Innovating Latin Music Is What’s Made Juan Luis Guerra a Legend — His New EP “Radio Güira” Is Proof

In case you’re Dominican and have been alive throughout the Eighties and ’90s, chances are high Juan Luis Guerra’s hits turned the soundtrack of your life. They’d play at each household perform, throughout lengthy automotive rides, or on the seashore, and he was possible your mami’s favourite artist to blast throughout her Saturday morning cleansing rituals. All through his prolific and four-decade profession, Guerra has not solely reinvented the tropical rhythms of his native Dominican Republic alongside his band 4.40, however he is additionally reached audiences approach past simply the Dominican group. With 30 million-plus albums offered all over the world and greater than 20 Latin Grammy wins, Guerra has turn into a legend within the Latin music area and never only for his poetic lyrics — he is also known as the Pablo Neruda of merengue and bachata — but additionally for by no means being afraid to innovate or coloration exterior of the traces of what “Dominican music” is meant to sound like. His new EP, “Radio Güira,” which was launched earlier this month, proves simply that.

“Radio Güira” was impressed by each a radio present Guerra had years in the past, in addition to his love for the güira, a percussion instrument that is typically performed in Dominican folklore music. The revolutionary EP additionally consists of interludes, radio-style commercials, and even one in every of Guerra’s favourite habichuelas guisadas recipes by Nuna, the girl who cooks in his residence. You hear her reciting the recipe within the intro to the “Cositas de Amor” observe.

“I had a radio [show] within the Dominican Republic referred to as Radio Viva and it performed music from the continents. Then once I began engaged on the album, [and] I spotted it was loads of new issues — issues I have never executed earlier than,” Guerra tells POPSUGAR. “[With] ‘MAMBO 23,’ we had by no means executed merengue that quick. We started mixing it with classical, including French horn to the violins, which usually is just not executed, and [we] different the orchestration.”

Guerra has been fusing completely different sounds and genres because the ’80s, when virtually no different Latin music artist — not to mention a Dominican artist — was daring sufficient to attempt. It is what has contributed to his signature sound. If a Juan Luis Guerra track performs on the radio, even when it is your first time listening to it, you may simply acknowledge it as one in every of his. And with “Radio Güira,” there is a celebration of each old style and new faculty Guerra. It fuses genres like mambo, merengue, rock and even jazz.

“I attempted very arduous to attach with a youthful viewers on this album. I’ve already linked with different audiences, those that may take heed to my music as a result of they prefer it — thank God. However I needed to attach with a youthful one,” Guerra says.

Guerra’s inspiration to fuse sounds early in his profession had loads to do with the music he listened to throughout his youth ­— loads of it being rock. He was an enormous fan of The Beatles rising up, for instance.

“The sound of our guitar, the way in which I play guitar, it is vitally rock-oriented inside bachata,” he says. “That is why our bachata has a unique coloration in comparison with others. I’ve at all times been drawn to mixing completely different genres and I believe the outcome was excellent [and] loads of the youthful era are doing the identical.”

Guerra, who has additionally been in the midst of his US tour, is up for three Latin Grammy nominations for his track with Colombian artist Fonseca, “Si Tú Me Quieres.” With a long time of success below his belt, the Dominican artist nonetheless feels humbled by the accolades and assist he receives from the group.

“[It’s] a privilege I settle for with loads of gratitude and fills me with pleasure. I settle for it as a present from God that they’re motivated by my music,” he says. “It’s a nice duty and an important privilege on the identical time. Keep in mind that at my age, I had the duty to set the trail in Europe. . . . Once we arrived to Europe, keep in mind, every little thing was salsa. If we did merenge, to them it was salsa . . . I’ve had the privilege of opening doorways, principally with merengue and bachata as a result of salsa was already identified, and naturally, it’s a privilege for us Dominicans to share our music with them. “

As for his poetic lyrics that may soften anybody’s coronary heart, Guerra credit his religion for every little thing he is been capable of write and for carrying him via such a protracted and profitable profession.

“My religion in Jesus is what holds me. Once we collect right here, principally musicians, we pray: ‘Our God, from you comes our capability. Holy spirit take management over every little thing we’re going to do right here,'” he shares. “The whole lot you hear is impressed by him. We’re merely placing our initiatives in his arms and he directs us.”

With all of the devastation occurring on the planet, Guerra needs listeners to expertise pleasure with “Radio Güira.” He refers back to the EP as “excellent news” that’s a lot wanted within the occasions we’re at the moment dwelling in.

“The purpose of each artist is that this music is known. Once I discover or once I know {that a} track can rework the lifetime of one other particular person, I believe that is once I really feel essentially the most pleasure,” he concludes. “Once I sing ‘Las Avispas’ [a track off of his 2004 album ‘Para Ti,’ which is entirely dedicated to his faith] and the message is acquired and an individual modifications from unhappy to blissful, I consider that is essentially the most lovely present that God can provide us musicians. Due to this fact, to rework the lives of others is my largest hope with my music.”

Certainly, reworking the lives of others via music is one thing many would agree Guerra has already executed.