Courtesy photo
¿Qiensave? announce their newest album, a collaborative project from the Salinas, California-based cumbia urban group with Latin Grammy nominee El Dusty titled “Reanimación.” Kicking off the project is the lead single “Quemayama” featuring new lyrics by the Bay area based hip-hop artist Deuce Eclipse; it is out now and everywhere you stream music.
The band met the Corpus Christi-based platinum producer, DJ, and musician El Dusty during their show in 2021. From that fortuitous meeting came about the idea to collaborate. Although initial collaboration efforts were delayed due to other projects, the idea of remixing some of their most beloved tracks never faded. Fast forward to mid-2023, when the stars aligned, the collaboration was reignited and “Reanimación” was born.
¿Qiensave? is Carlos L Cortez (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), Alejandro Gomez (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Mario Cortez (Guida/Keyboard/Vocals), Ricardo Cortez (Drums/Vocals), and William Cortez (Bass). The band originally covered the Patricio Hidalgo y el Afrojarocho song “Quemayama” for their 2022 EP El After, to which they added elements of cumbia and Afro-Cuban percussion. With the remix version, the song is once again reimagined as it leans into a nu-cumbia fusion as Deuce Eclipse spits over boom-bap influenced basslines.
Alex recalls, “We both (Deuce and us) talked a few times about doing a track together. Carlos and I found the song for him, which was the “Para Poderte Olvidar” remix. However, instead of sending Deuce PPO, I sent Deuce “Quemayama.” He loved it, a week later he was sending us the verses for the track. He was telling me that this was the perfect song at that time, as he had a lot to say, as the lyrics and the beat spoke to him. Maybe it was meant to be like this.” Carlos adds, “ at first, as anyone, we were little hesitant or more a mix of uncertainty and curious of how “Quemayama” would play out being that even when we did our rendition it was interesting to hear it in a new light always a fun surprise, it’s the power of “Quemayama” sharing its blessing through different walks of life. Once we heard what El Dusty did, we knew this whole project was gonna be fire, a blessing from the universe.”
The new album breathes new life into these original songs by remixing and evolving select tracks from ¿Qiensave?’s 2022 EP EL After, 2019 album Mujer, and the single “Para Poderte Olvidar.” The collaboration between ¿Qiensave? and the nu-cumbia powerhouse El Dusty has marked a bold evolution for these songs by bringing a new dimension and adding guest features to the already contagious sound. Carlos explains, “Once the project started to come together the time was right and with the will of the universe at play everything landed as it was supposed to. We met with Dusty and as we talked about the project Dusty said, this is like Linkin Park’s “Reanimation” album, I knew then it was magic. It connected with the vision and conversation of bringing new life to these great songs and that’s how the name was gifted to us.”
“Reanimación” includes a remix of the standout single “Para Poderte Olvidar,” Carlos explains, “Dusty really just took ‘Para Poderte Olvidar’ on a trip in all the sense and infused it with his jedi powers and took it to another world. We were all literally blown away, El Dusty dont fuck around.” Alex adds, “This was the first song we heard for the project and it blew us away. As Dusty created this moonbap, Hip-hop, dubstep, drum n bass, roller coaster ride of a track .” Their 2022 EP title track “El After,” was the second song that El Dusty remixed with Carlos commenting, “El Dusty took ‘El After’ to the after after party giving it that all night club vibe – for those ready to go all night!” With “La Fuga” off Mujer, the remix adds straight dance floor vibes that hype up the already rock laden song. Another standout is the heavy bass driven trap remix of ¿Qiensave?’s cover of the Chico Che classic “Mata de Mota” featuring Topa Magica. A song created for subwoofers and cruising culture!
In support of “Reanimación,” ¿Qiensave? will be hitting the road with a series of live performances that promise to be as exhilarating as the album itself. Fans can expect a high-energy show that blends fan favorites with the newly remixed tracks. “We can’t wait to bring these songs to life on stage,” says Alex Casanova, the band’s manager. “The live shows will be a whole new way to experience ¿Qiensave? – full of energy, movement, and surprises.”
The band adds, “We will be performing this project with El Dusty live in a city or town near you!” In the meantime, “Quemayama” Featuring Deuce Eclipse is out now and everywhere you stream music!
¿Qiensave? X El Dusty— Quemayama (Remix) ft. Deuce Eclipse
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