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The smash hit “Obsesion” broke in the United States during the summer of 2002, unleashing “Aventura-mania,” a musical explosion that – once unleashed – quickly spread around the world. The previously obscure Bronx-based “boy band” had labored together for eight years in a struggle that often appeared in vain. Suddenly, Anthony, Lenny, Mikey and Henry were catapulted to star-status in the Northeast. Aventura’s radically fresh “Spanglish” musical style that fuses Dominican Bachata with hip hop, R & B and rock was eagerly embraced by a young audience of American Hispanics with mind-boggling fury, a craze which is comparable to classic artists such as Elvis or Sinatra in generations past.
Tall, slim Anthony with his angelic voice and poignant songwriting skills became an instant hero of the nouveau Latin youth in New York City – Against a backdrop of the innovative Lenny Santos’ “Aventura-sound” - Anthony’s compositions were anxiously memorized by ranks of young Aventura fanatics. Peppered with pertinent social commentary as well as a fresh vision of the trials and tribulations of young love, the band offered something new, urban and contemporary that fans could actually relate to – Aventura filled a void in the Hispanic commercial market.
Commencing with the Italian release of We Broke The Rules in late 2003, Aventura fever commenced in Europe. “Obsesion” breezed to the top of the charts, going Platinum during the first few months on the market. Thereafter, “Obsesion” sprang to the number one position in Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Holland, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Israel, to name a few – selling more than one and a half million copies in Europe alone.
Aventura’s charisma and ability to transcend cultural and language barriers is illustrated by its success in territories such as Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Slovakia and Israel.
God’s Project, Aventura’s fourth studio album, debuted as #5 on Billboard Heatseekers, achieving Platinum status less than a month after release. The content of this album illustrates the continued development and growth of Aventura as a self-produced, thoroughly organic musical group with its own unique sound. On this occasion, there are a number of pleasant surprises in store for the listener. The track “Un beso” is a bachata-Flamenco. “Un chi chi” is influenced by Punjabi music and it contains a sample of the song “Khabi To Nazar Milao” composed by Adnaan Sami Khan and featuring the voice of Asha Bhosle, the “Queen of Bollywood.” “La niña,” a social commentary on child abuse, also showcases Anthony’s mastery in story telling.
Not only does the band venture into areas of world music previously not associated with Bachata or Latin Music in general, God’s Project also features guest performances by Don Omar, Nina Sky and others on smoking tracks destined for cross-over into the American market. Prior to the commencement of promotional activities, “Ella y yo,” the collaboration with Don Omar, had already soared to #5 on the Billboard Hot Tropical Singles Airplay chart. It is in killer rotation around the country, including Puerto Rico.
“La boda” is supported by a dynamic video produced under the sensitive direction of Dominican film director of note Juan Basanta. This song was avidly embraced by Aventura fans whose fantasy was to be “the bride” protagonist to whom Anthony directs his lyrics. Long before the release of God’s Project “La boda” had ascended to the top of Tropical charts.
Aventura has recently produced a video for “Un beso” which will soon be released both in the United States and internationally. Directed by Ulyses Terrero and Goodfellas Entertainment, the crew that recently finished a music video for 50 Cent, this production sets forth on film the multi-cultural persona of Aventura; two exotic musical genres, Flamenco and bachata are fused in perfect harmony against a visual backdrop that is purely urban hip-hop. |
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