Country: Cuba
With a goal of creating music that brings joy and celebration to listeners, Cuban-American vocalist and percussionist Ivan Llanes is certainly succeeding with his initial musical output. Born and raised in Camaguey, Cuba, Llanes eventually made his way to New York, where he has since made a name for himself in various musical circles. He is a member of jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker‘s quintet, and also the lead vocalist in Latin supergroup People of Earth. With his debut solo album, La Vida Misma, due March 22nd, Llanes recently released its debut single “Respira y Siente.”
The track is made to get you up dancing, incorporating salsa rhythms, buoyant horns and jazz piano for a full, fun and fresh sound. He also playfully drops in a few lyrics people may recognize from the famous “Macarena” and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. And this isn’t Llanes’ first solo single; 2018’s “Ella” shows off his more Latin pop-leaning side. A more somber piano ballad, the track is warmly orchestrated, mixing more classical sounds with modern pop. Llanes has certainly shown his evolution between these two tracks, and you’ll have to listen to his new album to see where else he goes.
Listen to these songs in our World Watch Playlist!
The Indy Review 