Juanes is a Colombian rock artist who has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. He was interviewed prior to a London performance on his "Loco De Amor" tour, which is one of Billboard's biggest tours of the summer. During the interview, Juanes discusses the importance of performing in New York City for its large Latino population and global audience. He also talks about how he respects the talented young artist Ximena Sariñana, who is joining him on tour. Juanes highlights performing the song "Juntos" at the 2015 Grammys as a career highlight, calling it a huge opportunity. He enjoys touring internationally and being able to learn from different cultures through music.

1. JUANES
Grammy Awards. Juanes launched the U.S.
leg of his "Loco De Amor" tour July 28 and will
shake up Madison Square Garden on August 19
with multiple guitars and songs that resonate
beyond language. Book-ended by his first-ever
show in Israel and several in Germany, Juanes
was particularly energetic speaking with NYC
Monthly prior to his London performance.
NYC Monthly: Juanes, your "Loco De Amor
Tour" tour is one of Billboard's "four biggest
tours to watch this summer" alongside The
Rolling Stones, The Who, Big Sean and J.
Cole. Madison Square Garden is not a new
venue for you and neither is Radio City Music
Hall. With the large Latino community and
global audience that exists in New York,
what is it like to stop here on your tour and
what are the fans like?
Juanes: For me it's a spiritual thing to perform
in New York. To see all those Latinos in the
pictures. From Michael Jackson to the Beatles to
The Rolling Stones, all of them have performed
there. It's the capital of many different cities and
cultures around the world that converge.
NYCM: Ximena Sariñana is a bright young
talent and an impressive choice to come
along for the tour, How did this pairing
come about?
Juanes: I really respect Ximena so much. I really
like her music and I respect the color of her voice
and all the music that she has been doing all
these years. She's really talented, she's one of the
next big stars in Latin America. Everyone who
sees her for the first time is going to fall in love.
NYCM: Your "Juntos" ("Together")
performance at the Grammys in February
(from the Disney move "McFarlane, USA")
was one of the stand-out performances at
the show this year. You were the only Latin
artist represented this year; what was it like
to be included to play at The Grammys?
Juanes: That was actually the first time I played
the Grammys. It was really incredible, I came to
Los Angeles for the American Grammys, I was
so happy but nervous that the Academy gave me
such a huge opportunity. Two years before that
I played for about a minute. I feel that it was a
great moment for me in my career. It was very
emotional and special for me. Every time I have
an opportunity like this it's very special for me.
NYCM: You have worked with respected,
award-winning film composer Gustavo
Santaolalla, you toured early on with
Alejandro Sanz and Ricky Martin,
collaborated with Santana, Nelly Furtado,
Colbie Caillat, played the 2010 FIFA World
Cup Kickoff, Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade, and recorded a live “Juanes: MTV
Unplugged” album – What has been one of
the biggest career highlights for you?
Juanes: Every day I have the opportunity to
make great things and I love music so much.
Tonight I'm going to perform in London and I
said "thank God for this" because this is what I
love to do. To think about being on the stage in a
couple hours, it makes me so happy. The rest is
just - hard work, fate, I just love it so much. Just
the fact that I'm touring in Europe and I was in
Israel two days ago and then flying to Berlin and
Europe for the next month with many people who
don't speak Spanish as a first language; you can
learn from all different people and cultures. It
feels good to keep doing what I love to do since
I was a kid.
NYCM: You really do it all in terms of
genre, as evidenced by your music - "Azul
Sabina" has a jazzy, big band sound; you
just recorded an electronic song "Este Amor"
with Cedric Gervais; you rock on "Yerbatero"
and "La Camisa Negra," pour your heart out
on ballads "Para Tu Amor" and "Un Flor,"
and even play folky/guitar-flavored songs
such as "La Señal." Do you agree that Latin
music is really just a cultural term and that
multiple genres exist in the category?
Juanes: When I come to Europe, most of the
people are not just interested in one type of
music. When you go deeply into Latin music,
you realize how much variety there is, it's a mix;
folk, South America music, African influences,
and blues stuff. Many different elements on the
Pacific coast, it's very diverse. That's what we
are, we are just human beings here and on the
other side of the world. We grow up with different
cultures, but we are the same - we smile, we
suffer, we laugh.
T
hose who do not actively follow Latin music can still immediately recognize the names Jennifer
Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, but they should also know this other one-
namer: Juanes. Arguably the biggest rock act in the Latin world, with over 15 million albums
sold worldwide, Juanes could be considered a Latin cross between Bono, Keith Urban, and Sting, with
music spanning traditional Latin styles, rock, folk, and pop.
Juanes emerged as a solo artist in 2000, quickly gaining momentum with debut "Fíjate Bien" ("Take
A Good Look"), produced by Oscar-winning film composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Amores Perros, The
Motorcycle Diaries, Brokeback Mountain, Babel). The album won 3 Latin Grammys including Best
New Artist, solidifying Juanes as a career artist. Juanes has recorded 7 albums as well as a live album,
yielding 9 #1 singles and winning 20 Latin Grammys, among other awards. Skipping ahead to 2014,
his most recent album "Loco De Amor" was produced by rock go-to Steve Lillywhite (U2, The Killers,
The Rolling Stones, The Dave Matthews Band). Juanes was invited to perform his tune "Juntos" (his
tenth #1 hit), the theme from the Kevin Costner-starring film "McFarland, USA" at the recent 2015
PhotoCredit:NicolasAchury
30 NYCMONTHLY
Written by Michael Menachem