alborotá
Alea, the Colombian born/Bronx based singer songwriter has recently released her new album Alborotá along with a music video for her track No Me Apaga Nadie. Alea’s vision spans ten diverse tracks that breaks the traditional Latin music mold. The album uniquely blends Latin folklore inspired by cumbia, porro, currulao and huapango with pop, afro and savory Latin grooves filtered through her personal lens of strength, feminism, and perseverance. She explains, “I decided that I couldn’t let other people and the environment dictate my freedom, who I chose to love and how I decided to speak about my truths. My music became a reflection of that. To be bold, fierce and unapologetic.”
The album and promotional music video for No Me Apaga Nadie, was released exclusively on Brooklyn Vegan and highly praised as Best Latin Music of 2021 by Rolling Stone and NPR and received reviews by SongLines Magazine, El Espectador, La W Radio, Shock, Radio Nacional de Colombia, Jazziz Magazine, NTN Tenemos Que Hablar and added to NPR’s World Cafe "The World Cafe Best New LatinX" Playlist.
"No me apaga nadie talks about the fire within, the fire that you are. Not permitting anyone dim you down. It’s a call to be rebellious and free in a society where as a woman you have to claw your way in to be part of the conversation". - Alea
The album title Alboratá is deeply personal to Alea. Alborotado(a) translates directly to rowdy, riotous, loud, disorderly; and in most of Latin America it means being too much, too different, too sexual. Alea elaborates, “I was called an alborotada growing up by my family and friends because I was extremely driven by creativity and imagination. I fought hard to keep true to this nature, but this judgment took a toll on me as a I got older, and I started to believe that I was the problem. My body was the problem, my womanhood was the problem.” She adds, “I decided it was time to redefine this word, to give it a new meaning in my life and use it as a flag that represented being free, different, independent, out spoken, equal, feminist. I named the album Alborotá because it defines who I am now and what I wish to share with others, this inner fire of strength and overcoming difficulties that liberates you and celebrates you in every way.”
Alea produced the entire album with Sinuhé Padilla Isunza at Jarana Records. Taking from his background of Mexican, Brazilian and Flamenco music, Sinuhé set the tone of the album with an organic and authentic vibe created with only acoustic instrumentation; a rarity in these digital times. The album shines with the help of Alea’s friends and collaborators including Latin GRAMMY® winning artists Felipe Fournier (vibraphone on Échale Sal), Luisa Bastidas (violin on Alboratá) and Jackie Coleman (trumpet on No Me Apaga Nadie) of Flor de Toloache, and Latin GRAMMY® nominee Sonia De Los Santos (vocals on Tú, Solo Tú). Alea adds, “Among them we also featured world class artists like Renee Goust, Elena Moon Park, Jaime Ospina, Miche Molina, George Sáenz, Juan Ruiz and Kika Parra. Our rhythm, our lock and groove was set by the incredible Franco Pinna on drums. We also had the help and ears of friends like Kamilo Kratc, Nacho Molina and Luis F. Herrera, who listened to mixes and gave us feedback. All arrangements were written by Sinuhé Padilla-Isunza and myself. The entire album was mastered by GRAMMY® winner, Luis F. Herrera.”
More videos from Alborotá
Press
EL HERALDO, Colombia
The voice of Barrancas that is listened to in the Bronx.
A Guajira voice is sounding in the Bronx. She was born in Barrancas and her name is María Alejandra Jiménez González. In the bars of the Big Apple where they have heard her, they know her as Alea. Thus, with that name, her songs can be found on YouTube and Spotify.
Her music is a balanced sonorous sancocho in which there are aromas of cumbia, vallenato, jazz, Latin American rap and other genres that she tames with her honey voice. She has just released Échale sal, another ‘craving’ song that will be part of her first album.
July 2, 2020
