Natalia Lafourcade returns with Ruben Blades and Mare Advertencia in preview of 'Un Canto Por México, Vol. 2'
It's an album that goes far beyond the symbol of the reconstruction and seeks to sink into the diversity of Mexican roots.
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Natalia Lafourcade has released a new version of her song "Tu Sí Sabes Quererme" featuring the legendary Rubén Blades and Zapotec rapper Mare Advertencia. The recording is a preview of Natalia's new album Un Canto Por Mexico, Vol. 2 which will be released on May 28th.
"A few years ago, I performed 'Tu Si Sabes' at the Latin Grammy Awards," explains Lafourcade. "As fate would have it, that night I was sitting next to the great Rubén Blades. And suddenly he turned around, shook my hand and gave me a hug and told me how much he loved this song. I didn't know what to say, I was speechless, trying to stay calm, and I barely managed to reply: 'Please maestro, one day we can sing it together."
"At the same time we were recording Rubén's voice for this album, we were lucky enough to receive in the studio Mare Advertencia, Oaxacan poet, rapper, feminist, warrior of words and thought. One afternoon I listened to her music and came across a short documentary about her life, her principles, her passions and her important work in favor of the community. As I listened to her, I was filled with inspiration: she is one of the many emerging artists I admire and feel deeply about with a powerful message to share."
When Lafourcade began work on "Un Canto" in 2019, she quickly realized she was engaging in a project larger in spirit and scope than anything she had undertaken before. Released last year to critical and commercial success, Un Canto por Mexico, Vol. 1 was conceived as a charity album. Its proceeds were instrumental in the reconstruction of one of Mexico's cultural treasures: the Son Jarocho Documentation Center in Veracruz, damaged by a destructive earthquake in 2017.
From the beginning, Lafourcade envisioned this luminous collection of songs as the first of two albums. "It all started with a benefit concert in November 2019. As soon as it was over, we realized we couldn't leave it at that. We needed to find a way for more people to enjoy the music - and our initial motivation for this project could establish deeper roots. As we began to gather other artists and record songs, it became clear that one album wasn't enough.
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The release of Un Canto por Mexico, Vol. 2 signifies the closing of a circle. A concept album brimming with positivity and hope, the collection features a remarkable gallery of guest vocalists.
Lafourcade emphasizes that this project goes far beyond simply rescuing a building damaged by a natural disaster. It turns out that the Son Jarocho Documentation Center means much more than the preservation of a beloved musical genre.
Lafourcade doesn't miss the poetic symbolism of this act: reconstruction, the strongest foundations that anchor culture and community. "I love to think that this project can inspire more people to help out," she reflects. "What we did involved the talents of many artists: their strength, their soul and their spirit, all marching forward together. That's my greatest pride."
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