Latest news with #AdrianQuesada
Los Angeles Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Adrian Quesada steps into his star power in new LP ‘Boleros Psicodélicos II'
Speaking with musician and producer Adrian Quesada elicits a calming effect, as if a salve has been applied to the people conversing with him. His voice moves and bounces with intrigue and interest, but never catapults itself upward in decibels. The soothing and entrancing qualities of his disposition mirror that of his latest album, 'Boleros Psicodélicos II,' a 12-track sonic field trip through Quesada's Latin American influences — and a testament to teamwork — that dropped on Friday. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the mellow Austin-based musician prefers to kick it in the background, fancying himself more of an Izzy Stradlin than a Slash — despite having his name splashed across his imminent record. 'I always consider myself more of a producer than an artist. Being a solo artist is a very recent thing for me,' Quesada told The Times on a recent sunny day by Echo Park Lake. 'It's really raw and kind of a weird thing for me because it's not my style to be in the forefront. I just like to make the music. I try to move in silence.' He managed to maneuver the music industry by flying under the radar up until a few years ago by playing in large ensembles. His former band, Grupo Fantasma, had 10 members; his mid-2000s Latin-funk group Brownout was also a dectet; and his Grammy-winning group, Black Pumas, had seven (sometimes eight) members. While he obscured himself physically, his musicianship and production skill always stood out. Grupo Fantasma's 'El Existential' won a Grammy for Latin rock or alternative album in 2011. Black Pumas were nominated in the new artist category in 2020, then received three more Grammy nods in 2021 — which included record of the year for the track 'Colors' and album of the year for the group's eponymous album. Black Pumas also nabbed two Grammy nominations in 2022 and another one in 2024. Quesada embarked on his journey as a solo artist with 'Boleros Psicodélicos' — the spiritual precursor to his latest album. It featured covers of boleros from across Latin America, as well as original material, with Quesada enlisting artists such as iLe from Calle 13, Mireya Ramos and Gaby Moreno to lend their voices to the project. The Times called that 2022 album a 'tropical mystery-thriller of a record,' imbued with a 'crispy, 1960s psych-rock feel [that] ... sets the scene for Latin indie's best and brightest vocalists to truly sparkle.' 'Boleros II' finds Quesada as aurally slick as ever as he tackles the oft-covered romantic Spanish standard 'Cuatro Vidas,' plus Los Pasteles Verdes' 'Hoy Que Llueve' and brand-new tracks — all while integrating his signature three-over-two rhythms. Born and raised in the border town of Laredo, Texas, Quesada always felt he was 'at the crossroads of a crossroad.' 'It's not quite Mexico, but it's not quite Texas and it's not quite the Rio Grande Valley,' Quesada said. 'Laredo is completely bilingual, everybody just speaks Spanglish. I didn't have a distinction between English and Spanish and it was a couple of different cultures together. Now with music, people seem really caught up on genres — this is in Spanish and this is in English. And none of that really fazes me.' Like most American kids of the '80s and '90s, Quesada's biggest source of musical consumption came from binge-watching MTV, with a sprinkling of recommendations from friends. 'I was home a lot by myself and I would just watch MTV, so I used to watch all the shows: 'Yo! MTV Raps,' 'Headbangers Ball,' 'Alternative Nation' and '120 Minutes,'' he said. 'That was where I was discovering stuff. And then friends had an older cousin who used to make me cool tapes, and other friends would pass around hip-hop tapes.' Quesada says he finally became curious about what a music producer does after listening to N.W.A in his teen years. He recalls sitting in front of his Casio keyboard with its pre-programmed drum machine and trying to dissect the intricacies of what producer Dr. Dre was able to craft. Revealing the arbitrary nature of self-imposed borders — of both countries and genres — is one of Quesada's artistic goals, opting to build bridges and not walls. 'There's a thing called the narcissism of small differences, which means we can't get over our differences that we have with other people that are so minuscule, we have to differentiate ourselves,' Quesada said. 'And I'm starting to finally feel a responsibility for showing people nothing is that different. Latin rhythms are not that different from soul rhythms, or funk rhythms, or rock 'n' roll. That's probably the biggest [impact] my upbringing has on me.' Despite his deeply Texas roots and sensibilities, Quesada's 'Boleros II' and his recent life experiences have been immensely L.A.