The American island Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. In Korea, it is only known as a country that produces major league players, and is not a very familiar country. But the story is different in the music world. Some of the greats of Latin music, including ‘Bad Bunny’ who set a global streaming record, ‘Ricky Martin’, and ‘Jennifer Lopez’ are from here. The artist currently drawing the most attention in musically rich Puerto Rico is singer-songwriter Lau Alejandro.
Born in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, Lau Alejandro began his music career in earnest in 2014 and quickly rose to prominence. His second album was praised for bringing innovation to Latin pop and reggaeton, making him an instant star. As of November 2024, his monthly Spotify listeners reach more than 45 million and his Instagram followers reach more than 20 million. It is clear that he is the brightest figure in the current Latin music world.
In mid-October, Lau, who visited Japan for a stage hosted by Coca-Cola Japan, lived up to his nickname ‘Ramen Mania’ and conducted a special interview with HYPEBEAST at the Michelin one-star Ramenya ‘Hachigo’ in Ginza. Lau Alejandro loves music and ramen, and you can see his passion and honest side below.
HYPEBEAST: It’s okay to eat ramen first before the interview.
Lau Alejandro: Thank you (laughter). Ramen is my favorite food. I was told I would be interviewed at a ramen restaurant today, so I waited for this moment without eating anything all day. By the way, is it okay if I have a quick chat with the ‘Master’ before the interview?
HYPEBEAST: Of course.
Lau Alejandro: master, Did ‘Ramen’ originally originate from Japan?
Yasushi Matsumura (Master, Hachigo’s owner chef): Actually, the origin is China. However, in Japan, it was reinterpreted in its own way and became the Japanese ‘ramen’ of today.
Lau Alejandro: When did Master start cooking?
Yasushi Matsumura: I have 47 years of cooking experience, and ramen for about 10 of those years. Previously, I cooked French cuisine for 36 years.
Lau Alejandro: Capable of cooking any dish from around the world It’s an amazing career. I want to make ramen like this, but how much practice is needed to make a bowl like the master’s ramen?
Yasushi Matsumura: Simple ramen can be made with a few days of training, but for our ramen, it takes 6 hours the day before and 2 hours on the day to boil the finishing soup.
Lau Alejandro: I can’t believe it. My dream is to open my own ramen restaurant someday. Can you teach in Puerto Rico?
Yasushi Matsumura: It is possible if you can spare about two weeks (laughs).
Lau Alejandro: Then please, please. If ramen made with a master recipe becomes popular, there will be no greater honor than that. I plan to stay in Japan for about 6 months in 2026, so if they offer a ‘master course’ at that time, I will definitely take it (laughs).
HYPEBEAST: How was the ramen at ‘Hachigo’?
Lau Alejandro: It was much more delicious than expected. Originally, I was only going to eat ‘Ajitamago Chinese Soba’, but it was so delicious that I ordered another bowl of ‘Ravioli Chinese Soba’.
HYPEBEAST: my favorite food in the world ‘Ramen’It has been mentioned.
Lau Alejandro: I grew up watching Naruto when I was young. After seeing the ramen eating scene in the movie, it became my dream to eat a delicious bowl of ramen in Japan.
HYPEBEAST: It’s surprising that the word came out of Rau Alejandro’s mouth.
Lau Alejandro: Currently, Japanese animation is popular in Puerto Rico.
HYPEBEAST: Are there any other animations you like?
Lau Alejandro: One Punch Man>, Attack on Titan>, One Piece>, , Dragon Ball>, Pokemon>, Yu-Gi-Oh>, Demon Slayer>, etc., I like countless animations from classic to the latest. In fact, he even has a character tattoo on his right arm.
HYPEBEAST: This is the purpose of my visit to Japan, but I heard that I plan to stay there for 11 days.
Lau Alejandro: Now I think of myself as a Puerto Rican living in Japan (laughs).
HYPEBEAST: The Lau x Crocs ‘Las Sense’ campaign visual, released last September, was also filmed in Tokyo.
