Extravagant dresses, ear-to-ear smiles, and a palpable excitement filled the Latin Grammys red carpet last Thursday at Miami’s Kaseya Center as the Latin Recording Academy celebrated 25 years of the awards ceremony. But as the stars stopped by to speak to Rolling Stone, some gave a little look about what the next year in music might look like for them.
Mon Laferte, whose album Autopoiética won Best Alternative Music Album, revealed she’s already started to write songs for her next project. And her ex-lovers should beware! “I’m writing about all of my ex-relationships,” she shares.
Nathy Peluso, who walked away with three awards, including Best Long Form Music Video for her visual album Grasa, reminded us she’s already started planning “seven years ahead.” And Emilia, whose mp3 made her a first-time nominee, isn’t ready to let go of this album era just yet. “People really loved this album because of the nostalgia,” she says. “And I loved bringing that to life.”
On the Latin Grammys red carpet, Rolling Stone asked the stars what’s inspiring them today—both in life and in their craft—and this is what they had to say:
Majo Aguilar: Peso Pluma and Corridos Tumbados
Don’t expect Majo Aguilar to let go of her ranchera roots — she’s just ready to elevate them.
“I went to a Peso Pluma concert and thought it was an incredible concert. The instrumentation on corridos tumbados is spectacular,” she says. “In my music’s instrumentation, I decided to fuse corrido tumbados with mariachi. I, of course, am singing in the classic ranchera style.”
Inspired by the growth of corridos tumbados, Aguilar plans to drop her album, Mariachi Tumbado, next year. “It’s hard to tell what the genre’s future is because sometimes these phenomena come in unexpectedly,” she says. “Mexican music is coming in with so much force.”
Mon Laferte: Jazz and Old Relationships
Autopoiética came at a “crucial time” in Mon Laferte’s life, and she’ll always celebrate the album for being “radically different” from her past projects. But the Chilean star admits she’s ready for a new era, and she’s already “cooking something up.”
“I am listening to a lot of jazz, and I think we’ll see that on the next album,” she says. “I’m in love with the new music I’m making. I’ve already made a bunch of songs but I’m still writing. I’m very passionate so it needs to be music that blows my mind because I have to defend it onstage.”
As for the subject matter of the project? “I’m writing about all of my ex-relationships, and not just romantic ones, but also relationships you have with yourself, with your friends, and of course, the love ones too!”
Trueno: Hip Hop and Career Wins
Trueno is still reeling with excitement after winning the Best Urban Fusion/Performance category for his song “Tranky Funky.” It’s a big accomplishment for the star, who says he’s the first rap artist from Argentina to win a Latin Grammy since Sindicato Argentino del Hip-Hop did in 2001.
“We’re continuing that history,” he says. “I feel the weight of Argentina on my back, and I’m so happy to be part of this journey.”
El Último Baile, the album on which “Tranky Funky” is from, celebrated the legacy of hip-hop — and he’s thinking his next set of releases will continue to build on that tribute. “Because of this Grammy win and the celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, I think there is still so much to say about hip-hop culture,” he says. “Maybe it’s time to bring something new to the table.”
DannyLux: Sad Vibes and EDM
DannyLux is warning us: the music after Evoluxion might get hella triste.
“I’m really writing a lot of sad songs. The verses feel like poems,” he admits. “I think I’ve really been growing in the way that I write, and how I create my music. I feel like mentally, I’ve changed. Mentally, I’ve grown so much and I think I’ve finally found my flow.”
But for the fans of Danny who want some more upbeat work like “House of Lux” and his recent track “Midnight,” don’t fret. “I actually have an album in the vault that’s just EDM that might come out soon,” he says.
Eladio Carrión: Fatherhood and Family
During the awards show, Eladio Carrión shared a sweet moment with his mom as he serenaded her with “Mama’s Boy” after walking the red carpet with her by his side. “I’m so happy she’s here with me,” Carriión gushed. While she inspired his last record, it’s the next generation of Carrións, his twin sons, who are inspiring the next project.
“My kids are what’s inspiring me,” he says. “They’re the biggest motivation and inspiration. I work so much and I’ve done so much more than I thought I could when I had them. I want to give my fans a record that they will enjoy.”
Emilia: Gloria Estefan and the Nineties
The .mp3 era is here to stay just a bit longer! Emilia admits she isn’t ready to move on from her last project, which was inspired by the early 2000s and late Nineties. (Hence the “.mp3” suffix of all the album’s song titles.)
“I don’t think this era has ended just yet. I feel like I’m still discovering parts of it and I want to show my fans what else we have in the bag,” the Argentinian pop star says. “I don’t want to let my fans down. It’s a great feat to surpass the great project we already made.”
“I’m really inspired by the 2000s, which is my adolescence and childhood,” she adds. “I’d love to reflect the 2000s, but the Latino side, and more of the folklore of my country. I’m listening a lot to Gloria Estefan, a lot of salsa, and Latin rhythms.”
Nathy Peluso: The Future and New Discoveries
Very few artists had as good of a night as Nathy Peluso at the 25th annual Latin Grammys. “Aprende a Amar” won Best Rap/Hip Hop Song, “El día Que Perdí Mi Juventud” won Best Alternative Song, and the visual version of her album Grasa won Best Long Form Music Video.
At the awards show, Peluso is living in the moment, but with her music? “I’m already seven years ahead!” she says with a laugh. “I’m very inspired by my present, which I built with so much love, and which inspires me each day to be a better person. I’m discovering new things I didn’t know I was able to feel.”
