Latin Media Gurus Network» Music/Radio

Latin Media Gurus Favorite Pic!

David Villafaña — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:58:13 +0000

PHOTO OF THE WEEK!

Jordi Busquets of JarabeDePalo shedding his flow in San Diego. Photo taken by Azul Santana.

To see more photos please visit her page here: Azul Fotografica

Calle 13 Embarks on US tour – California Love

David Villafaña — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:47:13 +0000

LMG will be at this show in San Diego!

And They’re back…

On October 21st our friends over at Black Cherry Music will be presenting Calle 13, one of our favorite artists. Entren Los Que Quieran is Calle 13′s fourth album and was released in November of 2010. The album’s singles “Calma Pueblo” a collaboration with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez from The Mars Volta, and “Vamos a Portarnos Mal” have received much praise that has been recently followed by 10 Latin Grammy nominations.

We are stoked to see Calle 13 return to California where they will be offering three shows: The madness starts in Anaheim on the 20th and will make its way south to San Diego on the 21st to then finally land in San Francisco on the 22nd.

So all you Cali folks get ready for a mean fusion of Hip hop and traditional afro-caribbean rhythms that are going make you do things you might not want your abuelita to see on Facebook. Word on the street is that DJ ETHOS will be in the house getting things started up in San Diego, so get ready to get your passport stamped.

A Fuego!

So call your friends and make it out to one of the upcoming shows! Don’t miss out.. Vamos a portarnos mal!

One last thing…

I just wanted to include this quote from our friend in the cause, Jasmine Garsd of NPR who has praised the album and made a reference to the song “Latinoamerica” as “a gorgeous ode to Latinos everywhere”. Here is what she said:

They are fighters who endure and struggle against the very real horrors of Latin America. But part of their defiance lies in the ability to have fun, to be funny and sexy in spite of these horrors – Jasmine Garsd

Well said.. Enough blogging for now..

SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO:

Black Cherry Music Group and Digital Girl Inc … Friends in the cause.. Check out their links and “LIKE” their pages on Facebook Por favor!

Calle 13 US Tour Dates:

Oct. 20 – House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
Oct. 21 – 4th & B San Diego, CA
Oct. 22 – The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
Oct. 23 – House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV

La Santa Cecilia – Noches y Citas (Con Chicle)

David Villafaña — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:49:18 +0000

La Santa Cecilia recently released an additional EP called Noches y Citas con Chicle…A witty name for a great production. These songs are the extra tracks that weren’t featured on their last EP which showcased great songs like “La Negra”, “Vengo”, and “El Farol”.

This time around LSC wanted to showcase a few songs that they wrote for their last EP but didn’t get included on the 5 Track EP. So they decided to stick these songs onto their last EP like Chicle, or chewing gum the same way you would stick it to the bottom of a desk or chair. The song that I really enjoy and feature below is “Chicle”, a song that talks about the many sayings we hear in Spanish while growing up.

I had a chance to catch up with lead singer Marisoul and she spoke about how this song related to her childhood and the many times her tias would give her advice that included all these popular sayings or “dichos” that are included in the song.

Marisoul commented about the song and video:

“When I was growing up, I had some hard times and my Tias or family members would always tell me the same old “dichos” that really didn’t make sense to me. So, those sayings grew old real quick because they didn’t mean much to me. I wanted more real answers to my troubles and our new video basically depicts that whole story”

I really enjoy their creativity since they write songs in both English and Spanish in various musical styles. LSC also approaches marketing their music with a new creative outlook. In today’s industry independent artists have to really be creative with their marketing and promotional strategies.

Noches y Citas con Chicle represents the band’s past creative period. Being that these songs were all written around the same time as the songs on the first EP, these essentially all come from the same fountain of inspiration.

Check out this great video and let us know what you think. I’m glad La Santa Cecilia is putting out more music and getting ready to record a new set of songs for us to hear. Enjoy!

Jarabe De Palo with Special Guest Gustavo Galindo on July 10th

David Villafaña — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:42:56 +0000

Jarabe de Palo Returns to the USA

Many of us have waited very long for Jarabe de Palo’s return to the states. The Spanish rock band will be making two stops on the west coast: San Diego on July 9th and Los Angeles on July 10th, two shows will most likely include passionate fans from Tijuana who will be making the drive in order to join in on the fun. A huevo!

