MEXICO CITY (AP) – García Márquez had to tell the story of love in times of cholera; 21st Floor, that of “Love in the times of perreo”. And it is a perreo that has been affected by the pandemic.
“It is an analogy to the book by Gabriel García Márquez, but also knowing that love transforms and that love changes,” said Pablo Mejía, one of the members of the Colombian pop and urban music band, in a video call interview with purpose of his most recent album, released Thursday.
“We think it was the perfect title for this album because of that, because it represents everything that people live now in their relationships between love, sexuality, heartbreak, sadness and disappointment, it also represented us as artists”, added.
However, in the last year the perreo was very different: more homey, lonely and away from the clubs that were mainly closed in the world.
“If the pandemic did not let us dog, there is still love to continue practicing it, to continue feeling it, dedicating it,” said Juan David Huertas, alias “The teacher”, who from the houses and the confinement also recommended “a doggy in the open air ”.
The band had some songs recorded prior to the pandemic, such as “A life to remember” with Mike Towers, “Más de la una” with Maluma, “Mami” with the Black Eyed Peas and “Dulcecitos” with Zion & Lennox. In the time they gained from confinement, they incorporated other artists into the project, such as the Colombians Mabiland, with whom they interpreted “Déjalo”, and Moncas, whom they summoned for “Ay que cool”. The album was made in Brazil, Colombia and the United States.
“Each one came hand in hand with the song,” said David Escobar.
In the case of Maluma, with whom they have their third collaboration after the remixes of “Me llamas” and “Correr el Riesgo”, his video for “Más de la una” has added more than 36 million views since its launch in December. Friends of the singer since both began their careers in Medellín, say they enjoy having a collaboration with him “made from scratch.”
“Every time we get together to make music, we first tell each other about our lives, we talk about everything, we laugh, we chat a lot, we see each other whenever we can and that is the result,” said El Profe. “What you have simply seen (is) the friendship between the two … (Maluma) is still the same Juan Luis (Londoño) who recorded ‘Correr el Riesgo’ with us so many years ago”.
Zion & Lennox had collaborated on “Frenzy” in 2018. With “Dulcecitos”, they wanted to take more time and release it as a single.
“We had an outstanding debt with the music, because we admired them since the beginning of reggaetón and it was one of those artists who said ‘one day we have to do something together'”, said El Profe.
The release of the album is accompanied by the video for “Tan bonita”, a happy song in which they appear surrounded by women to tell them how much they are worth.
“We wanted to highlight the beauty of women, all types of beauty,” said Mejía. “Simply highlighting that they are all beautiful and all are worth the same … We are very happy that the video has achieved its purpose and is sending a message. It is a simple video from its creation, but strong from its argument ”.
Recently Piso 21, completed by David Lorduy, won an award from the Mexican regional music channel Bandamax for the video of the year for his “trapchera” with the Mexican star Christian Nodal “Pa ‘forget me about her”. The song came from a composition camp in Bogotá where Mexican musicians Gera MX and Edgar Barrera also participated.
“I think it was in the perfect line because it is neither very urban nor very ranchero, but at the same time it sounds like everyone and it sounds very like Piso 21,” said El Profe.
The group knows well the Mexican regional music. They say they grew up listening to Antonio and Pepe Aguilar, Ana Gabriel, Vicente Fernández, corridos and banda.
“For us it was an honor to be able, with all the respect in the world, to enter a little into that culture so beautiful, but at the same time it is so strong and so closed, and that they have opened the doors a little bit for this type of sound. pretty, very valuable. It is a song that still continues to surprise us, ”said El Profe.
Escobar, for his part, pointed out that the song “Love in the times of perreo”, which they perform without guests, is one of the themes that defines them at the time.
“It shows the versatility and I think it will be a song that will connect a lot with people,” he said.
