Written by Jane Puchniak | Published by Galore Magazine | @galore
Read the full feature here
There are many innovators in music, but there are a select few that shift and bend sound to the point where we can all acknowledge that a new genre is born. In Tomasa del Real’s case, that new genre was Neo-Perreo.
“In my city Iquique, near the beach, we listened to a lot of Reggaeton so when I started singing, I didn’t even think about it, it was just natural for me to sing in that style, but my taste was so broad, I wasn’t just listening to Reggaeton. I was listening to Grimes. Tame Impala. Grittier electronic sounds,” – she shares.
Listen to Tomasa’s playlist here
Tomasa’s musical taste was only part of what became a shift of an entire genre. “When I started producing music, some people would reference me as a Neo-Reggaeton queen and I thought that sounded like cultural appropriation as I’m not from Puerto Rico. There are certainly elements of Reggaeton, but the roots of my music are definitely Perreo.”
So, what’s NeoPerreo? It’s a dance that you probably wouldn’t want your grandmother to see you doing at the club. It brims with heat and runs through dancefloors in the underground of South America and far beyond. Picture one of your favorite Latin beats smashed together with the gritty synths of your favorite DJ. Add some heavy swing to a bassline that literally shakes your ribcage making it completely impossible to sit still. Add lyrics that make you do a double-take and an infectious voice brought to you by the otherworldly presence and stunning beauty of Tomasa del Real. Add just the right amount of auto-tune that pops right to the beat and you’ll see why fans the world over are stopping in their tracks to celebrate this genre-defying innovator.
She cites that the music is more than the sound, it’s the way the music brings people together. “This music moves beyond the more traditional, heteronormative idea of a guy and a girl dancing to Latin music. This music is inclusive. All are welcome in this movement. If you are a part of the LGBTTQ+ community, the goth community if you are a club kid. Come as you are, dress in a way that makes you feel fierce as fuck, however that may be. You are welcome here.”
To read the full feature, visit Galore Magazine here.