Arde Bogotá tuns Cartagena’s secret submarine tunnels into set for newest music video

Famed local Cartagena band, Arde Bogotá, has transformed the tunnels of El Espalmador into the location for its new music video, turning the old submarine tunnels into a place worthy of attention and piquing the interest of those who follow the band.

An eighties-inspired backdrop for a brand-new single

The tunnels, which many locals will recognise, feature prominently in Arde Bogotá’s new music video, El club de la gente sola (“The Club of Lonely People). The music video, which was released at the tail end of August, is the third single from the band’s upcoming album, Manufacturas del club de la gente sola (“Manufacturing of the Club of Lonely People”). The album is scheduled to be released on October 2.

The video has transformed the tunnels of El Espalmador into a setting with a distinct aesthetic inspired by the eighties, in keeping with previous music videos made by the band.

Showcasing Cartagena’s naval heritage to a global audience

The music video for the song was filmed entirely in the municipality, and puts one of the most unique naval heritage sites Cartagena has to offer in the spotlight. The band members have a history of wanting to showcase the city and municipality to their international audiences. The video was made with support from the Cartagena Film Office, which also facilitated the access and use of these valuable tunnels.

Arde Bogotá’s national and international reach will help to showcase a “different, surprising, and still unknown Cartagena” to many people, according to the mayor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo.

Plans to turn secret naval infrastructure into cultural landmarks

The Cartagena City Council has also announced plans to recover the tunnels and link them to the future Tonina submarine museum project, putting them in the spotlight for their value to the historical heritage of the city. Arde Bogotá has, once more, showcased another famed space in Cartagena and highlighted its future recovery and incorporation into the tourist offerings of this historically significant city.

“Cartagena has places that don’t exist in any other city, and the El Espalmador tunnels are one of them. Our goal is to recover these spaces, give them a new life, and ensure they become part of Cartagena’s cultural and tourist landscape for years to come,” Mayor Arroyo said.

A growing hub for international film and television projects

This music video is also an effort by the Cartagena Film Office to attract more audiovisual productions to the municipality. More and more, the Region of Murcia is becoming a location of choice for audiovisual producers, creating everything from commercials to Netflix series. 

This is not the first time Arde Bogotá has filmed in a significant location in the municipality. Earlier this year, the band once more put Cartagena heritage in the spotlight for the filming of their music video, Instrucciones, the first single of their long-awaited third album. The video was filmed in the local Navy optics workshop located in Los Barreros. The building is a multi-storey tower that was previously used for submarine periscope testing, and is now one of the most recognisable industrial spaces in the urban landscape of the city.