Daughter of Trish Toledo Ecuadorian father and Guatemalan mother, Playing Old School Soul Tunes December 18, 2021 at Bank of California Stadium in Los Angeles.Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
A new generation of Latino artists are reinterpreting old R&B classics and making new ones with soul music revivals popular on streaming services, YouTube and music venues.
Important reasons: Sometimes referred to as modern “souldies” or “brown-eyed soul,” this music demonstrates the deep historical impact black culture has had on Latinos.
detail: New artists like Thee Sacred Souls, Joey Quiñones & Thee Sinseers, Los Saturdays and former Kumbia Kings member Frankie J are adopting old sounds for new fans.
Background: ““Brown-eyed soul,” according to various scholars, refers to pre-Beatles rock and R&B performed primarily by Mexican-American artists during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Inspired by Jazz, Blues, Rock, Latin Jazz and even Ranchera and Norteño music.
- This music has become a preferred musical genre for lowriders in the American Southwest.
Yes, but: It’s been several years since a new performer entered the scene and gained a large audience.
- William Nericcio, a professor of English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University, tells Axios that new artists are building new fanbases because the music feels more authentic and less fake. .
- “The reason so many people are so moved by black soulful oldies, especially Latinos, is because they love love. This is the age of hate.”
- Los Angeles Yesterdays’ “Bad” Vic Benavidez tells Axios that the pandemic may have helped older and younger generations reconnect with each other by sharing music.
conspiracy: Artists in these groups come from different races and ethnic backgrounds.
- Thee Sacred Souls is fronted by black singer Josh Lane. Trained in opera.
- Toledo is the daughter of an Ecuadorian father and a Guatemalan mother.
- Bobby Oroza, whose popular cover of Sunny & The Sunliners’ “Should I Take You Home” was used in the video for Pachuco Supply, was born to a Bolivian mother and a Finnish father.
What they say: Joey Quiñones tells Axios that he tries to maintain his musical credibility by creating lyrics that refer to writing love letters rather than text.
- He and other artists look at old footage of James Brown to recreate his sound.
- “But at the end of the day, if you sing from your heart and tell us your story, it will feel pure and soulful.”
- Malik Maro, 30, says he started out singing modern R&B before turning to souldie on the advice of his manager.
- “The feedback has been incredible.”
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