[INTERVIEW] Chilean Trap Phenom Gianluca Talks New Mixtape G LOVE 2

Chile has a new shining star, and he’s delivering an original take on trap that’s garnering wide acclaim.

Gianluca, the 22-year-old trap sensation who made waves with his 2019 debut album Yin Yang, recently released the latest compelling installment in his quickly growing catalog, a new mixtape titled G LOVE 2. A continuation of Yin Yang, G LOVE 2 joins the company of his previously released mixtapes SRR (2017) and G LOVE (2018), and offers a refreshing reprieve from the dark and heavy times the world has been facing this year. “G LOVE 2 is a mixtape that I see as being very solid and that connects with all of my previous projects,” he told Musical Notes Global. “I feel that it’s very modern and it became my favorite because it’s very direct, in every sense, and I really like the vibe that it transmits.”

As so many artists have done this year, Gianluca recorded the project at home, an approach not unlike the one he took with 2017’s SRR. However, this time around, despite the restrictions put into place by the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a talented team of collaborators, including Canadian producer Jaegen, Spanish artist Pedro LaDroga, and producer Limabeatz, backing him up. “The truth is I can’t complain,” he said about the making of G LOVE 2. “It was a fun process. I recorded it here at home and I edited my vocals. Pablo Stipicic mixed them at his house too.”

Known for his alluring experimentation, with G LOVE 2, Gianluca unites a solid blend of styles such as traditional trap, pop, and dembow, and boosts the impact with the addition of Brazilian influences and airy production. The result is an eclectic yet explosive and endlessly playable compilation with multi-cultural appeal that encourages fans to let loose and have fun. “They are sounds that have inspired me for a long time. Trap, reggaeton, funk carioca,” he said. “I wanted to express good feelings right now. I want people to enjoy themselves with G LOVE 2.”

Among the 11 tracks featured on G LOVE 2 are the sparkling funk carioca-driven “MÁS,” the steamy bilingual jam “TLNH,” and the danceable mainstream single “NO CAMBIA NA’” featuring Chilean singer/rapper/producer Tommy Boysen that’s sure to be a longstanding staple in his repertoire for years to come.

In a way, G LOVE 2 continues the story of its predecessor G LOVE, but it also showcases new facets of the young new icon’s artistry, demonstrating his maturity and ability to grow in an ever-evolving industry that demands constant innovation. Not only is the collection greater tinted lyrically by more intense and mature themes, but the project also allowed Gianluca to refine his skills behind the scenes and become more precise in his work. “I learned to be more concise with what I do,” he revealed. “I like to produce and cut things down, working a lot in the moment and letting things flow. I think that the mixtape helped me take it further.”

G LOVE 2 is yet another glimpse at the exciting new road down which Gianluca can take trap in the future, and he’s just getting started. Listen below.