Nominations for the 20th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards were announced this morning, and among the list of talent recognized this year is musical icon, Draco Rosa who received two nominations from the Latin Recording Academy. A 3x Latin GRAMMY winner over the years, Rosa was honored again this year as he was announced as a finalist for Best Rock Album for his latest album, Monte Sagrado and Long Form Music Video for Hotel de Los Encuentros. Eight years following his last original project, Draco returned in 2018 with this latest production just recognized by the Latin Recording Academy, Monte Sagrado, a collection of high-voltage rock and psychedelic musings. The album was conceived while Draco was at something of a crossroads in his life. For this album he decided to focus on old school basics, using standard rock instrumentation and the energy of “live” analog recording. The song, “333,” included as the opening excerpt of “Hotel de Los Encuentros” opens is built on power chords that burst into rainbows of dense sound, featuring intense interplay between Draco’s electric guitar rythmns, alongside upright bassist René Camacho, his longtime collaborator, drummer Toss Panos and the amazing guitars solos of Doug Pettibone. The video was created by the Colombian animation team SHARPBALL and inspired by the world inside the album’s cover art, originally designed by Draco’s son Revel Rosa. An indisputable musical legend, Rosa has been recognized and honored throughout his career for his talent and creations as an artist, composer, and producer. Having composed massive hits like “María,” “La Copa de la Vida” and “Livin’ la Vida Loca” for his one-time band mate Ricky Martin and recording eclectic masterpieces like Mad Love, Amor Vinit Omnia, and Vagabundo, the latter an all-time rock-en-español cult-classic. He’s a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, inductee of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, a bilingual, bicultural poet, visual artist, and explosive live performer.
”On his first album of all new material since 2009, the hard-rocking romantic climbs the holy mountain and waves his freak flag high.” – BILL MURPHY – RELIX MAGAZINE
“It is certainly one of the honest records you will hear this year — at any volume, in any language. 4.5/5 Stars” – DAVID FRICKE – ROLLING STONE
“Draco Rosa is at the peak of his creative powers here, throwing off the shackles of sickness, doubt, and horror to embrace his recovering body and mind as sacred. The aggression is warranted, the raw energy a blessing, the darkness a gateway to hard-won joy.” – ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“Latin rock pioneer Draco Rosa returns with a new album anchored on confessional lyrics and stark rock’n’roll structures… Rosa’s journey becomes more layered and complex as the album moves on.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES
Farándula Magazine is a bilingual magazine that covers, analyzes, comments on, and defines the news, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and personalities that drive West Michigan.
