Since its inception, SoundCloud has been the only streaming platform where artists can engage directly with fans, cultivating a spirit of community and lending insight into their creative processes. In this latest installment of Comment Check, presented by Toyota Corolla, Colombian DJ and producer Sinego looks back on the making of his kaleidoscopic album, ‘Alterego,’ while also sharing his vision of Latin electronic music and responding to cheeky fan questions.
Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, and currently based in Mexico City, Sinego joined SoundCloud in 2019 with the release of his breakout single, “Verte Triste.” This became the thesis of his future explorations of throbbing house and techno laced with Latin American melancholy, often sampling classic records and hidden gems. Four years later, his acclaimed debut album, ‘Alterego,’ leapt from the record crate and onto the map, following his travels across 13 countries and featuring collaborations with an extraordinary cast of musicians that infused each song with rhythms and storytelling from their corners of the continent.
“[This] is an album in which I traveled throughout Latin America to create one song in each country,” says Sinego, replying to a comment from a fan enjoying his music during a long drive through the mountains. “[‘Alterego’] is made to feel like a trip through Latin America.”’
Standout tracks from the album include “Benjamín Carrión,” an ode to the famed Ecuadorian diplomat, accompanied by romantic bolero guitars and a recitation from the poet Jorge Enrique Adoum. Sinego's crossover with Mexican producer YoSoyMatt and Puerto Rican singer-guitarist Millo Torres on “El Ratón” is a delicious evocation of the Fania All-Stars’ salsa classic of the same name. Meanwhile, guest vocals from singer-songwriters Pahua and Fernando Milagros, on “Sol” and “Espiral” respectively, inject thumping house with hypnotic folk gravitas.
“Getting to expose my music to new ears is really important,” adds Sinego, who's also found success with official remixes for superstars including Sofi Tukker, Bomba Estéreo, Matanza, and most recently, the Mexican pop and rancheras icon, Joan Sebastian. Deep diving through his SoundCloud, you'll also find club-ready re-imaginings of favorites by Rosalía and Shakira, as well as an uproarious rework of the theme to the popular series, “The Office.”
Sinego is the mysterious alias of Juan David Rodríguez Grisales, who grew up playing drums in punk and metal bands, before heading out to Berklee College of Music, in Boston, where he studied jazz. Today, his festival performances are accompanied by a live band that infuses his instrumentals with Latin jazz, Spanish claps and even live vocals. At more stripped-down shows, Sinego proves his mastery of the decks, while also armed with an arsenal of percussive instruments including timbales and cymbals.
Get to know Sinego with this new episode of Comment Check, presented by Toyota Corolla, and make sure to keep the conversation going by dropping your own comments on SoundCloud.
HEAR HOW SINEGO FINDS HIS HUSTLE ON SOUNDCLOUD
