A Tiny Audience is unveiling its season 3 lineup, with the 35-year-old Mexican indie-pop singer and composer among the participating artists.
Presented by HBO Latino, the series features intimate live specials with some of Latin music’s hottest acts, including Paulina Rubio in season 2, where the artist is filmed in a live and unfiltered way, revealing a personal secret to the small audience and performing songs that are meaningful to them.
In its new season, HBO Latino Presents: A Tiny Audience will present Morrison, Danna Paola, Jessie Reyez, Justin Quiles, La India, Mike Bahia, Ximena Sariñana, Jay Wheeler, Becky G, Zion y Lennox, Robin Thicke, Manuel Medrano, Leslie Grace, Guaynaa, El Fantasma, Aleks Syntek and a tribute to Celia Cruz.
Season 3 premieres on April 22 on HBO/HBO Max in the U.S. and DirecTV/DirecTV GO in Latin America.
The 27-year-old Dominican American singer/actress, a three-time Latin Grammy nominee, has released the new single “Un Buen Día” via Sony Music Latin.
Grace’s latest track delivers the ultimate feel-good song of the week.
“Un Buen Día” finds the In The Heights actress singing about having a good day in terms of life and love.
“It’s a good day to fall in love, see those eyes, a work of art,” she sings. “If you look at me, nothing is bad. It seems too good to be true, but it’s not.” T
The pop track, fused with rock and hip-hop, was penned by Grace alongside Daniel Rondón, Claudia Prieto and Mr. NaisGai.
The 27-year-old Dominican American actress/singer has given fans a first look at her costume for the upcoming Batgirlfilm, which is expected to debut on HBO Max at some point this year.
“I use their expectations against them,” Grace captioned the Instagram image. “That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimate me…And when their guard is down, and their pride is rising, let me kick their butts.”
– Batgirl, Year One
The film, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, stars Grace as Barbara Gordon.
J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser and Michael Keaton are also on board.
Following her acting debut in Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s film adaptation of his Tony Award-winning Broadway musical In The Heights, and in the midst of filming Batgirl, the 26-year-old Dominican America singer/actress has released “Bachatica,” her first solo track in five years.
Dedicated to her loyal fans, Leslie Grace returns to her musical roots in a sensual bachata fused with urban and R&B undertones.
She crafted the song alongside emerging music artists Maye, Musiana, and Eddie Perez.
“I knew this song was a gift and we finished it together that same day,” she expressed on Instagram. “Thank you for sharing your genius with me.” Bringing the song’s romantic lyrics to life, Leslie reeled in her boyfriend Ian Eastwood to appear in the 1920s-inspired music video, which was directed by Jorge G. Camarena.
The 26-year-old Dominican American actress and Latin Grammy-nominated singer has been cast as Barbara Gordon in Warner Bros. and DC Films’ Batgirl.
The decision was made after testing actresses this week.
The studio was already extremely interested in the rising Afro-Latina star following her breakout role in In the Heights, and sources say her audition sealed the deal as the choice.
The studio had no comment.
The film will bow on HBO Max, marking one of the first major DC properties to debut exclusively on the streamer. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah will direct the film from a script by Christina Hodson.
While plot details are under wraps, it is known that Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, will be the character behind the cape in this version. Gordon is the most established version of the Batgirl character and was first introduced in 1961 as Betty Kane.
Grace was among a final group of actresses being tested for the role that included Isabella Merced, Zoey Deutch and Haley Lu Richardson.
He may not be old enough to drive, but Luis Vázquez is already making a splash in the music world…
The 15-year-old Puerto Rican singer has notched his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplaychart as “Tu Fan” rises 3-1 on the July 3-dated survey.
At 15, Vázquez becomes the youngest soloist to arrive at the summit since the chart began in October 1994. He beats out previous record-holder Leslie Grace, who was 17 when “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” topped the chart in October 2012.
“I’m beyond happy that at the beginning of my career I already have a No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart,” Vázquez tells Billboard. “Thankful to God for helping me achieve this dream with my first song and to my family for all the support and love. Grateful also to the public who has supported the song from the beginning and to my second family, JAK Entertainment.”
“Tu Fan” tops the chart with 3.8 million in audience impressions earned in the week ending June 27, up 39%, according to MRC Data. The song is Vázquez’s first entry on any Billboard chart.
“We, at JAK Capitol, are extremely proud of Luis’ great achievement!“ Andy Martinez, CEO, JAK Entertainment tells Billboard. ‘We believe in his talent and our mission is to continue working hard so the tropical genre sees more young talent.”
As it lands atop the summit, “Tu Fan” joins a list of five other tracks that have topped the Tropical Airplay chart in 2021.
Song, Artist, Debut/ Peak Date “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta,” Daddy Yankee & Mark Anthony, Jan. 2
“Travesuras,” Nio García, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin & Yandel, Myke Towers, Flow La Movie, March 6
“Un Amor Eterno,” Marc Anthony, March 20
“Víctimas Las Dos,” Victor Manuelle & La India, May 29
“Si Supieras,” Prince Royce, June 5 “Tu Fan,” Luis Vázquez, July 3
“I’m super excited for this No. 1 because from the beginning this project sounded incredible and ambitious with a great artist who exceeded my expectations even at such a young age,” Juan Miguel, the song’s producer, tells Billboard. “I am sure that Luis will be a salsa icon and I will be very happy in the future to have been part of his history.”
Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Tu Fan” also sees progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, where the track advances 41-32.
