Rawayana’s Beto Montenegro Thinks ‘There’s Always a Joke & a Smile’ | Billboard News
In a recent interview, Beto Montenegro, a member of the Venezuelan band Rawayana, shared insights into the creative journey behind their eighth album, highlighting the profound influence of Caribbean culture on their music. Montenegro reflected on the unexpected recognition the band received at the Latin Grammys, expressing gratitude and surprise at how their work resonates with listeners. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the creative process, suggesting that spontaneity often plays a role in their songwriting. This candid approach has allowed Rawayana to engage with their audience in a genuine way, fostering a sense of community as they share both their triumphs and challenges.
Montenegro described Rawayana’s artistic evolution as a beautiful journey marked by resilience and gradual progress rather than a race to success. He noted that their music has always been transparent, with each release reflecting their growth and experiences. The band’s early days were characterized by an open dialogue with their audience, which has only expanded over time. This transparency has enabled fans to witness their evolution, from the initial use of local slang to their current sound, which embraces Caribbean rhythms and themes. Montenegro believes that this cultural infusion is not just a stylistic choice but a vital part of their identity, shaping their music and the conversations it inspires within society. As Rawayana continues to evolve, they remain committed to their roots, using their platform to spark meaningful discussions while celebrating the vibrant culture of the Caribbean.
Beto Montenegro explains how the Caribbean mindset has shaped Rawayana’s eighth album.
Beto Montenegro: I think it’s about enjoying it, I don’t know. That speech was written that morning, so no, no, no, you don’t plan that much either. I feel very happy. I think it’s one of those songs, one of those special ones, right? That raise and do things, right? And influence in society and generate interesting debates. And today it’s recognized at the Latin Grammys. We didn’t expect it much. So, yes, like here processing the surprise, you know? How nice.
Interviewer:
How would you say, now that we were talking, what was Rawayana’s process?
I think Rawayana’s process has been a … it’s been a very, very, very beautiful and very worked-on process, right? And of short steps, right? And of resistance, a lot of resistance, right? It wasn’t so much about speed.
Today I feel a little bit exposed, because there are many things that, from the beginning, were public, right? I haven’t been an artist who curated a lot and released things carefully, but rather things came out, and everything we’ve done was always exposed to a group of people that each time got bigger. So, yes, it’s been a process quite transparent with respect to the public, you know? You can see all our mistakes and all the successes and everything — everything is on the web, right?
From the beginning until today, everything feels … I feel very solid in some way because we’ve completed all the processes to get to where we are now, right? From the beginning, the slang, right? It’s there. And then there’s kind of been a tendency toward that for a while now, and circumstantially we were already there, like, very much communicating in that way.
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