Sebastián Yatra Interview: ‘Los Domingos’ And Broadway

Although the success of Sebastián Yatra can’t be restricted to 1 style, there’s at all times a thread of romance that runs via the entire Colombian pop star’s songs. Amongst his largest hits are reggaeton bangers, rock-infused anthems, and energy ballads. Yatra’s newest single, “Los Domingos,” marks a return to his signature love songs and the route of his subsequent album. He’s additionally broadening his horizons along with his Broadway debut in Chicago this November.

“It’s the primary music of a brand new stage in my life and my profession,” Yatra says. “It’s the start of my fourth album. I’m the identical author and similar artist, however I’m writing from a distinct perspective. I’ve lived a variety of new experiences in these previous few years.”

Yatra scored his breakthrough hit in 2016 with the sultry reggaeton of “Traicionera.” When his debut album Mantra arrived two years later, he additionally confirmed that he was a Latin balladeer with heartfelt songs like “No Hay Nadie Más,” which has over a billion views on YouTube. After touring with Latin pop kings Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, Yatra proved that he’s the subsequent heartthrob in line for throne. In 2022, he carried out “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney’s Encanto on the Academy Awards and later received his first Latin Grammy award for the Roy Orbison-esque “Tacones Rojos.”

Within the final two years, Yatra has flexed his performing chops within the Netflix sequence As soon as Upon a Time… Fortunately By no means After and reverse Emma Roberts within the Prime Video film Area Cadet. Beginning November 25, he’ll play devious lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago on the Ambassador Theatre in New York Metropolis. Over Zoom, Yatra talked with Uproxx about new music and his subsequent act in a Tony-winning musical.

What have you ever been as much as since releasing your final album Dharma in 2022?

I began engaged on this new album in 2022 after the Latin Grammys the place I received Greatest Pop Album and Greatest Pop Track for “Tacones Rojos.” That was certainly one of my largest targets as a child, so afterwards, it was like, “Okay, what do I do now? I already made my dream come true. What are my subsequent desires?” I’m nonetheless very younger and life must preserve thrilling you. I needed to take my time to return house, do various things, perceive the place I used to be musically, and begin to experiment with various things. You may say I’ve written 100 songs up to now yr and a half. “Los Domingos” felt like the start of that journey.

Why did you resolve to steer this subsequent album with “Los Domingos” particularly?

It has that vitality that’s tremendous particular. It’s the kind of music that you simply need to ship to any individual who you need to begin one thing with. I believe it’s lovely as a result of it goes again to like songs.

One other ballad you lately appeared on was “Akureyri” with Aitana. What’s the expertise been prefer to return to your ballad roots?

It’s superb! That’s why I used to be so enthusiastic about doing “Akureyri” with Aitana too as a result of it’s a music we wrote in a automotive similar to within the video you see on YouTube. We wrote it in Iceland. It’s such an trustworthy and delightful music on the guitar. You understand how a lot I like guitars for my songs. “Los Domingos” actually confirms that I’m going again to these ballads and people songs I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege of writing which have touched individuals’s hearts all through the years. I’ve written some myself and a few with tremendous proficient pals. These songs for me are those that may stick and keep without end as a result of they maintain a really deep that means.

Your largest hits embrace love songs like “No Hay Nadie Más” and “Un Año.” What does it imply so that you can preserve the ballad alive?

That’s form of been the mission since I’ve began. I at all times needed to maintain ballads alive as a result of in Spanish particularly it was reggaeton. Now it’s música Mexicana after which all these completely different rhythms. I’ve completed issues in all of those rhythms, however my true essence is unquestionably in these ballads. I’ve at all times believed in them rather a lot since I used to be a child. After I was about to launch music, it was like, “No one listens to ballads anymore.” I used to be like, “F*ck! That’s what I’ve been getting ready myself for. That’s what I’ve been writing all this time.” It’s cool to crack the code in several songs and have the ability to make ballads that also join with this new era that desires issues fast, quick, and to be thrilling. You can also make songs tremendous thrilling even when they’re love ballads. You may sing it in English with Benson Boone. Each music he does is loopy. I find it irresistible! I at all times attempt to try this with my ballads and it’s actually labored out for me these previous few years. I simply let the music converse to me and “Los Domingos” was talking to me rather a lot.

What are you able to inform us about your subsequent album?

After I was writing it and placing all of it collectively, the songs which can be a part of it and the code for the album are like a celestial expertise.

Are you going to plan to go on tour for the subsequent album?

After all! I gotta go sing for you. That’s going to be tremendous enjoyable. I’m already desirous about completely different concepts for the tour. I undoubtedly assume and hope it’s going to be the very best tour of my life up to now.

