"De menor a mayor" is Gente de Zona's new album in which they fulfill the dream of singing with Celia Cruz.

April 11, 2022

The Cuban urban music duo Gente de Zona, winner of four Latin Grammys, fulfills in their new album, "De menor a mayor", the dream of singing with Celia Cruz.

On Friday, April 8, this "innovative" album began playing on digital platforms in terms of sound and lyrics, "but without losing their identity", which has been for Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom a "relief" from what they usually do, as they say in an interview with Efe via Zoom from Chile.

The duo will be judges on the musical talent competition "La voz" on Chilevisión alongside Chilean artists and Mexican artist Yuri for five months, but will continue with their commitments, such as a summer tour through Europe that will start in Madrid and end "in southern Spain".

As judges they will strive to give the contestants "good vibes", they say.

"De menor a mayor", a title that references the way they built their career -"climbing in music from zero", "fighting", they say- includes songs with Carlos Vives, India Martínez, Becky G., Maffio, Gerardo Ortiz, Geon and a "sample" with the "queen of Cuba".

With the Colombian Vives they sing "El Negrito", where they incorporate vallenato; with the Spanish Martínez, "Solos", with touches of techno, flamenco and tropical sounds; with Maffio, "Háblame de Miami"; with Becky G, "Muchacha"; with Gerardo Ortiz, "Otra botella", and with Geon, "TikTok".

There are also solo songs from the two of them.

The magic of technology unites in "Vampiro", a festive and cheerful song, the voices of Gente de Zona with those of their admired Celia Cruz, whom Alex and Randy mention in unison as the artist with whom they would have most wanted to share the stage.

"It's not the same as (singing) physically", they say, but they still consider it a "blessing" to have the "tumbao" and "azúcar" of the "guarachera de Cuba", whom they were never able to meet.

In a press release for the album's launch they stated that "De menor a mayor", with its variety of genres and collaborations, has allowed them to continue with their "mission of using music to unite people and bring them joy".

Gente de Zona became known internationally in 2014 for their collaboration with Enrique Iglesias on "Bailando", a hit that was followed in 2015 by "La gozadera" and "Traidora", both with Marc Anthony.

The origins of Gente de Zona go back to the year 2000 when Alexander Delgado founded a group with rappers from the Havana neighborhood of Alamar and the formation has been a duo since 2013, when Jacob Forever separated and Alex and Randy Malcom remained.

When asked about the secret of being as well matched as a good marriage, Randy, the more talkative of the two until one in the afternoon, according to Alexander with humor, who doesn't like to wake up early, assures that "having things clear", mutual respect and that they love each other like brothers.

"We are the yin and yang of Gente de Zona", he states.