Jarabe de Palo is promoting their 8th album “Ahora Qué hacemos?”, which is actually the second LP released on their independent label, Tronco Records. This album represents their return to their rock n roll roots, something I’m sure fans will truly appreciate since that is what essentially put the band on the map after their 1996 release of “La Flaca”. Unlike other releases, this album stays true to their rock influences by not incorporating contagious latin rhythms. The fusion of afro-cuban beats with flamenco guitars and rock n roll had become a trademark of Jarabe De Palo in albums like “Depende” “Bonito” and “De Vuelta y Vuelta”.

After waiting many years I’m ready to listen to their newest songs and also scream the lyrics to classics like “El Lado Oscuro”, “Grita”, “Agua” and of course “La Flaca”. July 10th is marked on my calendar and I’m ready to join many other rockeros in celebrating another night of Latin Alternative music in Los Angeles. I’m also excited to see Gustavo Galindo, another talented artist who will be rocking out to some great rock en español and has a bright future ahead. The musical styles really do match up, and I’m looking forward to a very promising night of musica.

Los Angeles July 10th @ The Music Box

Jarabe de Palo with special guest Gustavo Galindo.

Gustavo Galindo – Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar

Gustavo Galindo represents a new generation of Latino artists living in the United States who hold on to their culture and language but also incorporate new sounds and influences to their music. Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar is a representation of his lifelong journey between two worlds that through the years have essentially become one.

Coming from a family of musicians, and having a love for tradition Mexican music and rock n roll has molded Gustavo into becoming a well rounded artist with lots to offer his global audience. For Gustavo Galindo, working with the talented Gustavo Santaolalla and the Surco team was like a dream come true since most of his favorite artists were produced by the Argentine producer.

When I decided to put a demo together, he (Gustavo Santaolalla) was one of the people I had intended on sending a demo to, and never in a million years did I think he would call back. To my surprise 3 months later he called and we had a meeting where he asked me to be on his label and make a record. –Gustavo Galindo

Gustavo Galindo has already shared the stage with artists such as: Zoé, Enrique Iglesias,Ely Guerra, Gloria Trevi, Juanes, Los Amigos Invisibles, Babasónicos, AlejandraGuzmán and Ximena Sariñana. He also had the honor of performing in Mexico’sBicentennial celebrations September 15, 2010

“Entre la ciudad y el mar” sets forward his journey unto the trails of today’s popular music and promises to continue propelling him on a magnificent trajectory.

San Diego’s Latin Alternative Renaissance

David Villafaña — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:49:08 +0000

Photo by Marcella O. Reyes

San Diego’s Latin Alternative Renaissance

A new wave of Latin alternative concerts have taken San Diego by force and we are excited about the many more to come. Black Cherry Music Group has teamed up with veteran concert promoters of Track 78 & Mucho San Diego to bring more Rock en Español / Latin alternative artists to San Diego and most recently to downtown’s 4th and B.

In recent line ups 4th and B has featured artists such as Fobia, Plastilina Mosh, Gustavo Galindo, Gil Cerezo(Kinky), Money Mark, and Nortec Collective alongside various up and coming local talents like Los Hollywood and Orlando.

We are thrilled that San Diego has a newly refreshed group of rockero promoters bringing artists that we have loved for years to venues like 4th & B that in fact will be hosting mainstream acts like Don Omar(For you reggaeton lovers, ha!) in a few weeks.

The shows that BCMG and T78/Mucho SD put together also give fans the opportunity to discover new music from bands that are making noise in other Latin alternative circles as their musical careers begin to take off. Such was the case when Bomba Estereo first visited San Diego at the old Beauty Bar.

That night the Colombian electro-cumbia collective rocked a small crowd of loyal fans who were blown away by the band’s live show. A few months later we would see Bomba Estereo continue to blow up on their world tour and witness their rising popularity via Youtube.

