MIXING ENGINEER

RITMO Y RIMA - MISTER G & JOSE V

If you’re looking for silver linings amidst the pandemic, this story is for you: Mister G and José V met at the Latin GRAMMY’s in 2015, where Mister G took home the award for Best Children’s Album. They became fast friends and often talked of making a Spanish Language album together. But life was busy, they lived far apart and only met up to perform together at festivals from time to time. Then the pandemic happened.

With live performances canceled for the foreseeable future, the pair began working together remotely: collaborating over video calls with the notable producer and audio engineer, Carlson Barros, sharing ideas, and recording tracks in their respective studios. 

Watch Mister G and José V performing live at the Key West Theater (before the pandemic).

As their excitement grew so did the scope of the album. Before long, they had reached out to musician friends from all over the Americas who were also isolated at home. The album became an international project with players from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, and the Dominican Republic adding their distinct styles. 

The album, Ritmo y Rima (Rhythm & Rhyme) celebrates the vibrant sounds and textures of the Latin world. The samba inspired title track conjures the joyful atmosphere of carnival, “Señorita Mariposa” celebrates the extraordinary migration of the monarch butterfly, while the closing song “Tú y Tú Yo” is a heartfelt anthem calling for unity across borders and solidarity with those who traverse them.

The album, "Ritmo y Rima", celebrates the vibrant sounds and genres of the Latin American world. The samba, “Ritmo y Rima”, is the main theme that evokes the joy of carnival. “Señorita Mariposa” celebrates the extraordinary migration of the monarch butterfly while the theme, “Tú y Tú y Yo”, is a call for unity between borders and solidarity with those who cross this path.

In a sense, the album has two voices: children will be drawn to the captivating songs that explore topics like colors, animals, and a connection to the natural world. Adults will appreciate the wide range of musical styles, the educational component of the lyrics, and the themes of unity and hope that are woven throughout the album