All through your profession, you’ve collaborated with fellow Colombian acts like Karol G, Feid, Manuel Turizo, and Camilo. How do you’re feeling to be part of the wave of Colombian artists who’ve gone world?

It’s lovely. It’s unbelievable! I’m at my dad and mom’ home in Colombia proper now. 5 minutes away is Maluma’s home and J Balvin’s after which Karol’s. Manuel Turizo was additionally dwelling right here for a while. Him and Camilo are very a lot from Medellín although Manuel grew up in Montería. They’re very linked to Medellín as effectively. Colombia usually, we’ve simply been so blessed in these previous years. There’s additionally the era proper earlier than us too with Carlos Vives, Shakira, Juanes, and Diomedes Díaz. That man’s a real rock star. It’s superb to do it and know that your neighbors are doing it too. We’re all making this occur collectively.

Who do you need to collaborate with subsequent?

I actually get together with Shawn Mendes. We’ve been within the studio collectively earlier than. The stuff that we’ve completed up to now hasn’t but been like, “Okay, that is the music that we need to launch.” It will likely be tremendous cool to sing with Shawn in some unspecified time in the future. I like what he’s doing along with his new album. I’m so blissful for him that he’s again to releasing music once more. I do know he had a second like me the place you’ve completed so many issues and also you’re like, “Wait up. I obtained to cease and perceive the place it’s that I’m, what I need to do, what I need to actually discuss, and what’s subsequent.”

Talking of what’s subsequent, how do you’re feeling to be becoming a member of the forged of Chicago on Broadway?

It’s loopy! I nonetheless can’t imagine it. I can’t look forward to November 25 to do my first efficiency. I’m going to be mega nervous, however subsequent to these insane actors, crew, and administrators, I do know they’ll have my again. I’m loopy grateful for them for giving me this chance and believing in me. It’s actually like being part of historical past. Being the primary Colombian to be in a lead position on Broadway is loopy! For me, it’s following Ricky Martin’s footsteps. I noticed him on Broadway doing Evita 10 years in the past. I hadn’t even launched music then and now 10 years later to be the subsequent man that’s doing it, it’s mind-blowing.

What does it imply so that you can play the character of Billy Flynn and what can we count on out of your interpretation of the position?

Billy Flynn is a slick dude. He actually has a variety of management over all the things and everybody. He has a darkish facet of him that’s actually developed. I believe all of us have a facet the place there’s a variety of mild and likewise a facet that’s darker. For this character, I actually obtained to go extra into that darkish facet and get it advanced a bit extra. His intentions are very completely different from my regular intentions in life. That’s the thrilling factor about performing: You get to be a distinct individual 11 occasions every week in New York on Broadway. It’s a full-circle second as a result of I began performing due to music. I began after I was 12 as a result of I did Excessive Faculty Musical and I performed Troy. Now I get to be Billy Flynn, however this time it’s not at my faculty play. Now I’m doing it in New York on the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway, so it’s a small distinction. [Laughs].

You’ve at all times been an ally to your LGBTQ+ fan base and the musical Chicago additionally has a big queer following. Do you might have a message in your followers within the LGBTQ+ group?

I believe my music and my manner of seeing life has at all times been about simply being your self. That’s one thing that I like concerning the LGBTQ+ group, having the ability to get out of that lure of it’s a must to be what others assume it’s a must to be. You’re simply being your self whether or not you want women or boys. It’s all the identical. We’re all human beings. It’s such an exquisite motion as a result of it’s a motion that claims, “Hey, I like myself. I like the best way I’m.” I believe we, as a society, have discovered rather a lot these previous years from that motion to additionally settle for ourselves the best way we’re. It’s having the ability to categorical your self. I believe they’ve set an instance. My LGBTQ+ followers are right here in my coronary heart 100%. I’ve so many pals which can be part of the LGBTQ+ group and it’s fantastic.

You’re a pop star, an actor, and now making your debut on Broadway. What does it imply so that you can department out into completely different components of the leisure business?

It’s an exquisite expertise. Increasingly, I take a look at life and I stay it via being grateful for various experiences. Having this expertise, being part of it, doing the work, assembly individuals, and getting out of your consolation zone, that’s one thing to essentially cherish. A few of the hardest moments for me in life are these moments the place I’ve nothing to do. Although you might have a bunch of free time and stuff, your head simply begins spinning and also you begin considering dumb stuff. My dad calls it work remedy. When you might have issues to do, you’re not desirous about, “Am I blissful? Am I unhappy?” No, you’re simply doing it and that’s life. I simply need to stay each expertise being tremendous current and concerned.