The Mexican brother-sister duo Sotomayor are back with their second single from upcoming album "Orígenes" (February 14, 2020). "Menéate pa' mí" sees the group heat things up a notch from their last single ("Quema") with Paulina Sotomayor's vocals somewhere in between rapping and singing over brother Raul's uptempo beat of horn samples and a driving kick drum. Additional production work from Eduardo Cabra (aka Visitante of Calle 13 fame) solidifies the record in the Latin-meets-electronic style the group is known for. The new single is out now and is available everywhere you stream music.
So far the new album Orígenes, has received accolades from FADER and The New York Times with their lead single "Quema," out now. "Quema" lets you know what it is straight-away: the "chuck-chucka-chuck" rhythm of the scraper (guira), the rising bass line, the keyboard that appears to be sending out an alarm signal. This is clearly cumbia, but it isn't recognisable for long. A pounding bass line takes over, a beat is set and then Paulina Sotomayor's voice enters, guiding the track. At first she is slow, assured, but then the chorus hits and there's a release, a soulful higher-pitched melody as new synth lines bubble below. Elements of that original cumbia beat return in new ways, adding urgency, rhythm and detail, as the song continues to reinvent itself and play with ideas of what global bass and cumbia should sound like, all the while giving full focus to the song itself, to telling its story.
The cherry on top is the guest appearance of Totin "Arará" Agosto, one of Puerto Rico's most loved singers and composers, and a man pivotal in putting Puerto Rican bomba back on the map. He adds joyful second vocals, seemingly losing himself in the music. His presence is a reminder that the musica callejera (street music) he plays does not have to be so different to club music. This is music to dance to, to revel, to telegraph delight.
Sotomayor are the brother/sister duo of Raul and Paulina Sotomayor. They formed in 2015 after years of activity in Mexico City's emerging indie scene, playing in bands such as Jefes del Desierto and Beat Buffet. Orígenes is their third album following Salvaje (2015) and Conquistador (2017).Videos