Becky G says ‘Encuentros,’ her second album of Mexican regional music, is a celebration of culture

MEXICO CITY — Last year, Mexican American singer Becky G released her first album of Mexican music, “Esquinas.” His latest album, “Encuentros,” makes it clear that this is not a temporary interest: He intends to explore traditional music in depth, and by adding a modern mix.

“Obviously a lot of people would say ‘You do it because it’s normal,'” Becky G said in Spanish during a video interview from Los Angeles before the release of the album last Friday. “I think what I found in myself, when we created ‘Esquinas,’ was something real for me, something honest, something vulnerable as an artist, so that I I felt very concerned about this process. And we didn’t want to stop.”

He says that his fans have told him that when he sings Mexican regional music, they notice that his voice changes in a different way. She says they can hear Rebbeca – her real name – and her true meaning more than the Becky G pop persona.

The album opens with “XLAS NUBES,” which translates to “By the Clouds,” a song that stands out for its acoustic guitar arrangements. According to Becky G, it was caused by a vision of someone falling from the clouds, as if in a dream.

“Every song has a thread that takes you on that journey,” he said. “We decided to combine different instruments and the way I express my vocals that makes it feel modern. And that, for me, was very exciting.”

The album, produced by Adrián Pieragostino, features ranchera, mariachi and contemporary corridos mixed with other genres such as bolero, cumbia and Colombian vallenato.

“When I was creating music of other genres, if it was pop music, if it was reggaeton, we were always playing and mixing genres. So, I decided, ‘ Why don’t I do it with country music?’” he said.

Still, there are some traditional moments on the album, like the accordion-fueled ranchera “Desierto” (“In the Desert”), where he sings about wanting an old man to run out of water in the desert. He said his brothers approved the song and told him to include it in his concerts.

“It reminds me a lot of the music I used to listen to when I was a kid. It’s the music that my grandmother listened to, that my mother listened to,” he said, describing the song as “cortavena” (“nerve-cutting”) music – the obnoxious songs that which is part of the appeal of Mexican music.

“Todo” (“All”) introduces Delilah, a rising singer. “We wanted it to sound like you’re singing next to someone,” said Becky G. “It’s a big song, but it’s very quiet. It’s a very difficult style to achieve, but I think we did it well, because it sounds so big, it sounds like a Disney song. I was caught by his voice, Delilah’s voice. I think our words together are magical. ”

The concept of the album started with “Mercedes,” featuring Oscar Maydon, where Becky G shines on Mexican regional instruments. To him, it’s the perfect song to listen to in the car, hence the Mercedes Benz-referencing title.

Visually, Becky G said she wants to make her music videos and albums come across as a story, reflecting her hometown, the community and culture of Los Angeles.

“Anyone who sees this, if they live in London, anywhere in the world, will see it, and they will understand who Becky G is,” he said. That also translates to the album cover, in which he appears standing under the sun, with LA in the background.

He’s already thinking about the concept and title of the next album – and he can’t rule out whether it will be called another word that starts with the letter “E.”

I don’t want to stop, this is what I love, it’s everything to me. very good method. “

Becky G is currently on tour in the US, singing “Encuentros” songs, as well as “Esquinas” and her pop and reggaeton debut.

“I always say my shows are how I like my tacos, about everything,” he said.