For an artist who says music is his ardour and the music of others is his interest, it’s no shock why Puerto Rican salsa icon Gilberto Santa Rosa launched a conceptual album known as Debut y Segunda Tanda. Each the Vol. 1 and a deluxe model had been produced by his label B2B Music and distributed by Imagine.
The “Debut” a part of its title, as he explains to Billboard, represents three of his authentic recordings, comparable to “Cartas Sobre La Mesaz” — whereas “Segunda Tanda” pays tribute to emblematic tracks recorded by his colleagues, comparable to Willie Chirino, Mucho Manolo and Carlos Vives’ “For Sale,” to call a number of.
“The primary track that was created was ‘Cartas Sobre La Mesa,’ and that’s the one which sparked the idea of my album,” he says of his first set in two years. “This album got here on the excellent timing.”
Under, learn 20 questions with El Caballero de la Salsa, the place he opens up about his new album, being from Santurce, Puerto Rico, the film that makes him cry and extra.
1. That is your first album in two years — what’s the idea behind Debut y Segunda Tanda?
It’s easy. My new songs are those debuting and the second half is the covers. Half of the songs had been initially recorded by me and the opposite half are songs that different artists lent me for the album.
2. On this album, you pay homage to your colleagues Willie Chirino, Mucho Manolo, Septeto Acarey, Grupo Bahia, Carlos Vives and Alejandro Sanz. Which of those covers was most difficult so that you can interpret?
Honestly, I determine with all of them, even when they’re not my songs. However I must say “Cartas Sobre La Mesa” as a result of it was initially recorded as an city track. I’ve performed tropical and romantic covers, but it surely’s the primary time I did one thing city. Though salsa and concrete have numerous issues in frequent, beginning with their origin, this track was probably the most peculiar for me.
3. Of your authentic tracks on the album, which is your private favourite?
Indisputably “En Defensa Propia.” It’s a really well-written track, very Santa Rosa. It’s a track made for expression and it offers the album a particular contact.
4. Which track from Debut y Segunda Tanda are you most excited to carry out stay?
I like all of them! Since I choose the songs for my exhibits, I wish to carry out all of them, as a result of it’s an album I actually need my followers to find.
5. Why did you determine to launch this album in two elements?
The album was divided as a result of I went into the studio and obtained excited. I noticed I had numerous songs, and we determined to work on the primary eight. Apart from, time passes by very quick, and numerous music will get misplaced in the best way. That’s once we had the concept of releasing it in two elements.
6. What’s on the high of your skilled bucket listing?
I don’t actually have a bucket listing. Who is aware of if in a few years I’ll deal with that listing? However in the interim, I don’t have something.
7. Who made you understand you possibly can be an artist full-time?
I used to be six years previous. There was a instructor in my faculty who sadly handed away very younger, her title was Yenny Diaz. She was a science instructor, however she additionally led the music courses. She taught us to play the guitar. She inspired me and taught me rather a lot. I bear in mind her with nice affection. She was the one particular person, of all of the individuals who gave me a lending hand, who didn’t see me develop my profession.
8. Which might you say is probably the most emblematic track of your profession?
“Conciencia” and “Perdóname.” They’re two songs that I’ve undoubtedly needed to sing in all of the locations since I recorded them.
9. What was the primary live performance you ever noticed?
I began singing very younger, so I had entry to see nearly all of the artists free of charge. However, the primary live performance I went to which my uncle paid for the ticket was Las Estrellas de Fania — and the primary live performance that I paid for, the place I labored and saved, was to see an amazing Cuban singer named Roberto Ledesma, a spectacular romantic singer.
10. What artist, lifeless or alive, would you wish to see in live performance?
Nicely, it’s going to shock you, as a result of I’ve seen nearly each artist. However I wish to see John Legend, Alicia Keys, or Justin Timberlake, if attainable.
11. How did being from Santurce, Puerto Rico form your artwork?
Completely. A lot of musicians and singers who excelled in salsa music got here from Santurce. At one time, the center of leisure was there together with radio and tv stations. The environment on the whole is a really blissful sector with numerous music. I all the time bear in mind my grandmother’s home, whenever you went out to the balcony and there was music in every single place, and also you had been nourished by all that. Being from there helped me with my coaching, in fact.
12. What was the final track you listened to?
Once I put together for my live shows, I wish to take heed to music by different artists. Final night time I used to be listening to a track known as “Adolorido” by a Cuban singer named Tito Gomez who has already handed away.
13. What track or film all the time makes you cry?
There’s a film that has all of it! It has tears, it has suspense, and even numerous violence however very properly used. The primary Godfather film, I’ve seen it like 900 instances. I all the time discover one thing that I didn’t see the earlier time. That film talks about household, and loyalty, it goes past being a mobster film. There are numerous attention-grabbing and deep messages.
14. Do you recall your first job ever?
I’ve all the time labored in music. I thank music for sustaining me all my life. However, the very first job I had was delivering newspapers for 2 weeks. The opposite time, I used to be a mannequin for a automotive present. I needed to drive one, however I’m often not driver, so it didn’t go very properly for me. These had been the final instances I labored on one thing apart from music.
15. Apart from music, what’s one other ardour of yours?
I generally is a bit boring as a result of I’m obsessed with music and nothing else. My work is music and my interest is the music of others. In the previous few years, nonetheless, I wasn’t a lot into going to the studio. For me, the recordings had been very tedious, however about 5 years in the past, I started getting concerned and visiting the studio each every now and then to file issues. That’s why I’ve many songs for this album.
16. What’s your all-time favourite trip spot?
Las Vegas. I really like going there for the leisure way of life. It’s a metropolis the place there may be all the time one thing new occurring. I’ve seen nearly each artist within the residences. I’ve time even when it’s on a bench ingesting espresso. It’s an attention-grabbing desert.
17. Describe 2022 in a single phrase?
Spectacular!
18. With a more-than-40-year profession, what’s one piece of recommendation you’d give to youthful salsa artists?
A real vocation and the stamina to maneuver ahead are necessary. It isn’t a straightforward highway — life, on the whole — will not be, however right this moment, there’s a distinction between all of the advances that exist. And that appears to be a bonus, however generally it’s not, as a result of the competitors is even stronger. It’s harder for individuals to deal with an artist. So, it’s a must to have the stamina and character to have the ability to fulfill a dream. There may be all the time a door that opens, there’ll all the time be a possibility, and there may be all the time an individual who helps you — however we can’t quit on the primary failure or the primary “no.” It’s exhausting to begin a undertaking and defend it.
19. What’s the one phrase you all the time use?
Everybody is aware of me as a result of I exploit the phrase “Caminalo!” At first, it began out as a strictly rhythmic phrase, however right this moment for me it’s nearly a philosophy. It suggests going ahead, not stopping, the long run, and motion.
20. What do you hope to perform or expertise in 2023?
We’re going to begin selling each volumes of Debut y Segunda Tanda, and in 2023, we’ll start planning the brand new tour that we hope will take us to Europe once more.
