Fuego Fuego Festival | The local Latin scene is alive and well

“I’m glad to see that it’s starting to pick up momentum. I had been waiting for this to happen in Quebec for a very long time. »

Montreal artist Cruzito welcomes us with a smiling face and sunglasses in front of his eyes, after his performance on Saturday at the second edition of the Fuego Fuego festival.

23,000 people came to the Olympic Park for each of the two days of the event, where international stars such as Jhayco, Becky G, Manuel Turizo, Wisin y Fandel, Feid and El Alfa performed, but also a good selection of local talent.

“Some of them are my childhood idols, it’s a pleasure to know that we can bring them here, that people can enjoy them. Sharing the stage with them is incredible. »

For Cruzito, this type of event represents the progress that the Latin music scene of the metropolis has made in recent years, both in terms of visibility and recognition.

“There is an evolution that leads to that. I couldn’t be happier that we are more represented, and not just in musical culture, but also in the media, in newspapers, in galas,” notes the man who notably received two selections at the ADISQ gala. last year, in the World Music and International Collaboration of the Year categories.

Several artists who were on the weekend lineup are established in Montreal. This is particularly the case of rapper Chika, singer Ed Winter and the group Demasiado Eleg, but also Landy Garcia, El Melodiko and Tr3ppy.

Cruzito, who was from the first two editions of Fuego Fuego, saw the difference compared to last year.

“This year, it was more organized and we listened more to local artists,” he says. We had dressing rooms, good food. Sound tests were easier. It was better run, and they paid a little special attention to us. »

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Now that the dust raised at the Olympic Park is quietly settling, Cruzito hopes that the Latin scene will not be silenced until the third edition.

Far from complaining, he feels that there is an effort to make it work, even within the Spanish-speaking community. Events that were virtually exclusive to Colombians, Dominicans or Puerto Ricans a few years ago, for example, have given way to more welcoming gatherings.

The 36-year-old artist is himself proud to be from Montreal. He was born in Honduras, but he has spent most of his life here. His city is Montreal.

“I will never leave. The culture is diverse, the food is good. You will find me weird, but I like the cold of winter. I like having all four seasons. And it’s also one of the cities in Canada that has the most beautiful girls,” he says with a knowing smile.

“There is a connection between Quebec and Latin cultures,” he adds. Quebecers go south, want to dance salsa, they love Latin culture and welcome it back home. »

Cruzito is also making efforts to develop his environment. In the company of Joy Ride Records, his record company, he is working on a project called YNG LGNDZ: Leyendas – “young legends” – through which he gives the chance to many young Latino artists from Montreal to make themselves known.

In short, he feels that things are progressing, and he is happy to contribute in his own way. ” It feels good. I can’t wait to see how far it can go. »