Such was also the case with Tecate singer/songwriter Carla Morrison. After opening a few important shows in Tijuana and making her debut in LA and San Diego’s Mucho concerts, Carla began to draw the attention of fans and industry folks from the US and Latin America. We soon witnessed the rising number of Facebook “Likes”, Twitter followers and Youtube views and along with other fans, are still celebrating her new stardom.

In cases such as Bomba Estereo, and Carla Morrison, fans feel like they were part of their journey, ultimately adding more value to the whole live show experience.

Without a doubt we are seeing the fruits of all the hard work that folks at BCMG, TRACK 78/Mucho San Diego have put in so that America’s finest city would have a happening scene for Latin Alternative music aficionados.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Jarabe de Palo – July 9th @ 4th & B / $30

Aterciopelados – July 15 @ 4th & B / $30

Tickets available on Ticketmaster.com and EL Zarape Restaurants

Photos From Plastilina Mosh

Plastilina Mosh. Photo by Marcella O. Reyes

Gustavo Galindo. Photo by Marcella O. Reyes

Crowd awaits. Photo by Marcella O. Reyes

Rosso and Money Mark. Photo by Marcella O. Reyes

Monte Negro Releases Double Album: Cosmic Twins

David Villafaña — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:29:22 +0000

Cosmic Twins is Now Available on I-Tunes

ALBUM PREVIEW

Monte Negro has just released their latest production, Cosmic Twins, a double album that showcases a totally new sound from the California rockeros and marks their newest reinvention.

No longer blending the likes of reggae and cumbia rhythms as in previous work, Monte Negro now invites fans to embark on a spiritual journey with sounds deriving from various influences of new wave and alternative rock reminiscent of legendary bands like Janes Addiction and The Smashing Pumpkins.

“On this record we didn’t want to repeat ourselves” says lead vocalist and primary songwriter, Kinski Gallo, “It was also very important to us that we write something relevant to our time”.

Cosmic Twins represents something very special to Monte Negro since the entire concept of the album represents our inner duality, in essence our own ying and yang as we experience life.

This production also marks their evolution as artists. In this album they decided to do things in a non conventional manner, taking advantage of being an indie band and drifted away from the pressures of major labels.

“Nowadays you rarely see double albums since major labels expect concepts like these to flop”, explained Kinksi, “But the funny thing is that I’ve actually sold more copies with Cosmic Twins than before”.

This time around Monte Negro wanted to offer something special to their fans by offering something much more personal than a digital download. The days when young music aficionados opened records and actually held vinyl for the most part are over.

“We wanted to keep that essence of music going” says Kinksi in regards to giving fans something tangible, a non-conventionally packaged record that uses no plastic. I guess Cosmic Twins also represents Monte Negro’s call on going Green!

Although this album does represent a change for the band, Monte Negro does keep true to their philosophy of writing songs that are truly poetic and carry lyrical substance.

“We want songs with a true essence, songs that actually make people think when they listen to them” says Kinksi.

and indeed they do…

Album Picks – Songs to Check Out

NADA (Entre Sales y Soles)

Que Esta Pasando (Rogue Planet)

The Longest Day

FLASH BACK : An Old Tune from Monte Negro!

For more on Monte Negro please visit:

www.myspace.com/montenegrorocks

Thom Russo – Interview // Grammy Winning Recording Engineer

David Villafaña — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:22:49 +0000

Thom Russo is the mastermind responsible for recording and getting so many artists to sound nothing less than amazing.
He is a genuine class act with quite a remarkable and extensive list of artists he has recorded throughout the years.
The list is so long and they include big names such as: Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Maná, Jesse & Joy, Ely Guerra, BabyFace, Prince, Audioslave, and none other than Michael Jackson.

Ok, so you get the point, right?

This is why LMG is thrilled to sit down and chat with a very busy Thom Russo, who In-fact has actually just finished recording a new record for the Latin Grammy winning duo Jesse & Joy.

So Thom, thanks for having us!

Among Good Company. Juanes, Alejandro Sanz and Thom Russo

As the LMG crew arrives to the studio in North Hollywood, we are very curious as see what Thom’s spot is actually like.

As we enter, we quickly sense the change in vibes and we realize that we had just stepped into Thom’s creative shrine.

This is where so much creativity becomes something tangible. A place where an endless number of tracks, waves, and beats are born and consolidated into amazing songs.

