Los Angeles, CA – Time is cash for COASTCITY.
For the upstart Latin duo, touring all through the nation and overseas for reveals and work alternatives has change into a routine half life, and their cease in Los Angeles is simply as hectic as you’d count on. After I arrive at Nature’s Brew close to downtown to satisfy with them, their noon break is something however, with producer Danny Flores’ head buried in his laptop computer as he tweaks the combination to their upcoming single.
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“I’m actually bouncing tracks proper now as we do that interview. I’m right here although,” he says with a heat smile.
COASTCITY could also be lower than a 12 months faraway from the discharge their self-titled debut EP, however they’re the furthest factor from being new to the music business. Since starting their careers over a decade in the past, Danny Flores and Jean Rodriguez have labored with some music’s greatest names comparable to CNCO and Beyonce, respectively, nevertheless it wasn’t till 2017 that they determined to formalize their musical connection and take a look at the waters as a duo.
“Danny was out right here in L.A., and I got here to work on my solo album that was going to be titled COASTCITY,” Jean says. “I used to be already at that time, we had been doing a lot collectively, I wished to market the entire mission as artist/producer.”
The 2 first met again in 2006, when Jean was getting ready for a pageant look in Orlando. Jean wanted band members to help him on stage, and after a good friend urged Danny as a possible possibility, the singer satisfied the producer to go to him in Miami so they may get a way one another’s on-stage chemistry.
“I believed he performed merengue,” Jean says with amusing as he recalled his first impression his future teammate. “He had a shiny shirt and white sneakers; I opened the door and was like ‘Woah, okay.’”
Nonetheless, Danny’s willingness to drive over three hours only for a preliminary assembly spoke volumes to Jean, and earlier than lengthy the 2 had been plotting the primary many reside reveals. Over a decade later, their debut mission reveals the kind synchronization you’d count on from them by now, with Jean’s vocals completely complementing the glowing, luxurious instrumentals by method Danny. At seven songs, it’s solely the start what’s to come back from the rising duo, however nonetheless did greater than sufficient to earn them a GRAMMY Nomination for Greatest Latin City/Different/Rock Album.
“The primary album, we had been creating the sound COASTCITY; the second is the sound COASTCITY,” Danny says. “Simply having the ability to establish what that’s, so now, you’ll hear that Caribbean Soul all through the whole new file.”
Spend a couple of minutes speaking to the 2 artists behind COASTCITY, and also you’ll hear that buzzword ‘Caribbean Soul’ come up early and ten. It’s a option to describe their distinctive model Latin R&B, involving vivid manufacturing decisions and luxurious soundscapes handled with a breezy, natural groove. The relaxed, but invigorating vibe particularly matches with Jean’s private power, forming the premise what he listens to in his free time in addition to what he desires to create.
“I might be on the fitness center listening to straight R&B,” he says. “I’m simply at all times on that chill mode.”
It applies to Danny as nicely, though he admits he’s extra susceptible to flashes anger. When his breakfast burrito arrives halfway by way of our dialog, the frustration on his face is obvious, and he’s fast to voice his displeasure on the burrito being “a bit of too sloppy.” Ultimately, he reorders a plate bacon and scrambled eggs which fulfill his urge for food, even when he says the plate is a bit of too soiled for his liking.
“You’ve seen these Snickers commercials, ‘you’re not you if you’re hungry,’ Jean says. “That’s Danny.”
Nonetheless, it’s that exact consideration to element that makes their self-titled EP such a top quality product, with impeccable preparations that permit every ingredient within the combine to fantastically construct f one another. Each Jean and Danny are closely concerned within the engineering course of, taking the additional time to get the proper pre-mix and typically dealing with everything the method themselves.
In relation to their tune creation course of, it’s equally interwoven; typically Jean will ship over a unfastened melody for Danny to flesh out, or Danny will deal with the bulk the beat making course of and permit Jean to deal with the lyrics. You’ll hardly ever hear Danny’s vocals on a monitor, however on their upcoming single “Salvaje” he steps to the mic to spit a verse, including new dynamics to enhance Jean’s singing.
“I’m popping out rapping a bit of bit, I feel it’s the primary time,” he says. “Aside from that I’ll do lots background vocals. It simply form occurred that method, nevertheless it sounded dope, so we left it.”
Now that the duo has laid the inspiration for the COASTCITY sound, they’re having fun with the liberty to actually dig into the writing course of and do extra with their lyrics. Their subsequent album can be a way more private assortment than the primary, a mission which they are saying was a lot simpler to put in writing now that the template is totally in focus.
“That first album is a masterpiece that we’re very proud , however we tried lots various things,” Jean says. “Now we all know what works and what didn’t, in a way, so it actually paved the highway for the subsequent chapter.”
Relive the COASTCITY EP down under and comply with the duo on Instagram @coastcity for extra updates.