De’Anza
Despertar (Fusion Beats, 2015)
Despertar (Awaken) is the title of the debut EP by a young Hispanic singer-songwriter from Santa Fe (New Mexico) called De’Anza. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she studied music and continues to develop her musical career.
On Despertar, De’Anza combines elements from various cultures, including Mexican mariachi and norteño music, Mexican cumbia, reggae, pop, electronic atmospheres and beats, and vocals that mix smoky Spanish-language singing with a cross between slow tempo rapping and spoken word.
In addition to her vocal abilities, De’Anza plays the vihuela, one of the traditional string instruments brought by Spanish settlers to the American southwest and Mexico. It’s commonly used by mariachi bands.
The most interesting track is “Si Señor,” a dreamy piece inspired by a traditional folk song from Santa Fe that represents a strong, mystical woman. De’Anza is at her best when she uses real singing rather than rapping.
Purchase the album at http://deanzamusic.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