“Tu Fan” is part of Vázquez’s debut studio album, Comienzos. The eight-track set, released February 12, debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Tropical Albums chart.
The 29-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer and current In The Heights star has joined voices with his co-stars Leslie Grace and Marc Anthony have joined voices to release the new single “Home All Summer.”
Ramos and Grace’s voices blend beautifully on the upbeat “Home All Summer,” Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s new song for the big screen adaptation of his Broadway hit In the Heights.
Just like the movie it hails from, it’s comforting, effortlessly charming, flawlessly executed and boasts a memorable Marc Anthony cameo.
Anthony Ramos’ moment in the heights to happen a week earlier…
Warner Bros.’ has announced plans to release the Jon M. Chu-directed feature musical In The Heights, starring the 29-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer on June 11, a week earlier than previously scheduled.
The movie, the feature adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Tony Award-winning musical, recently dropped a new trailer.
In the Heights is set in the titular Latinx community of New York City’s bustling Washington Heights. When the neighborhood’s charismatic local bodega owner, and the film’s humble narrator, finally decides to fulfill his dream of going to the island his parents called home, his departure will change his beloved block forever.
In the Heights stars Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco and icon Jimmy Smits.
The film was originally scheduled to be released last summer before COVID-19 pushed it to this year.
The 26-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter has joined voiced with rapper Meek Mill to release a reimagining of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine’s smash hit single “Conga.”
The new version, which gives the ‘80s party banger a rhythmic-pop-urban twist, is part of Bacardi‘s “Conga Feat. You” campaign that launched in November.
“Bacardi presented this amazing plan, where they wanted me to recreate ‘Conga,’” Leslie Grace tells Billboard. “I couldn’t believe it was possible but they assured me that both Gloria and Emilio [Estefan] were on board. They wanted to entrust me with this project and I couldn’t pass on the opportunity.”
Calling the process “innovative,” Grace explained that the project originally began at the end of 2019 but was put on pause because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I went into the studio pre-Covid with Boi-1da. We immediately hit it off. I had written the first verse and the pre onto a loop he had sent me,” she notes. “Everything else was basically done remotely. Meek Mill jumped on the track later on after listening to the structure we built.”
The Estefans were also part of the process “every step of the way.”
Grace adds: “Everyone was really focused on maintaining the essence of this iconic track. Having their support and suggestions was beautiful. They approved every single thing on the project. This was really a labor of love and really intentional every step of the way with the original creators involved.”
“Conga” was the first Billboard Hot 100 hit for Gloria and Miami Sound Machine, peaking at No. 10 in February 1986. The song also hit No. 1 on Dance Singles Sales for one week in November 1985, and No. 7 on Dance Club Songs. The new version, at the helm of Grace, Mill, and Boi-1da, marks the first and only official remake of the original Latin dance classic in over 30 years.
“I’m a nineties baby, my generation grew up with ‘Conga’ and I grew up listening and dancing to the song in my living room,” Grace recounts. “Gloria is an inspiration to me. She’s one of the first artists I saw singing in both languages. I feel so honored and blessed to do this with Boi-1da and Meek Mill.”
Gloria“Goyo“Martínez is standing in solidarity with the Black community…
The 37-year-old Colombian singer and member of the Latin Grammy-winning hip-hop group ChocQuibTown has joined the Conciencia Collective.
The recently-announced initiative, comprised of more than 35 executives from the Latin music industry — including artists, activists, artist managers, publicists, among others – aims to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Mattermovement in an effort to create awareness about racial and social injustice.
Conciencia Collective was born amid national outrage in the U.S. over the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylorand other black citizens who’ve died at the hands of police. The intention is to “educate our colleagues, artists and peers of influence in order to gain their advocacy. Our ongoing initiatives also focus on the many issues affecting our Latin community,” according to a press release.
Goyo, a leading, Afro-Latinx voice launched the initiative with a poignant statement.
“I’m talking to you as a Black woman, rapper, singer, born in South America. In an invisible region, a jewel in my country; a Black village,” writes Goyo. “The experiences that we Black women live change you from the moment you leave your home. Society reminds you that at home, you live in a protected space. At home, we are educated with tools to go out into a racist world. As Howard C. Stevensonsaid, ‘we [as Black people] are educated with a kind of a racial literacy.'”
Goyo kicked off a “Conciencia Talk” alongside Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Rafa Pabónin partnership with Latinx-focused media/news company MiTú on Friday, June 26.
The “online dialogue” was moderated by Afro-Colombian Dr. Aurora Vergara Figueroa, director of the Afrodiasporic Studies Centerat ICESI University.
Quotes on solidarity and racial inequality from more than 100 Latin artists, including Leslie Grace, Anuel AA, Jesse & Joy, Myke Towers, Carla Morrison, Zion & Lennox, and Farruko, among others, will be posted weekly on MiTú’s page.
“In order to consciously educate the Latinx community and change the derogatory narratives towards people of color within our community, we commit to leading with acknowledgement in solidarity with the Black community to enable the rise of leaders in our respective communities,” the statement continues.
“We want to extend our platforms to our brothers and sisters so that their voices and needs can be heard. We want our brothers and sisters across the U.S. and Latin America to know that we see them, we hear them and we will champion equality and justice on behalf of our industry.”
Presented by HBO Latino, the series features intimate live specials with some of Latin music’s hottest acts, including Paulina Rubio in season 2, where the artist is filmed in a live and unfiltered way, revealing a personal secret to the small audience and performing songs that are meaningful to them.
