Diego Garcia is releasing his sophomore album "Paradise" on October 8th via Concord Records. Following a recent tour to play with Alicia Keys in Argentina, Garcia wrote about what it means to celebrate the music of early Latin troubadours during Hispanic Heritage Month:
When you're growing up, you never think the music that your parents listen to is cool. But it still seeps deep into your soul. And like wine, you learn to appreciate it as you get older. For me, this was the case with the early Latin troubadours of the 1970s. Classic artists like Favio, Piero, Roberto Carlos and even Julio Iglesias were men who sang about love and heartbreak in a way that has been lost over the years. The romantic Latin artist has become known as the guy on the beach with a linen shirt, cocktail in hand and girl in bikini by his side.
I don't know if it's because of a proximity to the Caribbean and Mexico, or the dominating Latino demographics in the U.S.--but when people hear the word "Latino," they often think of something tropical. I think that side of Latin culture is beautiful but it's just a small part. The truth is that there's such an urban and metropolitan side to Latino culture. And there's a lot more to Latino men than you often get to see from Hollywood.
I was born in Detroit and have spent more than 15 years living in New York City. My primary language is English - I think in English, I dream in English and I write most of my songs in English. When I speak Spanish, there's a touch of accent from the city where my parents grew up - Cordoba, Argentina.
With my music, I decided to do what came naturally. My music stylistically has a Latin undertone but my lyrics are in English. The language has become less of a barrier in the arts--we're less confined in regards to what we create, especially in the music landscape. I still see the Spanish language as one of the most beautiful in the world--it's so lyrical--and I'm teaching my children in Spanish to preserve our roots.