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01/09/2004 - THE 5TH ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS |
KEVIN JOHANSEN
Granted, most styles of contemporary Latin music are anchored in some kind of fusion or another. But Kevin Johansen has taken the entire hybrid concept a step further by putting every possible musical genre in a imaginary blender, hitting purée, and serving it up with a generous helping of his witty sense of humor and penchant for absurdity. Born in Alaska but raised in Argentina, Johansen spent most of his life switching back and forth between North and South America, a fact that may explain his tendency to toy with cultural conventions.
Titled Sur o No Sur, his second album articulates a new lexicon of Latin Music, drawing from rootsy formats like cumbia and milonga, but challenging the listener with smart lyrics and sophisticated point of view. The success that the album has enjoyed in Argentina speaks volumes about the development of Latin pop as a serious art form, and the album has earned Johansen three Latin GRAMMY nominations. Sur o No Sur is vying for the Album of The Year award, while the percolating la Procesión competes in the race for Song of The Year and best Music Video.
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