MEXICO CITY (EFE).—Manuel Medrano, winner of two Latin Grammy Awards, is on tour to celebrate his first decade on stage, and the current stop is Mexico, a country that he “loves” and which he will tour in the coming weeks to offer up to fifteen concerts in different states.
The highlight of his Mexican tour is his long-awaited debut at the “imposing” Palacio de los Deportes, on the 27th of this month, a night that he hopes will be “magical and historic,” he said in an interview with EFE.
And in his current tour, “Manuel Medrano on Tour”, he celebrates a “unique and special” anniversary, which in Mexico – the country that “listens to him the most” – will extend until the end of this month with fifteen concerts in cities such as Tijuana, Mérida or the Mexican capital.
“Mexico is a country that I love, even before being an artist, it is a country that has influenced me a lot through art and music since I was very little,” said Medrano, who only had words of gratitude for the country for giving him “so many opportunities” and accompanying him on stage this decade.
Regarding his next performance in Mexico City, he predicted a “magical night” with a “very musical show full of surprises,” aware of the responsibility he has before an audience in a city that, on a professional level, owes him a lot.
“I am fortunate that there is a very special relationship with my audience in Mexico City… Last year we did a ‘sold out’ at the National Auditorium, which is also one of the most emblematic music venues in the world,” he recalled.
If he looks back, Medrano is moved when he remembers how a “shy” fourteen-year-old boy who made his way in the industry in the bars of Bogotá became, after ten years, a recognized artist in the world who fulfilled his dream: “connecting” with thousands of people thanks to his voice and his music.
Precisely, he asked the boy who started composing songs very early to explain “how he managed to manage all those dreams” that he is fulfilling today. “I feel that this macabre plan to become an artist was manipulated by that Manuel from when I was a child,” he stated.
Despite everything, the author of hits like “Distancia” or “Enamorarte mil vez” tries to shake off the pressure he may feel when performing on large stages.
“I try not to think about that and always believe in myself. I keep my head clean of negative thoughts,” said the Colombian.
In his fourth and most recent album, “Superior,” Medrano offers his most “intimate and personal” record with fifteen songs that portray the music he grew up with: from the Latin ballads of the 60s to the pop of the 80s, by authors like Prince or Michael Jackson, a “very powerful and dynamic” mix.
Born in Cartagena, he stressed that his style highlights the Latin influence, in its aspect of boleros or salsas, which is what moves him to compose and makes your skin crawl.
When questioned about his future, Medrano described himself as a person who “has his feet on the ground,” so his biggest concern is that this tour, which concludes in the United States, is “wonderful, that people enjoy it and can connect” with his music.
At a glance
Musical texture
“Superior”, the most recent album by Manuel Medrano, “traverses the singer’s sound universe with new textures.”
Inspiration
The album, which is now available, is inspired by 80s pop and musicians such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers and Chic, among others.
Spinning
Medrano is a two-time Latin Grammy winner in the Best New Artist and Best Singer-Songwriter Album categories and is currently in the middle of his “10 Years Tour,” which began on November 5 in Bogotá and will end in American cities.