-coded. Quesada was nominated for original song at this year's 97th annual Academy Awards, for writing the track 'Like A Bird' with Abraham Alexander, as featured in the Colman Domingo-led film 'Sing Sing.' 'I had fun with that. I was catching key things in the movie, seeing what they did visually, and what I could do musically on the song,' he said of working on the piece. That process led to him spending more time in L.A. than anticipated. 'The Oscars kind of flipped my world upside down,' he said. 'I had to be here a lot between the nomination being announced and Oscars night. That was the first three months of the year.' Carrying the L.A. momentum from the Academy Awards to 'Boleros II' is the notable presence of Angelenos on the album, including Hawthorne's perpetual sadboi Cuco, El Monte native Angélica Garcia and Carson soul singer Trish Toledo. (L.A. producer Alex Goose may not be Latino, but his intrepid hip-hop production chops blend seamlessly with Quesada's eclectic sensibilities.) 'L.A.'s such a predominant Latino town,' said Quesada. 'All the references I was showing Angelica, Trish and Cuco, they were very familiar with all that stuff. It came really natural to them. So I do think there's something with L.A. where they get it culturally here. I leaned on a lot of L.A. artists.' Quesada is currently touring as part of Trio Asesino, in support of Hermanos Gutiérrez on their U.S. tour. Quesada will perform songs from 'Boleros II' at L.A.'s Grand Park on Aug. 2, as part of a free summer concert series by Grand Performances. (Editor's note: De Los will be a co-presenter of Quesada's performance.) ''Sing Sing' was about rehabilitation through the arts and how it can change people's lives, not just reaching people as a fan, but also reaching more kids who can take up art,' Quesada said of the mission of the Grand Performances series. 'I believe in the power of art. Everything from a song inspiring a whole movement to a song just making you smile for the day, that's the power of music.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Adrian Quesada's Psychedelic Journey: How the Black Pumas Co-Founder Delved Into Latin America's Romantic Past
In music and art, the search for identity is fundamental. Perhaps that's why Adrian Quesada has achieved such a deep connection with Latin American romantic ballads, an eccentric musical style that the prolific Grammy-nominated songwriter, musician and producer discovered during his teenage years in his hometown of Laredo, a border city between Texas and Mexico. There, he grew up in a Mexican family speaking both English and Spanish. Now, almost 30 years later, the co-founder of the soul, jazz and funk duo Black Pumas revisits songs from acts like Los Pasteles Verdes, Los Ángeles Negros and Joseles in his new album Boleros Psicodélicos II, released Friday (June 27). His goal: to preserve the timeless essence of this musical genre and contribute to modernizing its sound by fusing it with hip-hop and electrifying guitars to connect with a younger audience. More from Billboard Black Pumas on 'Surprise' Grammy Nod, Success of 'Colors' & More | Billboard News 'Let's Get Sexy': Cardi B Hits LadyLand Stage After Surprise Guest Scarlet Envy Brings the Drama LL Cool J Gives Fans an NYC Rap History Crash Course in 'Hip Hop Was Born Here' Trailer 'My idea in creating all this was to find a way to have one foot in the roots, in the past, and another foot in the future. That was the concept: to go between two worlds,' Quesada tells Billboard Español. 'So I don't think I'm inventing anything. For me, these are songs inspired by another era.' In this new production — a sequel to Boleros Psicodélicos from 2022 — Quesada wanted to combine psychedelia with emotion. To do so, he brought together multi-generational artists from the Latin alternative music scene, such as California indie star Cuco, Swedish-Ecuadorian duo Hermanos Gutiérrez, Colombian ensemble Monsieur Periné, and lo-fi troubadour from Chihuahua Ed Maverick. Joining them are Mireya Ramos from Flor de Toloache, Puerto Rican artist iLe, and pop singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia, all of whom participated in the first album. But unlike Boleros Psicodélicos, which was recorded remotely during the pandemic, this second volume gave Quesada the chance to invite his collaborators to his studio in Austin and reimagine songs like 'Hoy que Llueve' by Los Pasteles Verdes and 'Te Vas y Yo Te Dejo' by Joseles. 'I wanted to make this album a more intimate experience, an exchange of ideas, while being in the same room full of energy with the people who participated,' the artist explains. 