Lau Alejandro: right! ‘Ras Sense’ is a product designed with inspiration from ‘Geda’, a type of traditional Japanese clog. While maintaining Crocs’ original silhouette, it was slightly modified by adding a platform style. Also, details were added with a string similar to ‘Komono’. The campaign was also filmed in Tokyo as a sign of respect for Japan.
HYPEBEAST: Speaking of fashion, today’s outfit was styled with a capri shirt. Do you have a style philosophy?
Lau Alejandro: I feel that music and fashion are closely connected. Ultimately, it is a means of expressing myself. Actually, my fashion style is determined by the theme of my album. Released on November 15th The album is a story with classic content from the 1970s. So this year, I decided on a classic and elegant style for my fashion. In other words, fans can meet a different ‘Rau Alejandro’ every time an album is released.
HYPEBEAST: The story of changing your fashion style with each album is quite novel.
Lau Alejandro: Is that so? Of course, the usual ‘Rau Alejandro’ wears only shorts and sandals when he is at home in a comfortable style. Just as office workers wear suits to work, the clothes I wear outside the home are closer to a kind of uniform.
HYPEBEAST: Let’s talk more about the 5th full-length album we just talked about.
Lau Alejandro: This album is a modern reinterpretation of Puerto Rican traditional music. Based on the rich culture of my hometown, I also incorporated the story of when I immigrated to New York and elements of European culture. The sound also combined acoustic and analog elements with electronic music. This is an album that I can confidently say is probably the best work of my career.
HYPEBEAST: albumIs there anything you paid most attention to during the production process?
Lau Alejandro: Not only for this album, I really hate making similar music when I’m working. I’m always exploring to show new sounds while maintaining the essence of who my fans love. So my albums each have different charms. The secret to my success as an artist is ‘challenge.’ Some artists are afraid of being criticized for changing their tone from their previous albums, but I tend to take that risk myself.
Concluding the interview, he said this about his hometown, Puerto Rico.
“Puerto Rico is a small but unique place. It combines Spanish colonial architecture with the diverse cultures of the mountainous region. “You can visit all the tourist attractions in 8 hours, so please come and visit us.”
How does Rau Alejandro’s blending of traditionally Puerto Rican musical influences with modern electronics contribute to his artistic evolution?
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Here’s a breakdown of open-ended questions based on the Lau Alejandro interview, organized thematically:
**1. Fashion & Self-Expression:**
* Rau Alejandro links his fashion choices to his album themes. Do you think artists should feel obligated to align their style with their music, or should they keep these elements separate?
* He mentions switching up his style for each album. How can this strategy benefit an artist’s career, and are there any potential downsides?
* Alexandro describes a more “classic and elegant” style for his current album. What kind of statement does he think this makes about his music or himself?
**2. Music & Cultural Influences:**
* Alexandro’s new album draws inspiration from Puerto Rican traditional music, his time in New York, and European elements. How do you think blending these diverse influences can enrich and challenge musical genres?
* He mentions incorporating both acoustic/analog and electronic sounds. What are the advantages and disadvantages of blending these sonic worlds in a single album?
**3. Artistic Evolution & Risk-Taking:**
* Alexandro states a fear of making “similar music” and embraces the challenge of change. Do you think artists have a responsibility to constantly evolve their sound, or should they focus on refining a signature style?
* He acknowledges that some artists are afraid of criticism for changing their sound. How can artists balance staying true to themselves while also responding to fan expectations?
**4. Hometown Pride:**
* Alexandro encourages people to visit Puerto Rico. What are some of the unique cultural aspects of Puerto Rico that he might highlight to tourists?
**Additional Discussion Points:**
* **Collaborations:** The interview doesn’t mention collaborations, but Lau Alejandro is known for working with other artists. How does collaboration influence an artist’s creative process? What kind of collaborations do you think would be interesting for him in the future?
* **Global Appeal:** Rau Alejandro has a growing international fanbase. What factors contribute to Latin music’s worldwide popularity, and what challenges might artists like him face when trying to connect with diverse audiences?
Let me know if you want me to elaborate on any of these questions or if you have other areas of the interview you’d like to explore!
