Tag: "playlist"

What woud you do if the love of your life told you to go and have a nice life without them?

This is precisely what Layla Angulo passionately sings about in “Que te vaya bien sin mi,” a catchy and fun piece that is getting great responses from OurStage fans.
The song has been in the OurStage Top Ten charts several times, most recently in August of 2010.

Layla Angulo is a great example of how you don’t have to be born in Latin America to play authentic, extraordinary Latin music. Born in Louisiana to parents of Greek and Irish descent, Layla was raised between Boston, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Seattle.

Due to her international upbringing, Layla grew up loving and knowing a variety of music styles, including salsa, classical jazz, Mexican rancheras and traditional Greek music. Perhaps this explains why her music has such a strong jazzy influence, and such an interesting combination of international sounds. Or why she lists Tito Puente and Dizzi Gillepsie among her major influences.

According to Layla, Boston was the place where she first fell in love with jazz, but it wasn’t until she moved to Spain that she really started to come to terms with her own music style. While in Spain, Layla came in contact with a variety of African, Celtic and Middle Eastern sounds that had huge influence in her music.

Play “Que te vaya bien sin mi” and you’ll immediately experience that magical blend of jazzy and Afro-Peruvian sounds that are so particular to Layla’s music. You’ll especially appreciate how the salsa element, mixed with her fabulous voice and an interesting drum background, help produce a melody that gets everyone moving.

There is no doubt about it: Layla’s career is as promising as ever. Over the last few years, she has continued to engage her intensely loyal and growing fan base with the release of her Latin jazz CDs. Her success is another example of how amazingly diverse Latin music can be. Enjoy this song. ¡Provecho!

Any experienced traveler knows you don’t always have to be in a foreign land to experience the magic of a foreign culture. In this post, we will explore the extraordinary musical creations of Ameranouche, a trio that features virtuoso guitarist Richard Sheppard, rhythm guitarist Ryan Flaherty and upright bassist Xar Adelberg.

This extraordinary US–based ensemble plays acoustic hot jazz and gypsy folk with both original compositions and unique arrangements by American and gypsy songwriters. What could be more interesting than that?

The thing with Ameranouche is that their music does not really fit into any pre-established category. Often defined as gypsy jazz, the musical creations of this trio may just as well be a genre on its own, an exciting combination of jazz, folk, classical music and gypsy song formats.

If you are into gypsy music, the kind that leads you into a variety of explosive emotions, you will love Ameranouche’s song “Thanks to the Gypsy” an incredible production that will transport you to a gypsy town in a matter of seconds.

One can argue that Ameranouche’s “Thanks to the Gypsy” is not only an exciting song that combines elements of gypsy music, but rather a tribute to gypsy culture everywhere. An example that proves our point that you don’t have to purchase a plane ticket to travel around the world: music can do that for you.

We do encourage you, however, to travel around Ameranouche’s profile on OurStage. Besides “Thanks to the Gypsy,” the trio has other exciting songs to share with the world. Bon Voyage!

What are the elements that an artist needs to succeed?

Talent, charisma and a touch of luck might be basic ingredients in the recipe for success, but the truth is, passion is what can really drive someone to the top.

When it comes to Latin culture, passion—or pasión in Spanish—is an element that’s ever present. From food to music to dance to poetry, for Latinos, la pasión is always part of the equation.

Here on OurStage, we have some very passionate Latin artists with some equally passionate Latin songs. Specifically, we are talking about talented artist Lily Vasquez, an actress, singer, composer and professional salsa dancer from Barranquilla, Colombia that immigrated to the United States at the age of fourteen.

For Lily, passion is what opened the doors to the music industry. Her production “Pasión de Mujer” (Translation is “A Woman’s Passion”) was a stepping stone towards success. In 2009, Lily won the Billboard World Song Contest with “Pasión de Mujer” and decided to continue making music as an independent artist.

In 2010, Lily released two new singles “Nunca Dejes de Hacerme el Amor” and “Me Marcho de aquí”. Both of these were well received by the fans.

