Miami, FL (June 25th, 2021) – In the history of music, there are a number of albums that carry with them a powerful feeling of urgency, the need to express a cluster of contradictory feelings. VICE VERSA, the extraordinary sophomore effort by emerging Puerto Rican artist Rauw Alejandro, is an emotional confessional in the shape of song – an unequivocal urban music masterpiece.
VICE VERSA evokes the vicissitudes, euphoric joy and bittersweetness of a brief romantic relationship – the kind of love affair that changes your life forever.
“It’s a highly personal record,” admits Rauw. “An album filled with contrasts, reflecting the roller coaster of emotions that I’ve experimented in recent times. I wanted to pour all those emotions into an album as a way of achieving a deep connection with my fans.”
Listening to the songs in VICE VERSA, this connection becomes strong and inevitable. From the bubbly sensuality of “Todo de ti” – the mega-hit that so far boasts more than 207 million audio and video streams worldwide – to the rhythmic propulsion of “Cúrame,” with its message of mournful acceptance, the immediacy of the lyrics generates a delightful contrast with the singer’s gift for sophisticated atmospherics.
Leaving aside its heart wrenching lyrical content, VICE VERSA is a deeply innovative album, a sonic box of dreams, with tracks produced by luminaries such as Mr. NaisGai, Tainy and Caleb Calloway. The evocative “Cuándo fue” combines reggaetón’s hazy mood with a stark drum+bass beat, leading into an orchestral passage straight out of a movie. Reflecting the project’s intimate nature, there are only two guest spots: Brazilian star Anitta and Puerto Rican reggaetón vocalist Lyanno.
Rauw is an expert in the art of contrasting textures. “Aquel Nap ZzZz” takes off like a conventional urban jam, until an acoustic guitar interlude transports us into a romantic lament, as if Rauw was channeling a bolero tune from another era.
Since he emerged with his first mixtape in 2016, Rauw has never stopped demonstrating his intention to single-handedly change the sound of urban music. His collaborations with Selena Gomez (“Baila Conmigo”), Anuel AA (“Reloj”) and Camilo (“Tattoo”) are now legendary, and his debut album, Afrodisíaco, coincided with a Latin Grammy nomination as Best New Artist. In the U.S., Rauw reached the top spot on the Latin Pop Airplay charts, and number three on Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay and Latin Rhythm, with double-platinum sales. “Todo De Ti” reached #2 on Spotify’s Global chart for over three weeks, peaking at #45 on Billboard’s HOT 100. The song broke records in Spain with 1.68 million streams in a single day, reaching the top of the charts in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
Currently nominated for four Premios Juventud and four MTV MIAW awards, Rauw will launch a tour through the U.S. and Spain on July 14, including 3 spectacular sold out shows at Coliseo de Puerto Rico on October 20, 21 and 22 . VICE VERSA positions him as one of the most progressive and original artists in Latin music – the sumptuous confirmation that this is just the beginning.
