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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 2 February 2019
Luis Fonsi releases his 1st album in post-'Despacito' era

By SIGAL RATNER- the most personal pieces
ARIAS is "Ahi estas tu," which he
Associated Press wrote to his son Rocco. (His
NEW YORK (AP) — Two previous album, "8," includ-
years ago he made the ed a tune for his daugher
whole world dance with Mikaela.)
"Despacito," but Luis Fonsi There are 15 songs total
says he is still a romantic that cover or fuse Latin
singer and is ready to show pop, R&B, dembow, reg-
"all his cards" Friday with his gaeton and other genres.
new album, "Vida." "I want to be able to dance,
"Many people thought I make people rejoice, and
moved away from that ro- sometimes sing a ballad
mantic side and I always with a lot of lyric, a lot of
said 'I haven't, I'm not going emotion," said the Puerto
anywhere.' I am still a ro- Rican singer-songwriter.
mantic singer, I still talk that The touching R&B-infused,
romantic language. But at piano-led ballad "Dime
the same time I like to do que no te irás" is also, ac-
both things. I don't like to cording to Fonsi, the most
be limited," Fonsi said in a difficult to perform vocally.
recent interview with The It "is one of the songs with
Associated Press, in Span- more weight in this album",
ish. In this May 20, 2018 file photo, Luis Fonsi arrives at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Fonsi he said. "It's one of those
"Vida" is his ninth studio will release a new album, “Vida,” on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. songs that may not have
album and his first in five Associated Press the commercial value of
years, a time of big chang- others, but it does have
es in his life and his career — music. The original "Despa- among the top three songs Demi Lovato, "Calypso" the musical and emotional
especially since 2016, when cito" video, featuring Dad- on Billboard's list of Hot Latin with Stefflon Don, "Imposi- value."
the birth of his son Rocco dy Yankee, is still the most Songs. ble" with Ozuna and "Sola". He also highlighted his lat-
overlapped with that of watched in the history of Both versions are included It also includes new roman- est single, "Sola," a ballad
the song that gave him in- YouTube with over 5.9 bil- in the album, along with tic songs and one powerful that you may not hear in a
ternational stardom and a lion views to date; its remix the previously-released sin- torch song that challenged club but that will make you
broader exposure to Latin with Justin Bieber remains gles "Echame la culpa" with Fonsi's vocal chords. One of nod to its beat.q
Grammys launch initiative aiding women producers, engineers

By MESFIN FEKADU ognizing that they all have
Associated Press a role to play and they
NEW YORK (AP) — The Re- can all play a positive role
cording Academy's Task in the change that needs
Force on Diversity and In- to be made," said Tchen,
clusion is launching a new who was the chief of staff
initiative to create and ex- to former first lady Michelle
pand more opportunities Obama and is a partner at
to female music producers Buckley LLP.
and engineers. The academy announced
The academy on Friday the new task force last year
announced the Producer after Grammys CEO Neil
& Engineer Inclusion Initia- Portnow said women need
tive, which asks that musi- to "step up" when asked
cians, record labels and about the lack of female
others consider at least two winners backstage at the
female producers or engi- This photo combo of file photos shows Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams and Justin Bieber. 2018 Grammys. Only two
neers when working on a Associated Press female performers won
project, whether it's a song awards during the live tele-
or an album. Tina Tchen, chair of the those doors of opportuni- 5, Carrie Underwood, the cast and the Grammys
More than 200 have already academy's Task Force on ties are open to everyone Killers, Kacey Musgraves, were criticized for not let-
pledged and are commit- Diversity and Inclusion, in and that women who for Meek Mill, Usher and Sele- ting singer Lorde, the only
ted to the ask, including an interview with The Asso- so long really haven't had na Gomez. Multiple music women nominated for al-
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, ciated Press. "Pick whoever their shot can get a fair producers, record labels, bum of the year, perform
Pearl Jam, Quincy Jones, you want, because we shot." management companies at the show.
Pharrell Williams, John Leg- want people to make their The initiative comes after and agencies are also on Portnow called his com-
end, Ariana Grande, Com- own artistic decisions, but last year's USC Annenberg board. ments a "poor choice
mon, Pink, Nicki Minaj and we do know the more that study, which said only 2 "It's not just about the art- of words" and later an-
Shawn Mendes. women are included in the percent of music produc- ists that we know, but it's nounced he would leave
"It's a really important step mix and get a look at and ers and 3 percent of engi- the behind-the-scenes folks his post this year.
to make sure you're consid- are seen, then doors are neers are women. Others who are involved: other This year's Grammys, how-
ering a diverse slate when going to open up. who have signed on to the producers and engineers, ever, include more female
you're going to pick a pro- "And that's what this is new call-to-action include the labels, the studios, the nominees in the top cat-
ducer or engineer," said about — making sure all of Jennifer Lopez, Maroon agents, the publishers rec- egories. q