Tag: artist Q+A

‘Be Honest With Your Art’: Danny Ocean Reflects on Sudden Stardom and His Deeply Personal New Album

If you aren’t familiar with Danny Ocean’s music, it’s only a matter of time. The Venezuelan singer and producer is a veritable global phenomenon. His hit song “Me Rehúso” surpassed 50 million streams on Spotify in just two months and went on to reach an astounding 1 billion streams.

When “Me Rehúso” joined the Spotify Billions Club in 2020, it was the first time a song from a Latin solo artist had ever achieved that milestone. Danny was also the first independent artist to appear in the Top 10 in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Spain, and Argentina.

“Me Rehúso” broke a record by becoming the Latin song on Spotify’s Global Top 50 list for the most weeks, but Danny refused to rest on his laurels. The singer’s second album, @dannocean, includes hit singles “Fuera del Mercado,” “Tú No Me Conoces,” “Pronto,” and “Apartmento,” and his eagerly anticipated new album, REFLEXA, will be released on May 2.

For the Record caught up with Danny to talk about the new album and why he says Spotify changed his life.

Your new album is out May 2. What can fans expect? 

It’s an album made with a lot of love. We’ve flown everywhere to do this album, and it has been a journey. It is a very spiritual album for me; they are going to hear a very human Danny. It’s called REFLEXA, which comes from reflection and all the meaning of the word—that’s what the album is about. 

How does Spotify support your work as an artist? Are there any features—music videos, merch, tour dates—or tools on Spotify for Artists that are especially helpful?

I think that it’s great having the tour dates on the platform. We’ve been doing the pre-save of the album, which I think is really great. I think it gives people the chance to see the process of how we’ve been doing this album. To me, it’s just been an honor to be here, honestly. I’ve said it before: “Me Rehúso” is where it is because of Spotify. It’s crazy how a platform has changed the game. I think it’s amazing.

Are there any artists, producers, or songwriters whom you’d love to work with that you haven’t had a chance to yet?

Max Martin. I would love to sit down with Max Martin one day.

What advice do you have for other artists who are building their careers?

I would just say just keep it going, keep working, keep it real, keep it authentic. Be real to yourself. Be honest with your art. There is a difference between trying to be famous and trying to be an artist. Try to recognize those two words in your path. Keep on doing music, throw it out, let the world hear your music!

Check out Danny’s new album, REFLEXA, and experience the journey for yourself.

Photo: Napoleon Habeica

Colombian Artists Prove To Be an Unstoppable Force on the Global Music Scene

From Shakira‘s magnetic moves to Juanes‘s electrifying Spanish rock and Carlos Vives‘s vibrant blend of pop and vallenato, Colombian music resonates globally. Undeniably iconic, Colombian artists invite the world to groove and sing along in Spanish. Across the globe, fans are familiar with the meaning of “Tusa” and feeling “tragados,” and they frequently utter “Mor.” It’s hardly surprising that 84% of Colombian artists’ Spotify streams come from international listeners.

The distinctive sounds, spirited expressions, and dynamic personalities from this Latin American country have effortlessly become favorites worldwide, with Mexico, the U.S., and Spain leading as the top-streaming countries of Colombian artists. There’s been a 206% increase in Colombian streams internationally when you compare listens from 2018 to the present. Genres like urban, pop, vallenato, música popular colombiana and salsa are some of the most popular.

Colombia is regarded as a beacon of culture and creativity, reaching new heights through the power of global exposure. Spotify has played a crucial role in this, enabling anyone, wherever they call home, to dance to a paisa rhythm or belt out songs with the passion of a barranquillera.

On Spotify, more than 830 million user-generated playlists feature at least one song by a Colombian artist.

Ultimately, Colombian talent—refusing to conform to a single genre—has charmed the world and proudly carries the “Made in Colombia” flag.

Want to know what it means to be Made in Colombia for different artists? For the Record talked to Carlos Vives, Blessd, Elsa y Elmar, and Nico Hernández.

Carlos Vives

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It means being someone who embraces incredible diversity. The coolest part is just that: its diversity.

What do you think Colombia sounds like?

It sounds like music from the heart.

Share your best Made in Colombia moment. 

It happened with a recent song I released called “Eso es mondar.” Although it’s a universally relatable story, it has to do with our Hispanic America and what connects us through our language. It’s definitely a very Colombian expression, especially from the coastal region.

Blessd

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It’s all about representing who you are, where you come from, your neighborhood, your streets, and the culture that makes us so grand.

What’s the most “chimba” thing about Made in Colombia music?

The coolest part is that energy, our flow, and representing the sounds.

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.

Medallo” could be, it’s a song that has that flowcito.

Elsa Y Elmar

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It means having this attitude of joy, creativity, loving your family, the people, the land, the great weather, and the music in your blood.

What’s the coolest thing about Made in Colombia music?

It’s how diverse it is. We’ve got everything from Caribbean sounds to guabina, reggaeton, Pacific rhythms, and even music from Amazonian communities. Honestly, it’s the best.

