourne Polytechnic, Eli co-founded Clavemania, a Latin jazz project that led to the album Mandela and performances at festivals such as Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
She has also built an extensive freelance career, recording and performing across genres including salsa, Afrobeat, and alternative music. Highlights include performing with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and touring with Joe Bataan.
LEADERSHIP & FEMALE-LED PROJECTS
Eli is a pioneer in gender representation within Latin music in Australia. In 2016, she founded Ella Trinidad, the country’s first all-female salsa band, and later established Latin Muses, a collective of 12 Latin American women artists, supported by Creative Victoria for regional touring.
Her ongoing project Calle Luna continues to reflect her commitment to gender equity through inclusive line-ups and original compositions.
MAJOR PROJECTS TODAY
In 2019, Eli founded Queen of Hearts Mariachi, Australia’s only all-female mariachi ensemble. The project has become her most successful to date, touring nationally and releasing albums including Memories and Divina, with international expansion underway.
She is also co-founder and key composer of Sunseeds, contributing significantly to the album Sur, a deeply personal work rooted in her Andean heritage.
CURRENT WORK
Eli currently focuses on her principal projects—Queen of Hearts, Calle Luna, and her solo work—continuing to develop original music that reflects her identity as a Colombian-Australian artist.