Daniela Serna (aka @akupercu) is a New York–based Colombian artist, percussionist, songwriter, and educator rooted in Caribbean oral traditions such as cumbia and bullerengue. For over two decades, she has traveled throughout Colombia to study with Cultural Bearers Emilsen Pacheco, Petrona Martínez, and Martina Camargo.
Daniela Serna (aka @akupercu) has collaborated with producers like Trooko, Joel Hamilton, Toy Selectah, Pernet, Toxik and her music has featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, Tiny Desk, Ted Talk, BBC, and Vogue Brasil. Her debut solo album LO–FI TAMBO reflects her transition as a migrant female artist who, despite leaving Colombia, always has the culture of her country tattooed in her music and her passion for the rhythms of the Great Caribbean.
Her work is shaped by female collectives, from La Perla winning “Mejor Grupo Aficionado” at the 2015 Festival Nacional de Gaitas Francisco Llirene, marking the first win by a Bogotá female band. to performing internationally with LADAMA, featured on NPR Tiny Desk, TED, the Latin American Music Awards, Monterey Jazz Festival, WOMEX, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.
She has opened for Eddie Palmieri, Herbie Hancock, Susana Baca, Vieux Farka Touré, Arturo O’farril, Flor de Toloache, Pascuala Ilabaca, Lido Pimienta Chancha Via Circuito, and The Klezmatics.