Katie James Celebrates Late-in-life Love with New Single “Don Aurelio”
Colombian-Irish singer-songwriter Katie James has released “Don Aurelio,” a cumbia celebrating love and new beginnings in adulthood. The song is inspired by the romance of JamesS own mother and aims to demonstrate that falling in love – and rekindling passion – is absolutely possible at any age.
Produced by Juancho Valencia,founder and director of Puerto Candelaria,”Don Aurelio” blends the warmth of Caribbean sounds with the musical landscape of the Colombian countryside. James explained the song’s origins: “I composed ‘Don Aurelio’ a few months after my mother fell in love. I wanted to tell that story because it moved me to see how love is still possible, real and powerful, nonetheless of the years.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Leo Carreno and filmed in Buenavista, Quindío, serves as a “love letter to the Colombian countryside.” Shot in a cinematic format,the video features natural actors portraying an older couple who reconnect at a town market and ultimately share a dance at a Katie James concert,surrounded by music and party. James described the experience as a beautiful challenge, noting, “I had never recorded a video with so many people. The energy of the people, the actors and the music made everything feel like a real party.”
James, a celebrated artist who won “Artist of the Year” at Instafest 2021 and “Best Folk Song of the Year” at the Our Earth Awards 2023 for her collaboration with carlos Vives on Cumbiana II (“in the jungle”), has built a career spanning over two decades. Her music bridges contemporary acoustic sounds with Colombian folkloric roots.
“Don Aurelio” is a preview of James’s upcoming fifth album, slated for release in April 2026, following the release of the single A temporary love. The song is an invitation to embrace joy, dance, and believe in new beginnings.