Maxwell Among the Headlining Acts for 2024’s Cincinnati Music Festival 

Maxwell is bringing sumthin’ sumthin’ to Ohio…

The Cincinnati Music Festival has announced the lineup for its 2024 edition, with the 50-year-old half-Puerto Rican artist among the headlining acts.

MaxwellMaxwell, a three-time Grammy winner, is part of a list of headlining acts that includes New Edition, Ne-Yo and Kem.

The annual celebration of classic and contemporary R&B legends and hip-hop superstars will once again take over the home of the Cincinnati Bengals, Paycor Stadium, for two nights next summer.

The first night, July 26, will be headlined by “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” neo soul legend Maxwell, with support from Ne-Yo, Fantasia, October London and Lakeside.

Night two, July 27, will be toplined by New Jack Swing supergroup New Edition — Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill — as well as Kem, SWV, Stokley and another artist to be announced.

In keeping with recent tradition, the jam-packed weekend will kick off with a night (July 25) celebrating hip-hop at the adjacent Andrew J. Brady Music Center, with a lineup to be announced soon.

“We are thrilled with this year’s lineup for the Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G,” festival producer Joe Santangelo said in a press release. “This year’s lineup is the most jam-packed R&B lineup we’ve ever had, representing fan favorites across the decades from New Edition to Maxwell to Fantasia, and so many more.”

Tickets for this year’s event are on sale now through the festival office (call (513) 924-0900), and will be available through Ticketmaster beginning Saturday (December 16) at 10:00 am ET.

CMF launched as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival in 1962 as an all-jazz event and evolved over the year to embrace a wide variety of R&B, soul and pop acts, from Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington to Luther Vandross, New Edition, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind and Fire and many others.

FilmSharks Sells Rights to Stefanía Tortorella-Starrer “Ghosting Gloria” Globally

It appears Stefanía Tortorella will be ghosting around the globe…

The Latina actress’ latest project Ghosting Gloria (Muerto Con Gloria), a high-concept spooky comedy, has sold its U.S. rights to Pantaya, the company run by Lionsgate and Cinelatino.

Stefanía Tortorella

The Spanish-language film, directed by Mauro Sarser and Marcela Matta, has also sold to Spain’s largest telcom group, Movistar+, which took all digital rights. AV-Jet has taken Taiwanese rights.

FilmSharks, the Buenos Aires-based sales agency, has also entered discussions for various remakes of the film, including in the English-language.

The film is set to have its world premiere at Fantasia next month. It follows Gloria, a 30-year-old single woman who has never had an orgasm. She finally finds her ideal lover, but the only caveat is that “he” does not inhabit the world of the living.

The film also stars Nenan Pelenur, Mauro Sarser, Federico Guerra, Noelia Campo, Marco Manfrini, Cecilia Sánchez and Nicolás Pereyra.

Ozuna Releases Videos for His New Singles “Fantasía” & “Nibiru” Back to Back

Ozunais livin’ in a fantasy world…

Timed with the release of his new album, Nibiru, the 27-year-old Puerto Rican Latin rap and reggaeton singer, regarded as the New King of Reggaeton, has shared two music videos back to back.

Ozuna

On Thursday, Ozuna dropped “Fantasía — Cap. 1” and on Friday, he unveiled the video for the album’s title track, “Nibiru — Cap. 3.”

Nibiru’s first single, “Hasta que salga el sol,” which dropped earlier this month, is Chapter 2 in this video trilogy directed by Colin Tilley, which centers on Ozuna literally navigating the waters, land and air of fictional planet Nibiru.  

While there are plenty of collaborations on Nibiruthe album (including DiddyAnuel AASechSnoop Dogg and Nicky Jam), the new videos feature Ozuna by himself, underscoring his position as one of the few Latin stars who can carry their own weight.

Each video was released on Ozuna’s YouTube channel with an accompanying storyline and the promise of more chapters to come.

In “Fantasía,” Ozuna looks over a dystopian city in the midst of a sandstorm as his wife’s hair and face transform into stars and galaxies. In “Nibiru,” Ozuna swims in deep waters and is guided by sirens to a cave where he dances with ostensibly extraterrestrial creatures, a continuation of what he did in “Hasta que salga el sol.”

Fantasia

Nibiru

Rosalia Makes History with Grammy Nomination for Best New Artist

It’s a brand new (artist)day for Rosalia

The 26-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter has earned the first two Grammy nominations of her career, including a historic nod for Best New Artist.

