Karol Gs Tropicoqueta: A Fusion of Classic Latin Sounds and Modern Beats
Karol G, the tearful Colombian star, is back with a new album that she describes as one of the most important projects of her career. The album, titled 'Tropicoqueta,' is a fusion of classic Latin sounds and modern beats, all with a heart that belongs to her.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Karol shares her journey of creating 'Tropicoqueta,' discussing how she wanted to change the Latin music landscape with this project. She started conceptualizing the album during the U.S. leg of her Mañana Será Bonito tour, feeling a lot of pressure to come up with something new and different.
"I started thinking maybe I should do an album in English or I should experiment with new sounds I’ve never tried before," Karol says. "But I kept coming back to an idea I had after I played Coachella in 2022. I wanted to do an homage to all the important Latin songs that had crossed over and opened doors."
The album features 20 tracks, each with a different feel, including vallenato, cumbia villera, reggaeton, and pop. Karol explains that the album is not for one specific audience but for everyone, from little girls to 70-year-old women who grew up listening to this music.
"People think I disappeared for no reason but the reality was, this album was a lot of work," Karol says. "The album is about 95 percent live instruments so that it would sound like our true roots."
Karol also discusses her creative process on this album, which was completely different from her previous ones. She made each song with a lot of intention and knew how she wanted each one to sound like. She compares it to having a baby - you can set up the room, buy clothes you love, and think about the name - everything is planned so that when it's born, everything will be super special.
One of the most important songs on the album is "Ivonny Bonita," which Karol wrote after a trip to the Bahamas where she heard a song that went "Ivonne, my baby." She decided to use the name Ivonny as an alter-ego and internalized her as a mysterious woman who helped her get through a difficult time. The song is about giving credit to the Ivonny in every woman and saying the things we never dare to say to ourselves.
The album also features Karol's first vallenato songs, which are an important genre in Colombia. She explains that vallenato music has only ever had one woman mega-artist named Patricia Teherán and that she looked for the people she works with to make the song sound like the vallenato that was made at that time.
In addition to her own songs, Karol also collaborated with icons like Marco Antonio Solis on "Coleccionado Heridas." She explains that Latinos are passionate and romantic people and that thoughtful gestures, no matter how small, are really meaningful. The song is about how loving in that way was left in the past and how those of us who still do will continue to collect wounds because of it.
Overall, 'Tropicoqueta' is a unique and reflective album that showcases Karol G's talent and passion for Latin music. With its fusion of classic and modern sounds, it's sure to make waves in the industry and leave a lasting impression on listeners.
