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To celebrate the first 20 years of a fruitful career and many hits along the way, the tropipop icon Fonseca shared anecdotes about his music and played some of his songs, accompanied by his guitarist Jairo Barón, in an intimate setting Wednesday (Oct. 4) at Billboard‘s Latin Music Week 2023.
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During The Icon Q&A panel — presented by Michelob Ultra and moderated by Sigal Ratner-Arias, deputy editor of Billboard Español — the artist took a musical journey from his beginnings in music, how some of his songs emerged, the role of his children in his compositions and his Latin Grammy-nominated collaboration with Juan Luis Guerra, to details of an upcoming album with which he wants to return to the sound of his beginnings.
The Colombian singer-songwriter remembered his early days as a time of great excitement. He said that during the recording of his self-titled debut album and recorded in Caracas, Venezuela, with the Líderes record label, he spent a lot of time alone walking through the streets of the city, imagining the future and thinking about how he was going to get his music played on radio stations.
After his record label closed in the middle of the promotion process, it took him about two years to free himself from this contract. Bernardo Ossa appeared, with whom he produced “Te Mando Flores.” The song gave him his first entry on a Billboard chart and marked a turning point in his career.
“Overnight we were practically all over Latin America, in the United States, in Europe doing promotional tours, playing,” Fonseca recalled. “It was crazy.”
Now that he is an international reference of Colombian music, Fonseca wants to return to the sounds of his early days on his next album, which he plans to release early next year. “I want to make an album where the instruments are 100% recorded and that’s that phrase of going back to that sound,” he said. “That’s how I recorded that album in Venezuela the first time, and that’s how I recorded my second album, Corazón.”
Additionally, he revealed that at the end of this month, he will release a new song called “Canto a la Vida” as a tribute to Colombian music, with accordion, clarinets and percussion.
He also reflected on the song “Entre Mi Vida y la Tuya” released in 2015, which gave him his first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Tropical Airplay chart. He said that the melody came to him while he was resting in a pool in the middle of a tour through Central America. He quickly found his guitar and recorded it on his phone, where he usually saves song ideas, phrases and feelings.
Among funny anecdotes, Fonseca stated that he shares his songs with his three children — ages 4, 9 and 13 — and they are like his “A&R department: absolutely without compassion.” “They’re like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, that’s horrible.’ [laughs] … They’ve inspired me a lot of songs.”
Regarding his most recent hit “Si Tú Me Quieres” with the Dominican maestro Juan Luis Guerra, who received nominations for the Latin Grammy 2023 for song of the year, recording of the year and best tropical song, he said, “I remember writing the song, arriving at the bridge moment that says ‘like a bee in a honeycomb.’ There I said, ‘Well, this is also like a tribute to Juan Luis’ … and from that moment I began to dream that could happen. It happened two or three years later.”
He also highlighted a special anecdote in his career with the song “Ven,” which he wrote inspired by his daughter Paz and which he said is the fastest song he has ever written. “I started making some chords and literally in an hour and a half, ‘Ven’ landed as if someone was dictating it to me and it was one of the most special intimate moments of my career,” Fonseca said. “I remember singing it after I wrote it so quickly and tears came to my eyes. It was something so personal that it was like a sublime moment by myself.”
Finally, as one of the secrets to staying current in music over the years, the artist stated, “Regardless of the profession one has, one comes to serve through what one does.”
Fonseca also closed Billboard Latin Music Week 2023 with a concert for the En Vivo series at Oasis Wynwood in Miami. Watch a summary of his presentation below, and don’t miss the video of his interview on The Icon Q&A panel above.
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Reservoir Media has signed a publishing deal with Latin songwriter and producer Rudy Perez, the company tells Billboard. According to Reservoir, the deal includes the acquisition of Perez’s catalog as well as a publishing deal for his future works. Throughout his career, Perez has collaborated with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel […]
During Billboard Latin Music Week 2023, in between panels, we asked attendees at the Faena Forum, “What Brings You Joy?” and to “Share a Joyful Memory with Music and a Cold Beer?” presented by Michelob ULTRA. Check out some of their responses! Related Images:
Luis Miguel is, indisputably, one of the top voices of our generation, and his unmatched showmanship was on full display on Thursday (Oct. 8) at the sold-out, 19,500-capacity Madison Square Garden.
El Sol de México is midway through his ambitious Luis Miguel Tour 2023 of 65 shows, produced by CMN, which kicked off August 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His upcoming dates include Miami (Oct. 13), Oklahoma City (Oct. 26), Austin (Nov. 5), before Miguel makes his way across plenty of cities in his beloved Mexico; he will complete his tour on Dec. 17 in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Backed by an orchestra composed of string and brass sections, three backup singers and a band complete with guitar, percussion and bass, Luis Miguel was quite dapper in his elegant black suit — but still full of energy. Although the Mexican icon did not speak to the crowd, he did extend his arms to the front row attendees (Bad Bunny was also in the audience, along with rumored girlfriend Kendall Jenner). Yet, his on-stage dynamism was in full effect, while he delivered 40 years of hits, moments of vocal raspiness aside.
Amid a sea of neon-colored lights that adorned the scene — via bracelets that elated concert-goers wore on their wrists — and a screen behind the stage showing images of galaxy clusters, aurora borealis, and majestic forests, the nearly two-hour set was nothing short of spectacular. The bonafide hitmaker’s spanned whirling romantic songs (“No Sé Tú,” “La Incondicional,” “Hasta Que Me Olvides”), energetic pop (“Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” “La Chica Del Bikini Azul,” “Isabel”) and even one number featuring a troupe of invigorated mariachi players (“La Bikina”).