As I stand in the lobby, I look over at the coffee table and cannot help but to notice the two Grammys sitting there.

I comment as we passed, “Well, those look real nice”. Thom calmly responds “Thanks bro, the rest are at home”, once again were reminding us of all he has accomplished in his 15 year journey. Crazyness..

So we make ourselves comfy, take off our shoes, and take a seat in the “Woom Room”, and began to chat.

And this is where the fun begins…

INTERVIEW WITH THOM RUSSO

LMG: First of all, thank you Thom for taking the time and sitting down with Latin Media Gurus.com, we really appreciate you doing this.

Thom Russo: My pleasure guys.

LMG: Thom we pretty much wanted to discuss your experiences working in the music industry for quite a few years. We know you’ve worked with artists in both English and Spanish musical markets throughout your career and roughly how long ago did you begin your musical journey?

Thom Russo: Roughly its been 15 years, not too long, well I’ve look at what has happened through the years and I do feel those part of the years, but it doesn’t seem like too long.

LMG: Thom, before you became such a prolific and recognized sound engineer/producer, what initially led you to the production aspect of music?

Thom's Personal Collection

Thom Russo: Well, much like everyone else, I was a musician initially for a number of years. But, what I feel everyone should attempt to experience, in anything, is to really find the thing that really speaks to you. I found that the creative process within the studio really spoke to me.

LMG: What is something about recording and mixing that you enjoy doing with every project?

Thom Russo: I really find that each time I do recording, or mixing, you actually in a way get to become a part of the band for some time. Its cool because you get to become part of the life giving process, you give birth to something, and then your able to move on to the next family or team.

LMG: So Thom, who has inspired you, or do you admire for their work?

Thom Russo: That’s such a big question to answer, you know, there were the greats, and there still are the greats, but I would probably have to site projects, or records, because in the end, it’s the records that inspire you. For example, I’ve made a lot of records with Rick Rubin, and he has a very interesting approach. I guess I would say the inspiration comes from individuals who have been doing it a long time, but it also comes from the artists I have gotten to work with.

Thom Recorded Legendary Maná

LMG: When you work with an artist again, how is it different than before?

Thom Russo: Oh, So that’s something that I really enjoy because there is always a different challenge. Even When I work with the same artist, you realize that each project or each record is never the same. With Juanes we started with Fijate Bien, which is completely different thing than what we did on the last one. I’m not only talking creatively, but just how the whole thing comes together.

LMG: When you approach different recording projects what exactly is your mantra that ultimately influences your sound?

Thom Russo: That’s something a lot of people have been talking about, my sound. I feel that the most important thing to do each time I record is to do what the song calls for. I take it song by song, in a way, we are slaves to them, and you just have to answer to that. The song is what dictates where you go with your idea and you simply build around that.

LMG: The last project you worked on was with award winning duo Jesse & Joy. How was the recording process? How long did it last??

“With Juanes we started with Fijate Bien, which is completely different thing than what we did on the last one. I’m not only talking creatively, but just how the whole thing comes together.”

Thom Russo: The process was about a total of four months, pretty much the normal length of a recording project, though some projects vary, but you get the idea. It was incredibly smooth and creative. It was also a very satisfying record. They’re sure talent, but something that I want is the collaborative kinetic energy that was a part of the process. Most definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had because of the ‘geling’ that took place.

LMG: Thom, lastly, How have you seen the industry change in the past few years? How has that effected you as an engineer and how have you had to adapt due to the digitization of music?

Thom Russo: Great question, that’s what a lot of my colleagues and I talk about when we get together to grab a beer or a bite to eat. I’ve seen the industry change so much, its incredible. The digital domain has affected not only how people get their music, but also how music is made. I’d have to say the change affected how we all as engineers and producers approached things. We have to get things done quicker, and usually end up working at our own personal studios since budget don’t support recording the entire production a major studio anymore. Thats exactly why I built this place. More importantly, I find myself working more with the artist and less with labels. When working with acts like Juanes, or Maná, the labels didn’t really interfere too much. They just simple allowed us to record an album. So, I do enjoy working with the artists without the outside distractions.

