[INTERVIEW] Carlos Peña Talks First-Ever Latin Grammy Nomination + Upcoming Single "Con Una Canción"

Carlos Peña is flying high on the news of his first-ever Latin Grammy nomination.

Born in Guatemala, Peña became the only male winner of Latin American Idol in 2007. He went on to release two incredibly successful solo albums including Con Una Canción, which was certified double platinum in less than 24 hours of release, making him the most successful winner in the show’s history.

Recently Peña began following his dreams of ushering the iconic big band sound—a dance-friendly style born from jazz and characterized by its horn-rich melodies—back to the forefront of the industry, and pursuing those goals has turned out to be satisfyingly fruitful. Following the release of a wonderfully dreamy Christmas album titled Navidad Es Navidad in November 2019, this year, the singer, songwriter, and bandleader released a scintillating, goosebumps-inducing cover of the renowned classic “Bésame Mucho,” and he has garnered a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Arrangement category as a result. “I can’t believe it,” he told Musical Notes Global. “I’ve always dreamed about it and I’m so excited.”

Originally penned by Consuelo Velázquez, “Bésame Mucho” is one of the most iconic boleros in Mexican music and has been a global favorite for decades. With the help of Ariel Garcia, Felipe Tichauer, and Richard Bull, and the company of his amazing Big Band, of course, Peña succeeded in revitalizing the standard and has transformed it into a larger than life piece. Overflowing with innovation, verve, and all the magic of the big band style that dominated the 1930s and 1940s, the song is an exciting discovery for an entirely new generation while maintaining the same sense of nostalgia that helped the original find a home in the hearts of listeners around the world.

“I really wanted to give it my big band sound,” he revealed. “‘Bésame Mucho,’ it’s very famous, and in big band, I always knew that it would sound huge. Julio Iglesias’ version or Luis Miguel’s, or Armando Manzanero’s, they’re ballads, and that’s the difference in this version. It’s so dynamic, it’s so powerful, because there are 22 guys playing together live.”

Contributing to the romantic appeal of Peña’s refreshing take on the song is the vocal contribution of Mexican pop star Daniela Calvario, who adds a brilliant glow and an added touch of sparkle to the celebrated classic. “Consuelo Velázquez is a Mexican composer and we needed the Mexican blood in the arrangement,” he said. “Daniela Calvario sings live and with no playback. She’s a very real artist, and I needed her in this version.”

The positive reception to the song has been overwhelming for Peña, who is grateful for all of the love he has received thus far. “I always thank God and this version has this power because God is in between. When I started the arrangement, I prayed and I said, ‘God, help me with this arrangement because this version has to be very big and sound big.’ When I see people react when they hear this version, and I see their faces, it’s wonderful for a musician…all my passion is there in that song.”

Peña is currently preparing to release his new single “Con Una Canción,” a reinterpretation of the first single he released after winning the Latin edition of American Idol. The song will blend big band and salsa together in perfect harmony and will feature the participation of Grammy-winning musicians including Dr. Ed Calle, Lee Levin, Richard Bravo, Luis Papo Márquez, Jerry Bravo, and Jorge Dobal.

“I love the big band style because I can mix rhythms and you can do whatever you want. ‘Bésame Mucho’ is Latin jazz mixed with original big band,” he explained. “‘Con Una Canción’ is a salsa big band with a really cool sound.”

“Con Una Canción” will be released on November 6. Tune into the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 19, broadcast by Univision.

For all of Carlos Peña’s latest news and updates, follow him on social media:

Facebook: facebook.com/carlospenaysubigband

Instagram: @carlospenaoficial

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