Rosalia

Rosalia, a five-time Latin Grammy winner, is the first all-Spanish language singer to be nominated in the best new artist category. Other Latino artists have been nominated in the category over the years, including Vikki Carr in 1963, and Mariah CareyChristina Aguilera and Esperanza Spalding have won the award. Even José Feliciano won best new artist in 1969, bolstered by his hit version of the Doors’ “Light My Fire.” But the previous nominees and winners were not, however, honored for their work recorded exclusively in Spanish.

Rosalia’s second nomination comes in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category for her second studio album, El Mal Querer. The album took home all the Latin Grammy awards it was nominated for, including Album of the Year, one of the top awards of the night.

Bad Bunny picked up two nominations… in the same category.

The 25-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer-rapper is nominated in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category for his Latin Grammy-winning debut album X 100PRE, as well as his collaborative album with J Balvin, Oasis.

Esperanza Spalding, a four-time Grammy winner, including Best New Artist, has picked up two nods this year. 

The 35-year-old part-Latinajazz bassist and singer is nominated in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for her album12 Little Spells. She’s also up for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for serving as the arranger on her own single track “12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine).”

Vince Mendoza is back in familiar territory…

The 58-year-old Latino music arranger, conductorand composer, a multi-Grammy winner, has picked up four nominations. 

He’s nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for his work on Trisha Yearwood’s “Over The Rainbow.” 

Mendoza picked up two nods in the Best Instrumental Composition category for conducting Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band’s “Begin Again,” as well as composing “Love, A Beautiful Force,” his single with Terell StaffordDick Oatts and the Temple University Studio Orchestra.

Emilio Solla is in the running for a Grammy this year…

The Argentine pianist and composer is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category for arranging “La Novena,” his single with the Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra.

Diego Figueiredo picked up a nod

The 39-year-old Brazilian musician is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for arrangement alongside Cyrille Aiméeon Aimée’s “Marry Me A Little.”

Camila Cabello, a two-time Grammy nominee last year, has earned a nod this year…

The 22-year-old Mexican and Cuban singer and former Fifth Harmony member is nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for her collaboration with Shawn Mendes, “Señorita.” 

Cardi B has earned a nod this year…

The 27-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar, who picked up her first Grammy at this year’s awards show for her debut album Invasion of Privacy, is up for Best Rap Performance for her work opposite Offset on “Clout.”

Rodrigo y Gabrielahave reason to celebrate…

The Mexican acoustic guitar duo, comprised of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero, picked up its first Grammy nomination. Rodrigo y Gabriela is nominated in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for Mettavolution.

Jessie Reyez is a first-time Grammynominee…

The 28-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is nominated in the Best Urban Contemporary Album category for her sophomore album Being Human In Public. The album picked up a Juno Award in her home country of Canada for RnB/Soul Recording of the Year.

Sebastian Plano is celebrating his Grammy nod…

The Argentine composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist is nominated in the Best New Age Album category for his albumVerve.

Melissa Aldana has picked up her first Grammy nomination…

The 30-year-old Chilean tenor saxophone player is nominated in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category for “Elsewhere.”

The nominees in the Best Latin Jazz Album include Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band (Antidote), Thalma De Freitas with Vitor GonçalvesJohn PatitucciChico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato Duduka Da Fonse (Sorte!: Music By John Finbury), Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Rubén Blades (Una Noche Con Rubén Blades), David Sánchez (Carib), and Miguel Zenón (Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera)

The Best Latin Pop Album nominees include an eclectic mix of artists: Luis Fonsi (Vida), Maluma (11:11), Ricardo Montaner (Montaner), Alejandro Sanz (#ELDISCO), and Sebastian Yatra (Fantasía).

In addition to Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Rosalia, the nominees in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category include Flor De Toloache (Indestructible) and iLe(Almadura).

The Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) include Joss Favela (Caminando), Intocable (Percepción), La Energia Norteña (Poco A Poco), Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea (20 Aniversario), and Mariachi Los Camperos (De Ayer Para Siempre).

The Best Tropical Latin Album nominees include Marc Anthony (Opus), Luis Enrique + C4Trio (Tiempo Al Tiempo), Vicente Garcia (Candela), Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 (Literal) and Aymée Nuviola (A Journey Through Cuban Music).

The Best Musical Theater Album nominees includeHadestown, with Eva Noblezada as one of the principal soloists, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, with Karen Olivo as one of the principal soloists. It’s the first Grammy nod for both Noblezada, who is half-Mexican American, and Olivo, who is part Puerto Rican and Dominican American.