LMG: Well,Thom, thank you very much for your time. We know you’re a very busy guy so we really appreciate it. I’m sure our followers and music aficionados who visit our site will enjoy and learn few things from this interview. Thanks again!

Track 78 Presenta: Ana Tijoux el 22 de Marzo en SAN DIEGO

David Villafaña — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:41:10 +0000

Track 78 Presenta: Ana Tijoux

Ana Tijoux Live!

Mil sílabas por minuto.

La que fuera voz de Makiza, la nacida en Francia pero criada en Chile, la de nombre de pila Anamaría Merino Tijoux, alias Ana Tijoux está en pleno periodo retorno. En la parte final de 2009, la cantautora especializada en materia de rap lanzó su segundo disco en solitario, titulado 1977, un álbum que ha recibido altas calificaciones en países sudamericanos.

Ahora, durante marzo, subirá al norte del continente y justo pasará por el escenario del SXSW, donde mostrará tanto sus temas del pasado, como “Partir de cero”, “Crisis de mc’s” y “El obstáculo”, algunos de los incluidos en su placa más reciente, compacto por cierto estará disponible en México y Estados Unidos hasta el próximo mes de abril.

Julieta Venegas y Ana Tijoux: “Eres Para Mi”

Ana Tijoux Collaborates with Julieta Venegas.

Ana Tijoux’s Musical Journey

Ana will release her first album in the US this April through Nacional Records.

Back to her urban roots

Born Anamaría Tijoux in Lille, France in 1977, Anita is the daughter of a French mother and Chilean father who was in political exile during Pinochet’s dictatorship.

She became famous in Latin America as the female MC of the late 90s hip-hop group Makiza, one of the first huge latin rap groups, who also received wide appoval from audiences not associated in just hip-hop culture due to their evolved production and lyrics, styles more in line with the New York underground of the Native Tongues, and far from the machisimo and violence prevelant in the rap of the times.

At the height of the group’s popularity, Anita decided to take a sabatical from music and went back to be with her family in France. But she couldnt stay away long, and in 2005 was back in Chile with her old group releasing their third critically acclaimed album, Casino Royale, after which she soon began working on a solo album as well as collaborating with groups from all over the globe such as Control Machete, Bajofondo Tango Club, and Funk Como Le Gusta.

In 2006 she crossed over to the Latin mainstream pop due to a collaboration with Mexican songstress Julieta Venegas in the radio hit “Eres para mí”, while at the same time releasing her first solo album, Kaos. She was nominted to the 2007 MTV Latin awards for Best New Artist and Best Urban Artist, as well as for her duet with Julieta.

Her latest work, 1977, will be her first album released in the US, this April on Nacional Records. It is a return to her rap roots, an homage to the “golden age of hip-hop”, and largely auto-biographical, exploring mature themes from her own life, from the death of a close friend to having a creative crises, from friendship to bad luck, amongst others.

Huecco – Will he be bigger than Manu Chao?

Richard Goodman — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:25:44 +0000

Okay, I usually focus all my time on researching the Latin entertainment industry, but I need to take a second to introduce all of you to one of my favorite artists, and I just discovered him last week.

His name is Huecco

I discovered him as I was listening to a radio station on Last.fm of Jarabe de Palo. I listened to “La Reina de Los Angelotes” and I was blown away by the sound of the song, and the quality of his voice. I mean, the whole song is a power punch of creativity and beautiful crisp sound.

Lo and behold, it happens that this song was produced by none other than the guru Thom Russo,whom a few months ago we were so lucky to interview (refer to Thom Russo Interview). It turns out that Thom Russo produced the whole album of Huecco, titled Assalto. And man, is it ever an assault on music (in the sense that he seamlessly combines styles that are not generally supposed to be combined, and makes them sound great).

I only have good things to say about this guy. First of all, every single song has a fresh new sound. He follows well in the footsteps of Cafe Tacuba in his ability to change seamlessly from different genres and in the steps of Manu Chao in his ability to mix sounds that are very unique and because he sings in different languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese). A big stark difference in contrast to Manu Chao, however, is that Huecco’s lyrics are fast paced and more sophisticated. Assalto is his second album as a solo artist. Previously he was involved with the band Sugarless from Spain as their lead man, and I am quite amazed at his ability to reinvent himself.

