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Adrian Quesada talks Oscar nod, announces new album ‘Boleros Psicodélicos II’

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Since his 2022 album “Boleros Psicodélicos” was released, Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and producer Adrian Quesada has significantly elevated the standard of Latin alternative music. This year alone, he delivered a spectacular performance at South by Southwest, and earned an Academy Award nomination for his contributions to A24’s “Sing Sing.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that a new album titled “Boleros Psicodélicos II” is in progress, with plans to release it on June 27th. This upcoming project serves as the follow-up to his 2022 Latin psychedelic masterpiece.

As a movie buff pouring over my collection, I can’t help but marvel at how Quesada manages to churn out such a wealth of work. Yet, the secret to his inspiration seems evident. It lies in the rich tapestry of talent that surrounds him – whether it’s the gifted musicians within his community or the stacks of vinyl records yearning to be discovered at my local store. Over a video call from Austin, Texas, he shares this with De Los, “The well is endless.” He continues, “Every time I delve deeper into the music fueling this album, I unearth 10 new songs I’ve never heard before. From there, I follow the trail and discover more… It’s like a bottomless pit of inspiration.

At the 2025 South by Southwest music festival, the De Los team is reporting live from the stage as various Latin music artists take center stage.

Initially, “Boleros Psicodélicos” was produced in seclusion during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring tropical twists of songs by Los Pasteles Verdes and Jeanette. In contrast, for this latest edition, Quesada had the opportunity to create music in a studio setting with his partners, bringing an entirely new vibe to the album’s sound. Notable collaborators on this project include past associates Mireya Ramos and iLe, along with L.A.-based indie-pop sensation Cuco, who joins Quesada on their newly released single titled “Ojos Secos.

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Quoteses mentioned that numerous individuals worldwide shared stories about being motivated by [‘Boleros Psicodélicos’], which sparked his enthusiasm to complete a fresh one. He believes there’s a greater sense of interplay and collective vitality in this work because he was physically present with others. Some tracks seem more alive and energetic as a result.

When it came to determining the balance between original and cover tracks for the new album, Quesada stated that his decision-making process was based on one criterion: Could he compose an original song that matched the atmosphere of a tune that moved him? If not, then he would opt to create a cover version instead.

Quesada mentioned that there are specific tunes which serve as enormous inspirations for him, and he finds himself consistently drawn to them. In other words, he can’t seem to stop playing these songs. As for the upcoming album, Quesada plans to cover two popular Spanish pieces: “Te Vas y Yo Te Dejo” by Joseles and “Hoy Que Llueve” by Los Pasteles Verdes. When attempting to write something influenced by them, he feels overwhelmed, as if his work would never measure up or surpass their quality. Therefore, rather than trying to replicate these songs in his own words, he has opted to cover them instead.

Music

Instead of only knowing the famous Latin artists like Bad Bunny and Rosalía, it’s a missed opportunity not to explore some incredibly imaginative Spanish-language albums as well.

In the process of perfecting his talent for remaking popular tunes, Quesada benefited from samples provided by Los Angeles-based producer Alex Goose. As a hip-hop music producer, Goose’s methods resonated with Quesada, who acknowledged that hip-hop was his initial significant musical inspiration. Quesada shared that he initially honed his skills by creating music alongside friends, often starting from tracks by A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan.

Apart from his successful music career, Quesada gained another accolade in January – he was nominated for an Oscar as a songwriter.

This year, Quesada was nominated for the category of Best Original Song at the 97th Annual Academy Awards. The nomination is shared with Abraham Alexander, who co-wrote the song “Like a Bird.” This tune is prominent in the movie “Sing Sing,” which stars Colman Domingo as its lead character.

Awards

The actor claims he’s never before poured such a personal touch into a character. Given that his fellow actors previously inhabited that very setting, it seems impossible for him not to do so.

As a fan, I can’t express enough how unbelievable it was to live through this extraordinary journey of being a first-time Oscar nominee. The entire campaign felt like an out-of-control rollercoaster ride that took me higher than I ever thought possible. It consumed my life for a while, but in the best way imaginable. This experience is something I’ll forever cherish and never forget. Ever since I was a child, I dreamt of making more films, and to have my work acknowledged with this nomination is simply mind-blowing.

Quesada mentioned that the chance to compose the song emerged at a particularly busy period for him and his co-writer, Abraham Alexander. Interestingly, this proved beneficial since it prevented them from “overanalyzing” the creative process. Eventually, the track perfectly matched the last scene of the movie after Quesada repeatedly watched it until the song seemed tailor-made for the role.

Quotes from Quesada: “I repeatedly viewed the sequence, spending countless hours on it, and beat out rhythms on drums until I matched the pace and editing style. The editing of movies has its own unique rhythm that I aimed to emulate.

Following an exciting award season, Quesada is set to begin a tour this spring with his freshly formed group, Trio Asesino. You can catch them live at The Sound in San Diego on May 16 and at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on May 17.

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2025-03-26 22:31

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