Cuban Born Domingo Candelario is best known in NZ for his spoken word performance on Troy King’s ‘Grandma’s Rocket Poem, but internationally he’s known for performing with the likes of Yusa, Andres Cepeda and Amy Winehouse.
About the style of his music Domingo says ~
My music is a mix of different styles, I do not have a specific musical taste in terms of genre or style, but I like to see my music transcend my culture and my language, I think music is about expressing emotions honestly and I try to be as unique as I can. As a child, I remember my parents always listened to a lot of Brazilian music, and I was fascinated by the way they used harmonies. It was so beautifully put together, so soft and in connection with your soul. It was also more like American soul music at that time. If I must say where I feel most at home musically, I should probably mention my favourite singer songwriters, Stevie Wonder (US), Sting (English), Chico Duarte, Djavan, Caetano Velozo (all Brazil) and Jose Antonio Mendez (Cuba). I think I feel at home when I can express my music to others in the same way those musicians transcend language and cultural barriers. The same way Stevie Wonder and Sting's music used to speak to my soul before could speak English, music is not only about what you say, it's what you express. For me, coming from a theatre background, musically I will use whatever style best communicates the feeling of my lyrics even for somebody who doesn't understand the language, so whether that is funk, soul, Latin, Cuban rhythm or a ballad.
This record is a stripped back and personal record. Instead of the extravagant productions often found in Cuban music this is acoustic and intimate, yet still sizzling with emotion and movement. Says Producer Te Matera Smith “Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the feelings coming from the record are infectious. It’s impossible not to want to move as soon as you hear Domingo’s rhythm, and before you know it you’re bouncing around the room with a huge smile on your face”.