Danny Fornaris: The New Face of Latin Music?
He’s worked with some of the biggest names in urban Latin music. But 27-year-old Danny Fornaris — who counts Grammy-winning Calle 13 and reggaeton superstar Don Omar among his colleagues — has a style that’s all his own. Following the success of “Estoy Enamorado,” a catchy single that has spent an impressive amount of time near the top of the charts throughout Latin America, hopes are high that his debut solo album — slated for release in 2012 — just may become a beacon for the future of urban Latin music. In this exclusive interview, this Puerto Rican producer, songwriter and singer talks about his influences and his unique approach to music and fashion.
How would you describe your musical style?
I try to keep my peculiarity, my originality. When you check my iPod, what I have is Beatles music, Oasis, Coldplay, U2 — mostly British rock. That’s what I listen to the most. Obviously I have my Afro-Caribbean influences with the salsa and the Caribbean rhythms. Something that changed my view of making music was that I started playing guitar about two or three years ago. I used to just play piano. But I picked up a guitar, and that has changed my whole world, my whole view of music.
What can we expect from your forthcoming album?
When you listen to the album, you’ll see that the rhythm is based on Caribbean influences, but melody-wise, I’ve used the Beatles philosophy of melodies. If you make a song using just the guitar and your voice, you can recognize it without having to listen to the whole arrangement.
How is urban Latin music evolving?
I think that reggaeton is the fastest-moving genre in the business. It started out being underground and made its way up to being general. It has morphed into pop music, but it still has the "urban" label, because the artists come from urban scenes. There’s not a big explosion of something new, like when Tego Calderon or Calle 13 came out. I think there’s a big space for someone or some new project. That’s what I intend to do: bring something that’s not in the scene, that’s not in the panorama.
You’re well established a music producer, but you're also well known as a voiceover artist. Does that help you as a singer?
It has helped me with the singing part; to always be conscious of diction, of opening your mouth so people can really understand you. Doing voiceovers is like singing, because you have to do different pitches, for different intentions. The voiceover part has really helped me with the rapping and the singing. It’s using your voice as an instrument; communicating a message.
You have a unique fashion style, compared to many of your colleagues in the urban Latin scene.
I like things to be ageless, and nowadays the styles come and go with the seasons. I’m trying to do something that doesn’t get old. Also with the music — I’m trying to do something that transcends generations. You can see it 50 years from now, and it doesn’t look old, it doesn’t look new. It just looks like how it’s supposed to be. That’s what I’m trying — to keep the style ageless.