“Pasión de Mujer” has been in the Top Ten OurStage Latin charts for several months and we can clearly see why. Lily’s style isn’t only creative, young and refreshing, but also incredibly passionate. Enjoy this playlist.

!Provecho!

Are you in the mood for something new but oh so familiar? Ever wonder what will happen if you mix some classic Californian rock with Latin music and a touch of youthful energy?

Latin rock band De Cordoba has been gratefully blending the three for years. With members from places as remote as Austria and Peru, De Cordoba is an interesting mix of Latin rock and Californian rock from the 1960s.

Intrigued? So are we.

The most fascinating things about De Cordoba is its original motto “IN MUSIC WE TRUST,” which in some sense describes the band’s goal of establishing a universal music language spoken by artists all over the world. This language allows musicians and music lovers to communicate with one another without language or cultural barriers. Basically, everything can be said through music.

De Cordoba’s interesting motto has been rapidly collecting fans on OurStage. Lately, the band has been climbing the Top Ten OurStage Latin charts with the song “Horas” a very fun and catchy piece about someone who is waiting for hours to see the woman he loves.

Play “Horas” and you will understand why the band means by building a common language among musicians worldwide. The song evokes a classic Latin rock feeling that makes you feel like you’ve known and loved this band for ages.

Besides “Horas” De Cordoba has a variety of other original songs as well as some great quality covers from Maná, Santana and others.

There is no doubt about it: when it comes to Latin rock, De Cordoba definitely rocks, especially when you trust its music. Enjoy this song !Provecho!

Can you smell it? Love is in the air. And it smells like free music. Okay so maybe love doesn’t smell like MP3s (what does an MP3 smell like, anyways? Remember the days of vinyl?…I digress). Candy, flowers, these are all typical gifts one would expect to receive on this day, so we decided to mix it up a bit. Stream, download or share the OurStage Is For Lovers Valentines Day playlist, a mix of handpicked tracks from the OurStage Is For Lovers Valentines Day Song Competition. Sweet, savory, there’s a little bit in there for everyone, just like your favorite heart-shaped box of chocolates. Only this gift won’t rot your teeth or go stale.

Love always,

OurStage.

Hello travelers! Are you ready for a new adventure?

We’ll continue our journey to a place with an incredible musical tradition that dates back hundreds of years. We are landing in Israel, a country that offers a variety of musical genres and styles that go from folk to ethnic to pop, rock and even metal.

In Israel, music plays a vital role in the country’s national identity. Beginning in the days of the pioneers, public sing-a-longs were very popular and helped create a sense of cultural uniqueness among the early settlers. Immigrants from Europe, Asia and the Middle East brought with them their musical traditions, shaping a new and exciting Israeli sound.

A lot has happened since those early days, and Israeli musicians are now among the greatest in a variety of genres and styles.

In this post, we’ll explore Israeli music through the voice of OurStage artist Tzili Yanko and her moving song “Amiti Ve Coev” which means something like “It is true and it hurts”.

The truth is, nothing hurts about “Amiti Ve Coev,” which is wonderfully produced and performed by Yanko. The song has been in the Top Ten OurStage Charts three times already, and has gotten rave reviews from artists and fans.

“Amiti ve Coev” is a marvelous song, not just because of its beautiful lyrics, but also because of Tzili’s powerful voice, which has gained international recognition. Back in 2000, Yanko got rave reviews when she performed the piece “Love Song” in the  Viña del Mar festival in Chile.

If you love “Amiti Ve Coev”, you’ll definitely dig “A bad day”, where you’ll get to appreciate Yanko’s voice performing in English.

In love with Israeli music? Visit our World Channel for other great songs in Hebrew.

When does music turn into poetry?

OurStage Latin artist Victor Maldo is an excellent candidate to answer this question. The singer, songwriter and poet from the Dominican Republic started his career in music many years ago, with the simple goals of expressing his feelings and changing the world.

On his Web site, Maldo states that, beyond transcending and becoming famous, he intends to express his feelings and “everything that he has inside.” Play Victor’s song “Dulce Cruz” on OurStage and you will immediately understand what he means by this. With passionate lyrics and phrases like “vienes con la sonrisa de las flores” (“you come here with the smile of the flowers”) you can immediately tell that Victor is a true romantic who needs to write in order to survive.

