Tag Archives: latin music

What’s in your suitcase: ChocQuibTown’s Goyo

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Latin Grammys are just as much about the music as they are about the fashion, so we snuck into one of our favorite band’s room to see which looks they’re going to be rocking this week in Las Vegas.

Colombian hip-hop group ChocQuibTown, beloved at home in Choco and all around Latin America, is nominated in three categories this year – Album of the Year (Eso Es Lo Que Hay), Record of the Year (“Calentura,” featuring Tego Calderon and Zully Murillo), and Best Alternative Music Album.

But they’re not exactly new at this Latin Grammy thing. In 2009, they were up for Best New Artist, and they won Best Alternative Song in 2010 for “De Donde Vengo Yo.”

The band’s Colombian pride manifests itself strongly in the fashion choices of its lead singer Gloria Martinez (a.k.a. Goyo), as we were able to see firsthand during our visit to her hotel room in Vegas. “It’s really important for me to support local designers,” Goyo told me yesterday, right before our Twitcam with the group. If you missed it, check out the full, unedited video here.

The trio of Goyo, her brother Slow, and her hubby Tostao, had so much fun answering fan questions on Twitter, and shared everything from their favorite foods to their dreams of a possible collaboration with Calle 13, and even breaking into an awesome acapella of “Hasta El Techo” (fast foward to minute 14:00 of the Twitcam video)!

But first, I got an exclusive look at Goyo’s wardrobe for the rest of the week. She makes the best dressed list in my book for all of her originality and support of local designers.

Check out the pics on Fusion (ABC/Univision), where this story was originally published. 

What’s in your suitcase: Gaby Moreno

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She’s one of the most exciting acts in Latin music, that much we knew. She’s even earned comparisons to the late, great Chavela Vargas. So it makes sense that Ricardo Arjona’s 30-year-old protege Gaby Moreno is in high demand.

I caught up with the Guatemalan chanteuse (who has a serious love for vintage) at a friend’s house in L.A., just as she drops her third album, the aptly titled, Postales, and preps for a trip to the Dominican Republic to perform with Arjona.

One of the many things that I learned about Gaby from rummaging through her carry-on is that she loves all of Woody Allen’s body of work. She loves Allen so much she wrote a song called “Daydream By Design” (from her sophomore album, Illustrated Songs, released last year) which she was hoping would be used in his film, Midnight in Paris. It may not have been used, but if you listen to it with your eyes closed, you can clearly hear Édith Piaf’s influence on this talented singer/songwriter. She loves Paris so much she’s already performed there three times this year.

Oh, and Marion Cotillard (who played Édith Piaf on the big screen and won an Oscar for it) is one of her fave actresses.

See a pattern here?

Gaby can switch effortlessly between Spanish and English, between blues, rancheras, pop, jazz, and R&B, and her newest release is evocative of the 1920s and 30s, like most of her wardrobe and accessories.

If you’re in the L.A. area, come through Largo tonight to watch Gaby play a live set as she celebrates the release of Postales on Arjona’s indie Metarmorfosis label.

When you’re done admiring all the goodies in Gaby’s suitcase, check out what Alex Cuba and Li Saumet of Bomba Estereo like to travel with. Everyone is so different so don’t ask me to pick favorites, although Gaby’s collection of hair accessories is kind of amazing….

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Check out the pics on Fusion (ABC/Univision), where this was originally posted.

Ivy Queen opens up about finding real love

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The woman with a million nicknames (La Caballota, La Potra, La Diva, to name a few) stopped by Univision recently for the Despierta America concert series and chatted with Angie Romero of Fusion (ABC/Univision) about finding love again, her new look, and her new album, Musa.

What’s in your suitcase: Li Saumet of Bomba Estereo

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Bomba Estereo’s Liliana Saumet is on the road a lot. As in, she’s not sure where she’s been in the last few days (San Francisco) or where she’s going next (home to Colombia). I caught up with the electro-tropical band’s vocalist during the L.A. stop of their Elegancia Tropical tour (check out their Tumblr for cool on-the-road photos). She happily showed me everything she travels with — from toiletries to lingerie.

Li kicks off my new column for Fusion called “What’s In Your Suitcase?” which is exactly what it sounds like, and something I’ll be doing with as many celebs as possible.

It’s funny how much you can tell about a person just by snooping through their luggage.

You never know when you’ll need cute lingerie! Liliana is a big fan of Victoria’s Secret bras and panties.

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Get to know Latin Grammy darling Pablo Alboran

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You may not readily recognize the name Pablo Alborán, but after the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, that is all set to change. At only 22, the Spanish singer (who was born and raised in Malaga and is half French on his mother’s side) has accomplished what can take many people years to do—he’s earned both the hearts of listeners and the acclaim of critics.

Check out my interview with him for Fusion (ABC/Univision) from the rooftop of the Mandalay Bay Hotel the day before the awards show!

Watch: Romeo and Usher talk about their magic formula

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I caught up with Ursh and bachata king Romeo Santos on the green carpet at the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards to talk about their chemistry, their plans to collaborate in the future, and whether or not Romeo is leaving us for Hollywood, now that he’s set to star in his very own comedy series for ABC.