As a veteran of the scene, El S. has mixed hip hop with a lot of genres through his use of samples, fanaticism of rock, salsa, and other genres. His latest project, Duelo finds him expanding his sound and exploring genres that help him make this project different from past ones. Duelo starts with “El duelo”, a bolero that continues expanding the veteran’s soundscape. Afterwards, “Ineludible” is a singer-songwriter-inspired where El S. shows off some of his singing skills in a track that serves as a tribute to the recently departed that closes with a beautiful sample of what seems to be a grandmother sharing a moment with her grandkid. Then “Pájaros preñaos” blends the singer-songwriter vibes with a bit of rock and hip hop as El S. resumes exploring death and what one could learn from a person after said situation. Next “Morivivir” is a psychedelic exploration of mourning that encapsulates how many can feel in those sad moments at the end of someone else’s life. Later, “4370” is a tribute to Antonia Martínez Lagares, the 20-year-old student who was shot in Río Piedras by police officers in 1970. The sixth song, “Solo” is a reflection on loneliness and how it could lead people to possible suicide. Subsequently, “Kuiki” serves as a reggae/ska/rock homage to a departed friend as El S. reflects on their relationship and how he can’t wait to see her when his time comes to pass. The second half starts with “Amalia y Marín”, a piano-driven ballad about a couple dealing with grief. After that, “S32A” is a more upbeat track that feels like the story of a Bonnie and Clyde type of couple in their final moments before they depart. The tenth track, “Agradecerte”, is a rock and dance pop record that celebrates family, friendship, relationships, and the little yet beautiful moments shared through everyday conversations that become cemented as some of the best memories one could share with a loved one before they leave this plane of existence. Then “Pronto” is a tune from the perspective of someone who can see death coming soon and accepting it as a natural part of life. Next “Por si las moscas” finds the song’s voice accepting that he won’t be remembered by certain people when his time to depart comes, while still hoping that he will be remembered by some people. Finally, “Coño perdóname” finds El S. pleading for forgiveness from those he hasn’t provided time and love to in times where he’s had to deal with a lot of death, grief, and mourning.
In closure, El S.’s Duelo is one of the musician’s heaviest and most personal as he reflects and deals with death, grief, and mourning in various ways with a sound that finds him getting out of his hip hop, rock, and salsa comfort zones and leaning more towards a singer-songwriter experience.
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AuthorFernando E. E. Correa González is the author behind over 30 self-published poetry books. He has been published by literary magazines & journals [Id]entidad, El Vicio del Tintero, Sábanas Magazine, Smaeralit, The Occulum, Tonguas and Hound Magazine. Other than writing, Correa is also the host of FENCast, a podcast dedicated to documenting the Puerto Rican independent art scene. Aside from this, he experiments with filmmaking, photography, drawing, painting, multimedia and transmedia. He currently lives in his native Puerto Rico. Archives
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