Blow Up

Cross generation encounters between a GRAMMY-winning Texas producer influenced by hip-hop and legendary Latino musicians that preceded him, inspires a look back at a distinctive regional sound “rooted in both Black and Brown music — two cultures borrowing and exchanging ideas from one another…to create something special and original.” “This LP by Adrian Quesada and his musical collaborators is truly one of the best albums I’ve listened to in a while. Each song has its own unique personality yet they feel like they belong together. Quesada manages to hold an organic feel throughout the production while Texas soul veterans Johnny Hernandez, Ruben Ramos and David Marez feel at home with the next generation of voices like Aaron Frazer, Paul Schalda, Kam Franklin and Jonny Benavidez.” - Ruben Molina, author of Chicano Soul (the first published history of Mexican-American soul and R&B music) Curated by Nacional Records, this lovingly-crafted project finds GRAMMY-winning Texas producer Adrian Quesada returning us deep inside the heart of a unique multicultural fusion with the assistance of many original musicians who gave birth to this distinctive regional sound, along with a new generation of Texas musicians who they inspired. "This album is a collection of original compositions and carefully selected classics that embody the style of a golden era of Latin soul. The songs themselves are recorded onto analog tape, with a few of them done entirely live in the studio — a true component to the Latin Soul sound which embraced imperfection in exchange for energy on recordings. From the opening drum break and horn section of the Radiants’ classic “Ain’t No Big Thing,” to the original lowrider-esque “Joey,” there’s a nostalgic connection drawn for the listener."