Post by benicio otero on Dec 25, 2023 0:53:31 GMT
Talking fashion and inspo with Otero (while he dodges questions about a solo album) BY CINTIA ROMERO ON DEC 8 2023  You likely know Otero from his producer tag that rings in some of your favorite urbano Latino songs. The 27-year-old Puerto Rican is a production powerhouse with a superstar friend group and a wardrobe full of wild sunglasses and outrageous outfits. Stepping in front of the mic for a change, Otero is testing the waters as a singer in addition to his years as a producer. Hear him offer a distinctive, slackened baritone in features for singles "Diles" and "Me Llamas." His irreverent, emotional, trumpet-like verses have been pacing well with some of rap and reggaetón’s biggest names — Rauw Alejandro, Ozuna, Farruko, Arcángel and Alexis y Fido, to name a few. These collaborators may soon become features themselves. But Otero has yet to release a solo album flexing his prowess as a producer and singer…which we hope will be changing in 2024. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [off the record] “Spanish or English? There’s a translator in the studio at the ready.” O: English is fine. Is my accent that bad? “Your English is very good. Do you get that a lot?” O: My mom has a story about my first word in Spanish. But I learned English very young, I’ve known it almost my whole life. So it’s a weird compliment to give in 2023. “Do you have a preference between the two?” O: I think in Spanish, it’s automatic. I spend more time in Spanish, if that makes sense. But sometimes it’s like I have two dictionaries side-by-side in my head, I just pick from one more. In my opinion Spanish is the sexier, more creative language between the two. I make music for a quarter of the world that speaks this language and the market is only growing, so I’ll do more interviews in both to reach more people. “Do you think you could write songs, or even an entire album, in English?” O: I could. But I think an album from me only in English would be very boring. [laughs] People who listen to Latin music don’t necessarily have to know Spanish to get the music. It speaks for itself, it’s supposed to transcend language. If you don't know a song is about mopping your bathroom floor but it still inspires you to dance, it's good. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [on record] “Over your career, you’ve been known to try daring fashions, paint your nails, change up your hair style, and flamboyantly accessorize. Will that change one way or another if you step more into the spotlight?” O: I like to stand out, so I am drawn to crazy colors or big patterns. Shiny things too, I’m like a bird. My sister makes a lot of my clothes and jewelry—she’s very talented and she helps me try new things. I’ve learned a lot about fashion and I have access to more things than when I was younger. I was really into shoes for a while, lately it has been cool sunglasses. Things that are interesting and beautiful make me feel good, it makes me happy to look how I want and not care what others think. It’s very hard but just takes practice. If you look at old pictures of me, you can see me experimenting because I didn’t know what fit me or my face. I never knew what to do with my hair, either; I just cut it off or shaved designs into my head. I was lazy sometimes. "Where does the style influence come from?" O: I think it’s from watching wrestling and telenovelas growing up; very dramatic and flashy and silly. My abuela loved people like Walter Mercado and Charo, I was always seeing them. Big personalities, big styles. Since I saw them on the screen, I thought “wow they must be doing something right” since they were famous. They were unique and interesting. Blending in isn’t fun anymore, I think self-expression gets beaten out of us by adulthood. “There’s discourse online about ‘queerbaiting’, do you know what that is?” O: No. “It’s pretty on-the-nose, it’s essentially fishing for attention or support from the gay community. Naturally, people wonder about your identity or sexuality. Do you think that’s fair?” O: I don’t think so, no. I’m lucky I have the option to—some people don’t, they have to hide their authentic selves. I get to dress how I want...and I might even be rewarded for it at times, like you said, if people care enough to ask me. My brother doesn’t always get the same grace. I make my choices to switch it up which I guess challenges the norm. I do it so those people feel less alone or afraid. I do it for mi gente and that includes queer people. “That wasn't an accusation, by the way. I hope that wasn’t offensive.” O: No, no, not offensive. I just think just a little sad? That dressing “flamboyantly,” that word, still gets people questioned—or worse. In my culture, growing up, there was a