Maldo started his musical carrer as a member of the band “Café Latino” where he was the main vocalist. He then traveled to the United States to study music and went back to the Dominican Republic to begin his adventure as a solo artist. Since then, he has established himself as a “bewildered pedestrian” who sings about what he feels and, by doing so, sings about what others are feeling too. On his Web site, Victor writes: “I am that pedestrian and will sing my love for you, a love that is yours. My pain is your pain.”

If you are into poetry but cannot understand a word of Spanish, do not worry. Maldo’s romantic voice is a beautiful poem by itself. If you do know some español, however, you’ll be delighted to hear that Maldo’s inspiration comes from legends such as Julio Cortázar, Jorge Luis Borges and Mario Benedetti, as well as from contemporary singer-songwriters like Joaquin Sabina and Joan Manuel Serrat. So really, what could be more poetic than that?

Victor’s pieces are resonating well with OurStage fans. “Dulce Cruz” made it into the Top 10 OurStage Latin charts in both November and December of last year and is getting very positive comments. Will he continue to rise to the top in 2011? We certainly think so. Enjoy this playlist. ¡Provecho!

Who doesn’t talk about the environment these days?

Today, being green and caring about our planet are key elements in our society. In recent years, saving the earth and protecting our natural resources have become top priorities for many individuals and groups, including the government.

There is no doubt about it: The world has turned green. But did you know that venerating the earth was a high priority for ancient civilizations?

In Latin America, numerous pre-Columbian cultures were deeply committed to LaMadre Tierra (Mother Earth). For many of them, the earth was a feminine god that fertilized and produced life. For this reason, they celebrated a variety of festivities in her honor.

Today, la tierra continues to be a major character in Latin celebrations. Its existence is honored with gatherings filled with food, dance and, of course, music.  In fact, music is a great example of the deep admiration that Latin cultures feel for our planet and its various elements.

Here on OurStage, we have a number of songs that speak about Latin music’s profound appreciation of the earth. Let’s start with “Tierra Buena” by Paulo Mollo, a song that compares the freshness of the earth with that of a new relationship. Originally from Argentina, Paulo won the Latin Channel prize in December with the song “Aire” which literally means “air” and talks about the joys of breathing deeply and feeling liberated.

For a more tropical tribute to the earth, play “Fuego Sobre La Tierra” by Kephas, a fun and exciting song about the magnitude of fire as an element that brings warmth and happiness.

Are you in a mission to save the planet? Become a fan of choloman, an artist from Peru that combines South American music with sounds from country, bluegrass and others. Play “Por un mundo nuevo” a cover about the future of our planet by the Bolivian band Los Kjarkas, one of the most popular Andean pop bands in the country’s recent history.

If you are into multi-layered lyrics, play “De la Tierra a sus Hombres” and “Savia y Natura” by Kafod. Both of these songs talk about nature but only figuratively. They used the words to communicate deeper meanings, such as pain, loneliness and confusion.

In love with la tierra? Smart choice! Trust us, when it comes to the earth, Latin music couldn’t be greener or more exciting. Enjoy this playlist. ¡Provecho!

In the late ’70s, DJ Afrika Bambaataa defined the pillars of hip hop and helped establish the term “hip hop” as more than just a genre of music. This weekly column will focus on the musicians behind the culture and the music they create. From album reviews to interviews, Rapper’s Delight will deliver unique content featuring a combination of OurStage artists and national acts. This opening post will give you a taste of how deep OurStage’s talent pool really is with a playlist highlighting strings in hip hop. Check back every Saturday for another dose of that real hip hop you crave!

There’s a lot of hip hop out there, and having a song stand out from the competition can be as important as it is daunting . Some artists toy around with instrumentation to grab your attention, throwing horns, guitar or piano into the mix to offer a change of pace that many fans enjoy. This playlist calls attention to tracks featuring strings, all from OurStage artists, so give it a listen and share your thoughts in the comment space below.