In our Q&A /characteristic sequence Inform Me Más, we ask a few of our favourite Latine artists to percentage some inside of information about their lives and behavior, revealing the whole thing from their most up-to-date learn to the songs that get them hyped. This month, Grammy-winning artist Goyo, a member of mythical staff ChocQuibTown, drops in to discuss her newest flip as a solo act, Afro-Latine illustration, and what she’s were given in retailer for us in 2024.
As reggaetón, afrobeats, and lure change into international, their distinct sounds and formulation change into extra cemented. Then again, rapper and singer Goyo has all the time defied the confines of a unmarried style. As a member of the award-winning staff ChocQuibTown, the sound that she helped craft at the side of her brother Miguel “Gradual” Martinez and Carlos “Tostao” Valencia, mixed components of conventional African percussion, Colombian folks, hip-hop, dancehall, and reggaetón. Now, as she continues her musical adventure, this time as a solo artist, Goyo nonetheless unearths it tough to place a label on precisely what her sound is.
“In reality that it is tough for me to categorise myself as one unmarried factor . . . I will simply do a track that is instantly hip-hop or a track that is instantly folkloric. It is a part of what I’m,” says the artist.
When she first arrived at the scene, it used to be simply as tough for the trade to categorise her and her fellow staff participants. They received their first Grammy underneath the rock/selection class for the track “De Donde Vengo Yo,” as there used to be no urbano class at the moment. However since that point, the style has exploded permitting younger artists from barrios around the globe to chase their goals and permitting feminine emcees to turn what they’re in a position to.
But, in spite of this inflow of recent ability, there’s a fluidity and adulthood to Goyo’s sound that in an instant units her aside.
“Inside the urbano motion, hip hop, rapping, making a song, that is the place I believe maximum relaxed,” she tells POPSUGAR.
For long-time enthusiasts of ChocQuibTown, this will have to come as no wonder, as Goyo’s ability for melodic hooks and actual lyricism has been obtrusive since ChocQuibTown’s debut album “Somos Pacifico” in 2006. Then again, now that the highlight is just enthusiastic about her, she’s in a position to totally embody her versatility, crafting songs and exploring ideas that spotlight a extra private adventure.
“With ChocQuibTown, what we needed to do used to be put Chocó at the map, to vindicate our tradition, and one way or the other say that ‘good day, we are right here.’ We are representing our hood.”
“With ChocQuibTown, what we needed to do used to be put Chocó at the map, to vindicate our tradition, and one way or the other say that ‘good day, we are right here.’ We are representing our hood,” Goyo stocks. “The adaptation now [as a soloist] is the revel in, the whole thing that I have lived, appearing the whole thing that I’m as a flexible lady.”
It is a adventure that has many parallels with a undeniable hip-hop legend and considered one of Goyo’s idols: Ms. Lauryn Hill. Each had been the only feminine participants of powerhouse rap teams. Each burst onto the scene to speedy acclaim and no longer best may just harmonize and supply R&B components to go with their male staff participants’ raps, however they had been additionally powerhouse spitters in their very own proper. The similarities are not misplaced on Goyo as she admits to having a look to Ms. Hill, no longer best as a supply of inspiration however a trainer of varieties, serving to her construct self assurance as a tender emcee.
“For me, she’s a trainer in the way in which that [listening to her music] used to be in a position to rid me of numerous concern and make allowance me to be myself when it got here time to put in writing [my verses],” Goyo says.
Along side Hill, Goyo mentions Cunning Brown, and Rah Digga as primary influences. At the Latin facet of items, artists like Tego Calderon, Celia Cruz, and Grupo Area of interest have all had an incredible have an effect on on her.
“I grew up surrounded by way of tune, my mom and my aunts all the time making a song in the home. So whilst I used to be rising up influences would all the time come to me from all other aspects,” she remembers.
Those other aspects had been one thing she were given to show off within the HBO particular, “En Letra de Otro,” the place she put her spin on vintage songs like Don Omar’s “Otra Noche” and Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va.” However do not get it twisted, those were not simply Goyo’s interpretations of classics. She in point of fact made them her personal, rearranging them with utterly authentic lyrics and beats.