If you missed one of his shows, fret not: The “Fría Como el Viento” crooner will resume with part two for Luis Miguel Tour 2024, kicking off in the Dominican Republic (Jan. 20), then hitting Puerto Rico (Jan. 23), before he makes his way throughout several major cities across South America, and eventually returns back to the United States.
Here are five things to know about his Luis Miguel Tour 2023:
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Yng Lvcas has signed an alliance with OCESA Seitrack, in partnership with Laele Records, to manage his career worldwide, Billboard can exclusively announce on Monday (Oct. 9). The rising Mexican artist, known for his breakthrough track “La Bebe (Remix)” in collaboration with Peso Pluma, was a six-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards. […]
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The 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week welcomed star-studded Q&A sessions, educational panels, and a wave of showcases — all celebrating the biggest acts in the Latin music realm the week of Oct. 2-6.
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On Wednesday (Oct. 4), Billboard En Vivo hosted “A Night of Mexican Music” presented by Sonidos Mexicanos Promotores Unidos, Zamora Group and Rancho Humilde, featuring rising stars of the genre.
“Thank you for the opportunity on this occasion. We hope to continue growing in the future,” said the host of the night.
The boutique event, which took place in Miami’s WhiskyLucan Restaurant, kicked off at around 11 p.m. with the acoustic presentation of emerging artist Erre. Wearing shorts, white sneakers and strutting his faithful guitar, the Phoenix-based artist performed his singles “Solo,” which is a collaboration with Eslabon Armado, “Me Olvidaste,” and “Te Extraño.”
Carlos Sarabia, former vocalist of Banda El Recodo, then took center stage to explain that his band could not travel due to logistics but he crooned the intimate audience with an acapella version of his popular song, “Mi Gusto Es.”
Wrapping up the night was Monterrey-based newcomer Sebastian Esquivel, and one of Billboard’s On The Radar Latin artists, who proudly represented the new corridos movement with his trap fusions and his Alex Favela-assisted track “RZR Rojo.” It was Esquivel’s first time performing in the U.S.
Celebrated for more than 30 years, the 2023 edition of Latin Music Week included a Superstar Q&A with Shakira; the Legends on Legends chat with Chencho Corleone and Vico C; Making the Hit Live! with Carin León and Pedro Capó; a panel with RBD’s Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, and Maite Perroni; Superstar Songwriter discussion with Edgar Barrera and Keityn, among many other panels, Q&As and workshops.
This year’s Latin Music Week ran from Oct. 2-6, and also included showcases by Peso Pluma, Mike Bahía and Greeicy, DannyLux and Fonseca, to name a few. Official partners of the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week include AT&T, Cheetos, CN Bank, Delta Air Lines, Lexus, Netflix, Michelob ULTRA and Smirnoff.
Billboard Latin Music Week coincided with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla., on Thursday (Oct. 5)
The 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards took place on Thursday night, celebrating Latin music’s biggest stars of yesterday and today. The night’s top winner was música Mexicana star Peso Pluma, nabbing eight awards including artist of the year, new; Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male; and songwriter of the year. Pluma was followed […]
Billboard Latin Music Week is always a star-studded event filled with intimate conversations— but this year, fans were treated to an extra special moment: the first-ever public conversation with RBD since their comeback. Members Maite Perroni, Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann were joined by their manager Guillermo Rosas for the panel “Reviving RBD Presented by AT&T.” The discussion was a beautiful testament to how far they have come since the group’s inception in 2004, moderated by Griselda Flores, senior writer, Latin at Billboard.
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RBD is currently on the Soy Rebelde Tour, with upcoming dates in stadiums and arenas across North and South America. When asked how the experience has been so far, the group expressed gratitude for their fans. “We feel it with our hearts to be on the stage again and to connect with each of every one of you,” Maite said to the audience, “This is more than music: it’s a connection between our hearts.”
The Soy Rebelde Tour reunited the Mexican Latin pop group onstage for the first time in 15 years. After venturing on their separate paths, RBD’s reunion was the rekindling of a connection that transcends music. “I think that people connect with us because each one of us is so different, but we’re a family,” said Christopher. “We know each other. We understand each other without having to speak. We are family and that is something you can feel.”
One of the most touching moments took place toward the end of the conversation when RBD was reflecting on how performing in 2023 is different from the past. Christian expressed how important it is to him to be able to express himself freely. “I can be queer on stage,” he said, “It has been wonderful to take the hand of that little 12 year-old me who wanted to use this color or this clothing that I couldn’t.” Maite acknowledged how he bravely embraced his sexuality before the public: “It’s important that he was honest. He was courageous in a very difficult moment. He became the spokesperson for a lot of people and a generation, and he taught us that. He taught everyone that we don’t want prejudice and it’s time that we don’t have fear.”
When reflecting on the impact of their current tour, Christopher emphasized the importance of connection. “We are not looking for anything,” he said, “we just want to connect. We have lived through a lot and once you move throughout your career, you have your ups and downs— and the most important thing is to connect with people and be yourself. That’s what lasts.
As the proud presenting sponsor of RBD’s Soy Rebelde national tour, AT&T continues to connect Latin music fans to the artists and music they love by extending the partnership and surrounding RBD’s exclusive panel at Latin Music Week. Because at AT&T, Connecting Changes Everything™.
Celebrated for more than 30 years, the 2023 edition of Latin Music Week included intimate conversations with the hottest artists in Latin music, networking sessions, and workshops. See the ultimate Latin Music Week guide here.
Stay tuned for more content from Billboard Latin Music Week.