lot of color, music, art. I was surrounded by feminine energy, there are a lot of amazing women in my family. I hope I represent that well, in my music, my style, my behavior. There’s balance in nature, you need both, and I like tapping into both. For example, I remember watching old basketball videos growing up and seeing Dennis Rodman. I thought what cajones he had to dress and present the way he did... That is masculinity if you ask me: expression without fear. I'm not the only one trying to change the machismo culture. “Do you want to set the record straight? Bad pun, sorry.” O: I love women, I’ve always loved and worshipped women. I’m flattered if the queer community likes me, I'm in your corner as an ally. But it’s women for me, sorry if that makes me boring. Still, I think people should stop speculating—it’s no one’s business and it’s impolite to ask. “Then another frequent question follows: are you single?” O: I haven’t been in a relationship since lockdown, I think I had some growing and maturing to do then. My ex would say that and I would agree. Lockdown really brought out the worst in people though. But I love love, I think I’m a romantic person. I want to share my crazy life with somebody, absolutely. “In the past, what would you say the main themes are of your songs?” O: My songs are always a mix of things I feel and think; things that I know are happening, things that have happened to friends, things that I know personally. Whatever we as humans can share. Love, sex, feeling good, feeling bad... Heartbreak and fear and disappointment are really hard but enlightening experiences if you can motivate yourself through them. Some things are so good you wish you could bottle them up and have them at the ready—I try to do that with music. Maybe it’s greedy, always wanting to have that access to things even if they have passed. I don't know, it's like transporting to a memory for me. “What inspires you lately?” O: Lately? Greatness and longevity. I want to be really good at what I do, the music I put out. And I want it to stay good, so it can still be enjoyed decades from now like Héctor Lavoe. Other than that, I am always inspired by my peers and other music. I haven't heard or thought of everything, and that excites me to remember when I am in a rut. Sometimes I get so into it I forgot to eat or sleep, I want to crawl directly into a speaker. As I get older and do more things, I unlock things I never thought possible for myself. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [outtakes] “Out of all the places you’ve lived, where’s home?” O: Puerto Rico is my favorite place in the world, I see myself settling down there in the future. I was born there, spent summers there, and have family there. Miami was very fun but probably took some years off my life if I'm being honest. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing at the time; maybe not so much now. Boston and New York are hard sometimes, I hate the cold. Maybe that’s why I learned to dress well, all those layers—full circle. “Do you think Puerto Rico should be granted statehood?” O: Wow. That’s a really complicated and polarizing question. I’ve been convinced by arguments for and against. I think first PR should fix the corrupt real estate industry and kick out all the vultures who come swooping in after natural disasters. Maybe me and my friends will pool our money and buy PR from the US, liberarla. [laughs] “What do you wish for?” O: Besides a million more wishes? I wish for longer days. A cure for tinnitus. Faster air travel. “You don’t like flying?” O: I hate flying. It’s boring and uncomfortable. And I start feeling anxious remembering I’m in a big metal box in the sky. You can’t do anything about it, either. It's all ridiculous when you think about it. But then I land somewhere beautiful and I’m OK again. “What was your pandemic experience like?” O: There were options besides horrible? It was horrible. Frustrating. Scary. Luckily I was doing what I do, so I had a lot of time to make music, learn things. It was hard collaborating with others but we got creative and some good things came out of it. I got very good at Zoom. “Did you pick up any hobbies, like infamous breadmaking?” O: I bought a ukulele and roller skates. And I tried to learn Italian. I do things like that all the time anyway, I try things and see what sticks. But lockdown turned that up by 10 times. “You have a very deadpan sense of humor, I like it. I can’t tell when you’re being serious or goofy.” O: Thank you. My mom just calls it being difficult. I don’t know, I just like having fun and keeping people guessing. I don’t think I’m that complicated of a person. I’ve always liked trying to make people laugh and have a good time. Everything’s so serious I can’t take it serious. |