Miami’s own GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® nominated reggae fusion band Locos Por Juana has dropped a stunning song “Don’t Tell Me No” featuring the Jamaican Reggae Legend Freddie McGregor. This will be the second release off their upcoming album, due out early this summer, after the fan and critic favorite lead single “Crazy for Jane” Ft. Common Kings. Billboard hailed the album’s debut single as “an amalgam of Caribbean sounds with Common’s South Pacific and West Coast vibration connecting effortlessly, the collaboration extols the virtues of reggae.” The new song first appeared on KCRW’s PanCaliente Blog, who called it, “a 'lover’s rock', bilingual jam that combines McGregor’s vocals on some sweet verses, with LPJ’s reggae groove.” The new song “Don’t Tell Me No” (https://youtu.be/NvGar9o9C1w) is out today and available everywhere you purchase and stream music. [https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dont-tell-me-no-feat-freddie-mcgregor-single/1458661206?ls=1&app=itunes]
With “Don’t Tell Me No” Locos Por Juana has created a beautiful and elegant Lovers Rock reggae song. Mark Kondrat, composer and guitarist for Locos Por Juana, reflects, “I knew I wanted to write in a Lovers Rock style, which is essentially a reggae love song. I spent 3-4 days writing an instrumental that just wasn’t coming to life so I decided to put that aside and started writing something fresh and wrote the entire instrumental in one session. The next day I presented the track to Itawe and he wrote the chorus almost as soon as he heard the music.” He continues, “This song was inspired by love and perseverance. The best things in life don’t come easy, and when something feels right the only answer is yes!”
Most known for their collaborative nature and genre blending sounds, Locos Por Juana has performed with and collaborated with the best. So, when it came time to lay down the new track, they knew who to turn to, Mark recalls, “Freddie McGregor has one of the smoothest reggae voices in Jamaican history. He came with an amazing energetic vibe and just blessed the song and the video.”
Mark continues, “He came to the studio and met with us and laid down his verse that same night. It was surreal to be able to work and write with someone like Freddie and we were also lucky to get him to join us in the video shoot for the song.” The video for “Don’t Tell Me No” is due to drop in a few weeks.
The new song was recorded in both Miami and Jamaica, with instrumentals recorded at Mark Kondrat’s home studio – Blue Room Studios – and vocals, guitar, and bass recorded at Studio 26 Miami’s premier recording studio. Additionally, the new tune features Jamaican Legend Dean Fraser on both the horns and crafting the horn arrangements which he recorded in Jamaica.
Signed to the Rock the Moon label, Locos Por Juana has always written and produced their own music and, in a music industry that has continuously been focused on urban genres, they represent an alternative genre of Latin and Reggae Music that cannot be boxed in by labels. With their signature, high-energy style, the band has amassed a cult following, Locos has been touring non-stop throughout the United States, and is gearing up to release their new reggae album, “Crazy for Jane,” later this year.
“Locos Por Juana has always impressed with how they have absorbed the disparate influences of South Florida into a sound that could almost be a regional soundtrack.” – NPR Music
Order links:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dont-tell-me-no-feat-freddie-mcgregor-single/1458661206?ls=1&app=itunes
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/7r3D8q6iUiwb8zKV4XZKQb
