Quevedo believes that the Canary Islands have been “fundamental”.
Miami (USA), Oct 19 (EFE)
Spanish singer Quevedo asserted this Monday that the Canary Islands, where he grew up, “have been a fundamental place for introducing Latin rhythms to Europe,” adding that “a phenomenal generation” of new artists is emerging from this Spanish region.
The 24-year-old singer maintained, on the first day of Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami, that “many Latin artists throughout their careers have begun their journey to Europe through the Canary Islands,” partly due to the islands’ connection with Latin America through “the many people who emigrated there.”
“I think one of our strengths in the Canary Islands is that, before this globalized world where everyone listens to everything, we had always been very connected to Latin rhythms, and it’s not something new to us, unlike in other places,” stated the musician, born in Madrid but raised in the islands.
Quevedo, whose full name is Pedro Luis DomÃnguez Quevedo, made these comments while discussing ‘El Baifo,’ his studio album released in April. The title uses a term that in the Canary Islands refers to goat breeding, as the album is dedicated to the islands.
On a panel about the future of urban music, alongside Chilean singer Kidd Voodoo, the Spaniard championed the culture of his region, asserting that “a phenomenal generation is emerging that’s making waves in the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain,” particularly in “the underground (alternative) scene.”
“Ultimately, a large part of my personality is shaped by having grown up in the Canary Islands. I feel like it’s something very specific to people who grow up there,” he expressed. “I feel Canarian, you know? I’d like people to understand that more,” he added.
The singer of “Quédate” was one of the featured artists on the first day of Billboard Latin Music Week, the industry’s biggest event, held from October 19 to 22 in Miami, which coincides with the Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday.
There, he confessed that he sometimes “hates” this song, his biggest hit.
“It was very early on, really. I mean, I started making a living from music in January of that year, 2022, and this song came out in the summer, and well, I don’t know, it goes through a lot of phases. I’ve loved it, I’ve hated it, I’ve loved it again, I’ve hated it again,” he recounted.