Gustavo Dudamelis back in the hunt for a Grammy

The 38-year-oldVenezuelan-Spanish conductor and violinist, who won his first Grammy in 2011, is nominated in the Best Orchestral Performance category for conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonnic’s Norman: Sustain.”

FKA Twigs has picked up her first Grammy nomination…

The 31-year-old part-Spanish singer is up for Best Music Video for her acclaimed music video for “Cellophane.”

Lizzo led the pack with eight nods, while Billie Eillish and Lil Nas Xfollowed close behind with six nominations each. All three musicians are first-time Grammy nominees.

Alicia Keyswill return as host the ceremony for the second year in a row, making her the third womanand the first female musician to host the show twice.

The Grammy Awardswill take place on January 26 at the Staples Centerin Los Angeles. The broadcast will air live on CBSat 5:00 pm PT/ 8:00 pm ET.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latino nominees:

GENERAL FIELD

Best New Artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalía
Tank and the Bangas
Yola

POP FIELD

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
“Boyfriend” — Ariana Grande & Social House
“Sucker” — Jonas Brothers
“Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus
“Señorita” — Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello

CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:
Ancestral Recall — Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Star People Nation — Theo Croker
Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music! — Mark Guiliana
Elevate — Lettuce
Mettavolution — Rodrigo y Gabriela

R&B

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Apollo XXI — Steve Lacy
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) — Lizzo
Overload — Georgia Anne Muldrow
Saturn — Nao
Being Human In Public — Jessie Reyez

RAP

Best Rap Performance:
“Middle Child” — J.Cole
“Suge” — DaBaby
“Down Bad” — Dreamville ft. J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, Earthgang & Young Nudy
“Racks In The Middle” — Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch & Hit-boy
“Clout” — Offset ft. Cardi B

NEW AGE

Best New Age Album:
Fairy Dreams — David Arkenstone
Homage To Kindness — David Darling
Wings — Peter Kater
Verve — Sebastian Plano
Deva — Deva Premal

JAZZ

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
“Elsewhere” — Melissa Aldana, soloist
“Sozinho” — Randy Brecker, soloist
“Tomorrow Is The Question” — Julian Lage, soloist
“The Windup” — Brandford Marsalis, soloist
“Sightseeing” — Christian McBride, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Thirsty Ghost — Sara Gazarek
Love & Liberation — Jazzmeia Horn
Alone Together — Catherine Russell
12 Little Spells — Esperanza Spalding
Screenplay — The Tierney Sutton Band

Best Latin Jazz Album:
Antidote — Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band
Sorte!: Music By John Finbury — Thalma De Freitas With Vitor Gonçalves, John Patitucci, Chico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato & Duduka Da Fonseca
Una Noche Con Rubén Blades — Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis & Rubén Blades
Carib — David Sánchez
Sonero: The Music Of Ismael Rivera — Miguel Zenón

LATIN

Best Latin Pop Album:
Vida — Luis Fonsi
11:11 — Maluma
Montaner — Ricardo Montaner
#ELDISCO — Alejandro Sanz
Fantasía — Sebastian Yatra

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:
X 100PRE — Bad Bunny
Oasis — J Balvin & Bad Bunny
Indestructible — Flor De Toloache
Almadura — iLe
El Mal Querer – Rosalía

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano):
Caminando — Joss Favela
Percepción — Intocable
Poco A Poco — La Energia Norteña
20 Aniversario — Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
De Ayer Para Siempre — Mariachi Los Camperos

Best Tropical Latin Album:
Opus — Marc Anthony
Tiempo Al Tiempo — Luis Enrique + C4 Trio
Candela — Vicente García
Literal — Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
A Journey Through Cuban Music — Aymée Nuviola

AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC

Best American Roots Performance:
“Saint Honesty” — Sara Bareilles
“Father Mountain” — Calexico With Iron & Wine
“I’m On My Way” — Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi
“Call My Name” — I’m With Her
“Faraway Look” — Yola

MUSICAL THEATER

Best Musical Theater Album:
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations — Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes, principal soloists; Scott M. Riesett, producer (Original Broadway Cast)
Hadestown — Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page, principal soloists; Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose, producers (Anaïs Mitchell, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
Moulin Rouge! The Musical — Danny Burstein, Tam Mutu, Sahr Ngaujah, Karen Olivo & Aaron Tveit, principal soloists; Justin Levine, Baz Luhrmann, Matt Stine & Alex Timbers, producers (Original Broadway Cast)
The Music Of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child – In Four Contemporary Suites — Imogen Heap, producer; Imogen Heap, composer (Imogen Heap)
Oklahoma! — Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill, principal soloists; Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2019 Broadway Cast)

MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:
The Lion King: The Songs — (Various Artists)
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood — (Various Artists)
Rocketman — Taron Egerton
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse — (Various Artists)
A Star Is Born — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

COMPOSING/ARRANGING

Best Instrumental Composition:
“Begin Again” — Fred Hersch, composer (Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band Conducted By Vince Mendoza)
“Crucible For Crisis” — Brian Lynch, composer (Brian Lynch Big Band)
“Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite” — John Williams, composer (John Williams)
“Walkin’ Funny” — Christian McBride, composer (Christian McBride)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:
“Blue Skies” — Kris Bowers, arranger (Kris Bowers)
“Hedwig’s Theme” — John Williams, arranger (Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams)
“La Novena” — Emilio Solla, arranger (Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra)
“Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
“Moon River” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals:
“All Night Long” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Jules Buckley, Take 6 & Metropole Orkest)
“Jolene” — Geoff Keezer, arranger (Sara Gazarek)
“Marry Me A Little” — Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo, arrangers (Cyrille Aimée)
“Over The Rainbow” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Trisha Yearwood)
“12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine)” — Esperanza Spalding, arranger (Esperanza Spalding)

PACKAGE

Best Recording Package:
Anónimas & Resilientes — Luisa María Arango, Carlos Dussan, Manuel García-Orozco & Juliana Jaramillo-Buenaventura, art directors (Voces Del Bullerengue)
Chris Cornell — Barry Ament, Jeff Ament, Jeff Fura & Joe Spix, art directors (Chris Cornell)
Hold That Tiger — Andrew Wong & Fongming Yang, art directors (The Muddy Basin Ramblers)
i,i — Aaron Anderson & Eric Timothy Carlson, art directors (Bon Iver)
Intellexual — Irwan Awalludin, art director (Intellexual)

NOTES

Best Album Notes:
The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions — Judy Cantor-Navas, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Gospel According To Malaco — Robert Marovich, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Pedal Steel + Four Corners — Brendan Greaves, album notes writer (Terry Allen And The Panhandle Mystery Band)
Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place, album notes writer (Pete Seeger)
Stax ’68: A Memphis Story — Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)

CLASSICAL

Best Orchestral Performance:
“Bruckner: Symphony No. 9” — Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
“Copland: Billy The Kid; Grohg” — Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
“Norman: Sustain” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
“Transatlantic” — Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
“Weinberg: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 21” — Mirga Gražinytė-tyla, conductor (City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Kremerata Baltica)

MUSIC VIDEO/FILM

Best Music Video:
“We’ve Got To Try” — The Chemical Brothers, Ellie Fry, video director; Ninian Doff, video producer
“This Land” — Gary Clark Jr., Savanah Leaf, video director; Alicia Martinez, video producer
“Cellophane” — FKA twigs, Andrew Thomas Huang, video director; Alex Chamberlain, video producer
“Old Town Road (Official Movie)” — Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus, Calmatic, video director; Candice Dragonas, Melissa Larsen & Saul Levitz, video producers
“Glad He’s Gone” — Tove Lo,  Vania Heymann & Gal Muggia, video directors; Natan Schottenfels, video producer

Sebastian Yatra to Headline Nissan & Univision’s Pre-Latin Grammys “Road to Innovation” Tour

Sebastian Yatra is on the Road again…

The 25-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter will be celebrating his three Latin Grammy nominations with his fans as the headlining act of the 2019 Road to Innovation tour. 

Sebastian Yatra

In its fifth year, Nissan and Univision continue their partnership for the live concert tour that features a series of performances in anticipation of the 20th annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Taking place in eight different U.S. cities, the Road to Innovation tourwill kick off on October 28 in Los Angeles and run until November 12 in Las Vegas. 

The tour will also make pit stops in cities like Miami, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Phoenix, to name a few. 

Yatra will be presenting songs from his latest studio album, Fantasia.

“Nissan is excited to celebrate Latin music’s top artists,” said Allyson Witherspoon, vice president of marketing, communications and media in a press statement. “For the fifth year, we’re partnering with Univision for the Road to Innovation Tour featuring Sebastian Yatra. This eight-city tour is an engaging way to connect with our consumers leading up to the Biggest Night in Latin Music.”  