Now, she’s in a position to observe up that venture with a brand new album of all authentic tracks. And if the primary two singles are the rest to move by way of, Goyo is the use of the deep waters of the urbano style as her playground.
“Tumbao” offers reggaetón de los angeles vieja vibes with its easy dembow and conventional percussion components. Insomnia then again is an entire 180. Produced by way of hip-hop manufacturer IllMind, it begins with a heavy rock riff ahead of main into some snappy snare drums and riding a Jersey-style bassline over which Goyo flows between a melodic refrain and extra pointed raps very easily.
“Inside the ingenious procedure, it’s a must to have an idea, a starting, and an finish,” she says.”However in rap, every now and then you can have a punchline that does not have the rest to do with the concept that however you’ll make it hook up with the following verse. It is a stunning sport and it is the factor I maximum revel in, that it isn’t inflexible. That I will get started a track melodically and when I am getting bored, transfer to rapping.”
However in spite of the expansion that she’s passed through and in spite of her occupation coming into a brand new bankruptcy, Goyo affirms that she’s nonetheless the Goyo her enthusiasts had been offered to again in 2006. And as an Afro-Colombiana in a style that, in spite of its Afro-Latine origins, has change into increasingly more deepwhite, she understands that the illustration that she’s championed ever since her ensemble days is simply as essential now because it used to be within the previous days of her occupation.
“I believe that the method [by which Afro-Latines find success] is a procedure that takes time, that perhaps in my technology, I may not see as many adjustments as the following technology will, however [the work is being done],” she says.”And the essential factor is that we’re mindful of that paintings . . . that we perceive the place we come from and take attractiveness from that … in order that we will stay advancing and make the weight lighter for [future generations].”
Relating to lightening the weight, Goyo has performed an important position since stepping onto the arena degree. No longer best did she assist put the traditionally Black group of Chocó at the map, however her persevered luck helped to make room and supply a blueprint for the following technology of Afro-Latine artists, appearing them that industrial and important luck is conceivable whilst nonetheless staying true in your sound and the place you come back from.
But, for an artist who has already completed such a lot and stands as an inspiration to her folks, Goyo desires her enthusiasts to understand that she’s nonetheless were given extra to succeed in at this degree of her occupation and is having a look ahead to bringing them alongside for the experience.
“We are striking numerous love into the album, “Los angeles Pantera,” and I am hoping that the enthusiasts adore it and hook up with [it] . . . ,” she says. “One thing I have all the time sought after to succeed in is to have a solo album — to accomplish, to excursion as a soloist and reconnect with the enthusiasts who’ve adopted us and in addition to seek out alongside this new path extra folks to accompany me within the procedure. Now, I am able to materialize that dream.”
Now that we have got you hyped for Goyo’s upcoming venture, stay studying to get the deets on who she’d love to collaborate with, what she’d be doing if she wasn’t rapping, and what she does cuando los angeles insomnia se los angeles pega.
POPSUGAR: The place is your glad position?
Goyo: Anyplace my circle of relatives is.
POPSUGAR: What track would you play to get the birthday celebration began?
Goyo: Blessings (Remix) by way of Victor Thompson.
POPSUGAR: What do you do when you’ll’t sleep?
Goyo: Write. Learn.
POPSUGAR: Who is your maximum listened to artist at this time?
Goyo: Fridayy. I am loopy about Fridayy
POPSUGAR: Which artists do you want to collaborate with sooner or later?
Goyo: Don Omar. Tego Calderon. And Eladio. He is going tremendous exhausting.
POPSUGAR: If it wasn’t tune, what interest would you commit your self to?
Goyo: Writing.
POPSUGAR: What used to be the most productive factor about being in a tune staff?
Goyo: Being the one lady.
POPSUGAR: What used to be essentially the most tough factor?
Goyo: Being the one lady.
POPSUGAR: In any case, how would you outline the phrase “Tumbao”?
Goyo: Tumbao is that particular one thing that I’ve and that you’ve got however is other for everybody.
Symbol Supply: Julio Guzmán (@Hungryandconfused)/Representation by way of Aly Lim