'And another thing is that on this new album, I worked with another producer, Alex Goose, and he comes from the hip-hop world —a musical genre that didn't invent anything but reinvented everything.' Opening the set is 'Ojos Secos,' a heartfelt vintage track performed as a duet with Cuco, blending smooth melodies with contemporary atmospheres. It's followed by 'Bravo,' a classic from Cuban artist Olga Guillot's repertoire that iLe recommended and recorded for this project; 'No Juego,' a dramatic trip-hop ballad performed by Angélica Garcia; and 'Cuatro Vidas,' popularized in the 1960s by American singer Eydie Gorme and the trio Los Panchos, among others. With Mexican artist Ed Maverick, Quesada recorded 'Afuera,' an atmospheric ballad with subtle touches of hip-hop, folk, and psychedelic guitars — a seductive and hypnotizing combination. 'This collaboration was the perfect opportunity for me to delve into a territory I wanted to explore: psychedelia and contemporary music,' Maverick tells Billboard Español. 'The upcoming music I have is very much in this style, so it fit like a glove.' 'Afuera' also served as a way to celebrate the Mexican roots of both musicians, at a turbulent time amidst new anti-immigration policies introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. 'I can't help but be Mexican,' Maverick says. 'I think for a long time, many young people tried to reject that. It seemed like it wasn't cool to be Latin American or Spanish-speaking with our roots, but now I'm very happy that there's this current resistance, anti-colonial, and music is part of that resilience.' Released through ATO Records, all 12 tracks in Boleros Psicodélicos II are performed in Spanish, which becomes a political and social statement at a moment when Latin music finds itself at a crucial crossroads, with increasingly strict immigration policies threatening its continued explosive growth in the U.S. 'I am the artist I am now because I come from a world of two countries, two languages,' Quesada notes. 'Diversity is what they're trying to eliminate in the United States. And if it's a way to — being American, to make an album in Spanish is important to me, for my roots.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Wicked' & ‘A Complete Unknown' Win Top Film Prizes At Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards: Full List
Wicked and A Complete Unknown were the top film winners at the 15th Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, which were handed out Sunday night at the Wiltern in Los Angeles. Sing Sing, I Saw the TV Glow, Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary and The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat took the other movie prizes. See the full winners list below. Honoring the year's best achievements in music supervision and songwriting, the guild handed its TV hardware went to Baby Reindeer, Agatha All Along, English Teacher, Love Island USA and Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza. More from Deadline 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Tonys, Guilds & More The 2025 Oscars: Everything We Know So Far About The Nominations, Ceremony, Date & Host Timothée Chalamet Lays His Cards On The Table Following 'A Complete Unknown' SAG Award Win: "I Want To Be One Of The Greats" Here are the winners of the 2025 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: FILM Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films Maggie Rodford – 'Wicked' Best Music Supervision in Mid-Level Budget Films Steven Gizicki – 'A Complete Unknown' Best Music Supervision in Low Budget Films Jessica Berndt, Chris Swanson – 'I Saw the TV Glow' Best Music Supervision in a Non-Theatrically Released Film Robin Urdang – 'The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat' Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film 'Like a Bird' – 'Sing Sing' Songwriters: Abraham Alexander, Brandon Marcel, Adrian Quesada Performers: Abraham Alexander, Adrian Quesada Music Supervisor: Dan Wilcox TELEVISION Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama Catherine Grieves – 'Baby Reindeer' Season 1 Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy Jen Ross – 'English Teacher' Season 1 Best Music Supervision in Reality Television Meryl Ginsberg, Sara Torres, Jordan Young – 'Love Island USA' Season 6 Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television 'The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Sacred Chant Version)' – 'Agatha All Along' Songwriters: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez \Performers: Agatha All Along Cast (Ali Ahn, Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp, Sasheer Zamata) Music Supervisors: Dave Jordan, Justine von Winterfeldt DOCUMENTARIES Best Music Supervision in a Documentary Film Aminé Ramer – 'Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary' Best Music Supervision in a Docuseries Sam Carlin, Drew Kramer – 'Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza' Season 1 ADVERTISING Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch) Peymon Maskan, Gemma Schladow, Alec Stern, Jenna Wilson – 'Power of She' Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music) Patrick Lawrence Zappia – 'Give Your Gift.' Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Long-Form) Al Risi – 'An American Love Story' TRAILERS Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Film) Maggie Baron – 'Anora' – Official Redband Trailer Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Series) Deric Berberabe, Hudson Saxe, Jordan Silverberg – 'Severance: Season 2' – Official Trailer Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Video Game & Interactive) Jonny Altepeter, Jackie Palazzolo, Vitaly Shenderovsky – 'VALORANT' – Clove Agent Trailer – 2 WORLDS VIDEO GAMES Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Synch) Raphaella Lima, Cybele Pettus, Steve Schnur – 'EA SPORTS FC 25' Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Original Music) Steve Schnur – 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard' Composers: Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer Best of Deadline Who Is The Mysterious Caller In 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Episode 2? 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Arrive On Max? 'The White Lotus' Season 3: Everything We Know About The Cast, Premiere Date & More
Khaleej Times
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Oscars 2025: A flight to glory for Adrian Quesada and 'Like a Bird'?
As a child, Adrian Quesada dreamed of success at the MTV Video Music Awards, but now, he is on an even bigger stage — with an Oscar nomination. The American musician with Mexican roots hopes the presence at the Academy Awards of someone from the Texas border town of Laredo will serve as an inspiration for other people from minority communities. "Representation, I think, in the arts, is a big thing," Quesada said in Los Angeles as he promoted his powerful track Like a Bird from the prison drama Sing Sing — a nominee for the best original song prize. "If I'm a young kid watching MTV or watching movies or watching TV, when you actually see people that look like you out there, people that you know come from your culture, it inspires the next generation." The Black Pumas guitarist co-wrote and performed Like a Bird, which closes the film, with singer Abraham Alexander. The nomination is one of three for Sing Sing, which tells the true story of Divine G (Colman Domingo), a wrongfully convicted inmate who finds an outlet in a prison theatre group. Former prisoners who participated in the real-life drama programme performed in the film, which was directed by Greg Kwedar. Domingo is nominated for best actor, and the script is vying for best adapted screenplay honors. Quesada and Alexander did not have their sights set on Hollywood's glitzy awards season when they signed up for the film, and Quesada admits that it has been "surreal" to be caught up in Tinseltown's annual jamboree. "It's still something that is hard to process," he said. "I still sometimes wake up and can't believe that." Quesada is no stranger to plaudits, earning multiple Grammy nominations during his long career and winning one golden gramophone for his work with Austin-based Latin funk outfit Grupo Fantasma. But he admits a nod from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is something special. "The Academy Awards just seemed like such a different world," he said. True story Like a Bird will face some stiff competition at the Oscars on March 2. Other nominees are El Mal and Mi Camino from the narco musical Emilia Perez; Never Too Late from the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late; and The Journey from The Six Triple Eight by veteran composer Diane Warren, who has never won in the category despite being nominated 15 previous times. For Quesada, who says he firmly believes in second chances and rehabilitation through the arts, taking part in the project was an invitation he found impossible to refuse. The importance of seeing prisoners as more than their crimes has been highlighted by their role in helping to quell the huge wildfires that tore through Los Angeles last month, with inmate crews working alongside firefighters. "You have prisoners... fighting fires for people and then having to go back to prison... fighting these fires for homes that they can't even afford," said Quesada. "I think this film really brings to light a lot of humanity." Taking part in Sing Sing was not without obstacles, especially when it came to finding time when both he and Alexander were available. "It was like we were never even in the same room to do it," he laughed. "He came into my studio, but I was out of town, and then he left, and I came back." Winning an Oscar would be "a great honour," admits the guitarist. "We believe in our song, but I think we're part of a big picture here, which is the film's message," he said.
