Skeptics will be confused, repeats Cruzito, artistic director of the Joy Ride Latino label: “It had become a running gag : this new album will never be released. Everyone on the scene had heard about YNG LGNDZ’s second project, no one knew when it was going to be released. » We will have to wait until the end of winter, but in the meantime, the public is invited to discover for the first time, this evening at Club Soda, the thirteen songs from YNG LGNDZ: Leyendas, with the artists, who will offer performances on stage. The cream of Montreal urban music, ready to take the planet by storm.
It’s already off to a good start, even to the surprise of the owners of Joy Ride Latino. Three extracts from the album have already been revealed: the torrid ParaísoCruzito (with Honduran roots) singing to a classic reggaeton rhythm, the bouncy Whine Uprevealing the fine and clear voice of the Montreal revelation Cahnei, born in Havana less than 25 years ago, and Bluesfeaturing the voice of Mariana Gueza, originally from Mexico.
Now, by one of those miracles of which TikTok alone seems to have the secret, Blues, a ballad more indie-pop than reggaeton, became a viral hit. “A wonderful voice, she has become a phenomenon in Mexico, people sing the song and do the dance on video. We even had to bring forward the release of the clip, which we had planned to launch in February. » Said clip wasn’t even filmed; the producers quickly put Mariana on a plane to shoot it quickly, in Chile. On YouTube, it already has nearly 35,000 views, one week after its publication, a still modest number if we compare it with the interest it is currently generating on TikTok.
For her looks as much as for her writing, we want to make her the Latin Billie Eilish, which says something about the album that YNG LGNDZ will be releasing this evening: it contains all the flavors, or almost, of Latin pop. “Basically, we didn’t want to classify this project as a reggaeton album,” explains Cruzito. We wanted it to be understood as a portrait of Latin music, in which we would recognize reggaeton. »
Thus, the two most notorious artists to collaborate on the project are not in reggaeton: Ramon Chicharron and Mateo, Montreal singer-songwriters who gained experience by participating in the Syli d’or competition, organized by Productions Nuits from Africa, combine their Latin song with the modern rhythms of the LGNDZ, for the most beautiful effect.
“It is certain that we hope to break through internationally,” admits Cruzito, “but in designing this project, we first thought of our Latin-Quebec community and the public who love our music while avoiding insisting on the reggaeton too bold. Yes, it’s Latin music, yes, we mix it with lots of other styles, but we want the public to understand what we’re doing. » On the album artists whose roots are in different countries express themselves, “Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, all artists from here”. A great example of the collegiality of Latin-Quebec musicians, Cruzito sums up, “but what is still very lacking here is a platform for these talents”.
So, Leyendas is above all a fantastic first showcase for a lot of up-and-coming Quebec musicians. We discover them, O Eye, Greyz, Pachy Flow, Mista Whyt, Onze DeVibe, Dg Boy. And Cahnei, who will release his first mini-album somewhere in 2024.
“I grew up in a house where we listened to a lot of music, from Bob Marley to Whitney Houston, including Michael Jackson — I know all his music videos by heart! —, but these days, I only have the songs of Polo Montañez in mind, a legend here in Cuba,” says Cahnei, with a smile in his voice. She is, with Mariana Gueza, the other happy discovery of Joy Ride Latino, who has a lot of hope in her.
“There’s always a little typically Cuban rhythm in my music, but otherwise, it’s the accent that identifies me,” adds Cahnei, suggesting that rumba could flavor his next songs. “I can’t wait to present my next songs, more emotional” than Whine Upone of his two songs on Leyendas, more festive, perhaps closer to the light songs of Colombian megastar Karol G, whom she admires. Released last February, the latter’s fourth album, Mañana Será Bonitois arguably one of the best Latin pop albums of the year.
From mid-January, Joy Ride Latino will promote the release of the album YNG LGNDZ: Leyendas by releasing a new song per week, until April. Until then, we’ll enjoy everything first at Club Soda. “We wanted to do something different than a simple listening session in a studio,” explains Cruzito, author, composer, performer and member of YNG LGNDZ with Myztiko, Josue Bonilla and the duo Los Audio Kimikos. “Those who know Latinos know that we like to celebrate and party. What’s better than a big party at Club Soda? We don’t do things by halves! »