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.
La Plata” by Diomedes Díaz and many other hits by Binomio de Oro.

Nico Hernandez

What does it mean to be Made in Colombia?

It’s about being kind, pushing forward, celebrating for any reason, and making friends everywhere. Being Made in Colombia means being talented, creative, rooted in tradition, and multicultural.

What’s the coolest thing about Made in Colombia music?

That it’s made by Colombians. We all share a unique essence, a unique force that drives us to achieve the impossible. 

Name the song that best explains what it means to be Made in Colombia.

La Invitación” by Jorge Celedón.

To hear these artists and discover so much more Colombian sound, tune into our Made in Colombia playlist.

Los artistas colombianos, una fuerza imparable en la escena músical global

Desde los movimientos magnéticos de Shakira, pasando por el electrizante rock en español de Juanes y hasta la vibrante fusión de pop y vallenato de Carlos Vives, la música colombiana resuena en todo el mundo. Sin lugar a dudas, los artistas colombianos se han convertido en íconos, invitando al mundo entero a bailar y cantar en español. En todas partes, los fans ya están familiarizados con el significado de una “tusa”, se sienten “tragados” y no dejan de decir “Mor”. Por ello, no sorprende que el 84% de las reproducciones de estos talentos en Spotify provengan del extranjero.

Los sonidos característicos, las expresiones enérgicas y las personalidades arrolladoras de este país se han convertido en los favoritos a nivel mundial, con México, Estados Unidos y España liderando la lista de lugares que más escuchan a los artistas colombianos. En Spotify, se ha registrado un aumento del 206% en las reproducciones de música colombiana en el exterior en comparación con 2018, y géneros como el urbano, el pop, el vallenato, la música popular colombiana y la salsa son algunos de los más destacados. 

Colombia tiene una posición muy importante en el mundo en términos de cultura y creatividad. Spotify ha jugado un papel crucial en la exposición global de sus artistas, permitiendo que cualquier persona pueda bailar al ritmo de los paisas o cantar las canciones con la pasión de una barranquillera.

En Spotify, más de 830 millones de listas de reproducción generadas por los usuarios incluyen al menos una canción de un artista colombiano.

Finalmente, el talento colombiano —que se niega a conformarse con un solo género— ha encantado al mundo y lleva con orgullo la bandera “Made in Colombia”. 

¿Quieres saber qué significa ser Made in Colombia para diferentes artistas? For The Record conversó con Carlos Vives, Blessd, Elsa y Elmar, and Nico Hernández.

Carlos Vives

¿Qué es ser Made in Colombia? 

Es ser alguien que disfruta de una diversidad increíble. Lo más chimba es que es así: diversa. 

¿Cómo suena Colombia? 

Suena desde el corazón. 

¿Te ha pasado algo que solo un Made in Colombia entendería? 

Sí, me pasó con una canción reciente que lancé que se llama “Eso es mondar” y aunque es un cuento que es universal, que tiene que ver con nuestra Hispanoamérica, que es lo que nos conecta con nuestro idioma, por supuesto es un modismo muy colombiano, especialmente costeño. 

Blessd

¿Qué es ser Made in Colombia? 

Es representar lo que uno es, de donde uno viene, del barrio, la calle, la cultura que nos hace ser tan grandes, lo que es ser colombianos. 

¿Qué es lo más chimba de la música Made in Colombia? 

Lo más chimba es esa energía, el flow de nosotros, el representar los sonidos. 

¿Cuál es la canción con la que explicarías que es ser Made in Colombia? 

Medallo” podría ser, es una canción que tiene ese flowcito. 

Elsa and Elmar

¿Qué es ser Made in Colombia? 

Es tener en la sangre esta actitud de alegría, de creatividad, de disfrutar a la familia, a la gente, a la tierra, al buen clima y a la música. 

¿Qué es lo más chimba de la música Made in Colombia? 

Que es diversa. Tenemos desde los sonidos del caribe, hasta la guabina, el reguetón, los ritmos del pacífico, hasta las comunidades amazónicas. En fin, es lo máximo. 

¿Cuál es la canción con la que explicarías que es ser Made in Colombia? 

Lo explicaría con la canción que dice “No sea tan sapo, tan lambón, tan …” “La Plata” de Diomedes Díaz y muchos éxitos como los del Binomio de Oro.

Nico Hernández

¿Qué es ser Made in Colombia? 

Es ser amable, echado pa’ lante, celebrar por cualquier motivo, hacer amigos en cualquier lugar. Ser Made in Colombia es ser talentoso, ser creativo, ser ancestral y multicultural. 

¿Qué es lo más chimba de la música Made in Colombia? 

Que es hecha por colombianos, todos compartimos una esencia única, un no sé qué, una fuerza única que nos lleva a lograr imposibles. 

¿Cuál es la canción con la que explicarías que es ser Made in Colombia? 

Es “La Invitación” de Jorge Celedón

Para escuchar a estos artistas y descubrir todos los sonidos colombianos, te invitamos a escuchar la playlist de Made in Colombia.