In an interview he gave, he says that with Sugarless, he felt he was only giving 30% of what he had, and so he needed a vehicle that would allow him to grow and not be constrained. Well LMG amigo, you found it.

Great qualities that make him an LMG Favorite:

Musically Diverse
1. His voice has a great gypsy quality, his guitar has great rumba beat, and he mixes beats from reggaeton, cumbia, salsa, banda, etc.
Expanding into different Languages
1. He is expanding into different markets not only in his styles of music but with his ability to sing in different languages. He sings a great song in French (I show it below) and another one in Portuguese (I don’t link to it but please link to if if you find it).
He’s got Brains
- He has very articulate in interviews and
- choose the right, Producer Thom Russo with experience in many versatile genres such as hard rock and Latin sounds to produce a very ambitious record of different sounds.
He is socially conscious and appeals as a good role model
- In his interviews he dicusses that it’s a beautiful thing to break stereotypes, that becaues he has Rasta Dreadlocks, people assume he is into drugs but he is against them and has never tried them.
- He has socially conscious messages with his songs. Look at song Se Acabaron Las Lagrimas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x466jxJSMK0)
He is a great interviewer
- If you don’t believe me take a look at his interviews ( I will include them at the end)
Perfect at Networking and working with his industry
- In one of the videos “Se Acabaron Las Lagrimas” he collaborates with a myriad of media personalities, sports personalities, and politicians from Spain to promote the message against women violence.
- Is already collaborating with other artists and I’m sure in his next Album he will collaborate with many more.
A great Marketer
- Like a great marketer, he defines the context of his music and defines his music with his own definitions (example: he created the concept of Rumbaton (rumba and reggaeton )and Rumbia (rumba and cumbia)

In my opinion, he is a person to watch out for, and an examplary figure because he is very well rounded and versatile.

I recommend the following Hueccoing:

La Reina de Los Angelotes (rumba + cumbia + rock = rumbia)

Huecco – Mirando el Cielo
Huecco – Creo
Huecco – Idiota
Huecco – Tacones Baratos
Huecco – Je pense a tes Yeux (ode to french classics, amazing)
Huecco – Mi Guerrera (reggaeton with rumba = rumbaton)

Lastly, here is a great interview he did with Qui es Qui:

Keep an eye out for Huecco, and let me know what you think. Also, remember to

check out his Facebook group. Throw him some love from LA.
Visit his website : http://www.huecco.es/blog/
Check out his MTV blog where he talks about deep stuff: http://blogs.mtv.es/huecco/

Which is your favorite Huecco song?

PS – If you are reading this Huecco, please email me at richard@latinmediagurus.com to Interview you for Latin Media Gurus

Jesse & Joy // Nuevamente Con Éxito // Electricidad

David Villafaña — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:58:30 +0000

Jesse & Joy release their 2nd album "Electricidad"

Electricidad // Jesse y Joy

Jesse y Joy have released their sophmore album, Electricidad, a production that undoubtedly shows the duo’s growth as artists. This album is the follow up to their debut album which won them a Latin Grammy in 2008 for Best New Artist. Curiously enough, the album was actually engineered by Thom Russo, producer/engineer guru who we recently interviewed.

Electricidad features an array of refined guitar riffs, full and rich sounding drums, and plenty of upbeat ambient/electronic sounds that gel perfectly with Joy’s powerful voice. Just like in their previous album, Joy ‘s vocals simply add so much to the songs and carry them to another level.

I can definately appreciate the sort of sincere and honest songwriting behind the production. By this I mean that the songs would be just as good if they were just performed with Jesse playing his acoustic guitar accompanying Joy’s singing. Its simple and yet so powerful, and it seems they build around this idea.

Its a very impressive production that continues to capture my attention each time I take a listen. So, my hat goes off to these young artists and I’ll be waiting to see them win some more Latin Grammys.

I highly recommend listening to “Adiós”, “Una y Otra Vez”, and of course “Electricidad”.

Here is a video for you to get a glimpse of all I’m talking about. Stay classy San Diego!