The tour will not only feature Yatra, but also a complete branded experience that concertgoers can enjoy, including Univision’s first-ever branded Uforia playlist featuring past Road to Innovation tour artists, sponsored by Nissan. 

Previous artists include Karol GReykon and Farruko, to name a few. 

“We are thrilled to once again renew this unique partnership with Nissan. With music being such an important passion point for the Hispanic audience, the Road to Innovation Tour has been the perfect vehicle to reach this valuable consumer,” said Steve Mandala, president of Advertising Sales and Marketing, Univision. “The program showcases Univision’s full suite of marketing capabilities across TV, radio and digital and continues to deliver high-impact results for our client.”

For tickets to the Road to Innovation tourvisit here.

Here are the confirmed dates:

October 28 — Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon Hollywood
October 29 — Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
October 30 — Dallas, TX @ Medusa Dallas
October 31 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Chicago
November 4 — Washington, DC @ Echostage
November 5 — Queens, NY @ La Boom
November 6 — Miami, FL @ TBD
November 12 — Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues Vegas

Sebastián Yatra Earns Second Chart-Topper on Billboard Latin Pop Albums Chart

Sebastián Yatra is two-for-two…

The 24-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter’s sophomore album Fantasia debuts atop the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart dated April 27, following his debut set Mantra to the top of the chart.

Sebastian Yatra

His sophomore set Fantasia launches at No. 1 with 5,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending April 18, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 3,000 were in album sales. Both figures mark the best weeks of his career, in terms of album sales and equivalent album units.

The LP concurrently debuts at No. 5 on the Top Latin Albums chart, his second entry, following the No. 3 debut and peak of Mantra.

Yatra scored his first Latin Pop Albums leader less than a year ago, when his debut set Mantra opened at No. 1 on June 2. The album also opened at No. 3 on Top Latin Albums and even reached the all-encompassing Billboard 200, at No. 192.

Yatra’s Fantasia is just the third album to be No. 1 on Latin Pop Albums in 2019 so far. Selena’s Ones ruled for the first six weeks of the year (of the set’s total 24 weeks at No. 1), followed by Luis FonsiVida for 10 weeks.

Sebastián Yatra to Release New Album “Fantasía” in April

Sebastián Yatra is ready almost ready to live his fantasy

The 24-year-old Colombian singer will release his next album Fantasía on April 12, according to Billboard.

Sebastian Yatra

During the past year, Yatra has been working hard on his new album, which will mark a new musical path for him. 

According to the singer, the 12 songs that are included on Fantasía will remind fans of the magic Latin ballads hold, like the track “Un Año” with Reik.

On March 3, Yatra officially announced his new album on social media, posting the official cover. And now he’s sharing the track list.

Sebastian-Yatra-tracklist-Fantasia

Fantasíais the representation of my heart. I also hope [it] will be [for] the people who firmly believe that love is the most powerful feeling in the world,” Yatra tells Billboard

Before the urban genre took over, singers like Luis FonsiRicky Martin and Luis Miguelused to serenade the world with romantic songs. 

“I hope that with this album, we renew the votes [for] the Latin pop/ballad, a genre that I respect and value immensely and that has marked my life. I know that this album will connect us forever and in 20 years we will sing these songs of love together,” Yatra adds.

Los Van Van Planning to Tour the U.S. in Summer 2015

Los Van Van are headed to the States…

Contemporary Cuba’s iconic dance band is planning an extensive U.S. tour this summer.

Los Van Van

The tour will be the band’s fifth in the United States, but the first without Van Van founder Juan Formell, who died last May at the age of 71.

Formell’s son Samuel, the band’s drummer, took over leadership of the group when his father died. He recently told The Associated Press that he expects the tour to get underway in late July. It will include stops in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, San Francisco and other cities.

The younger Formell and the group completed their latest album, Fantasia, after Juan Formell’s death, with the title track dedicated to Formell.

“Any conversation about Cuba has to mention [Los Van Van], and we are sure that wherever Juanito’s music goes, his spirit will be there too,” the Van Van singer said at a massive outdoor concert at the University of Havana in December, celebrating the group’s 45th anniversary.

Samuel Formell, 47, told the AP that he’s in favor of ending the U.S. embargo and that he would like to see free elections in Cuba.

“There has to be urgent change — urgent change to save that country,” he said, referring to Cuba.

Get a glimpse of the current state of free enterprise on the streets of Havana in this video for the song “No Le Temo a La Vida.” It’s the last video featuring Juan Formell.