After 3 years of hard work setting up the perfect combination of musicians, Amilcar Soto Rodriguez has released his debut album: “Mujeres de Arena y Otras Historias”, which is out now on all platforms thanks to Rehegoo Music Group.

The album combines traditional Afro-Peruvian rhythms and sounds with the sumptuous harmonies of classical music and with the innovative twist of jazz and its improvisations. The core of the album is a celebration of the importance of human rights, the purity of love, and the passion for life and music.

This album represents a life journey: it’s birth, and it’s growing development.
The faith and the restlessness of the journey. The search for the meaning of our life… Trying to understand the reason for things.  – Amilcar

The author’s fulfilment arises through his creativity of gathering together over 60 talented musicians.

On “Mujeres de arena y otras historias” hosts the voice of the award-winning singer Susana Baca – key figure of Afro-American folklore, who is also a socially committed scholar of the African tradition in Peru. Known throughout the world, she won a Latin Grammy for Recording of the Year and twice for Best Folk Album.

The album also boasts the participation of the Solisti Veneti Orchestra directed by Maestro Giuliano Carella, an internationally acclaimed conductor.

It was extraordinary to have Susana Baca as a guest singer. Her interpretation brought value and a unique character to the album.
Working with “Solisti Veneti”, next to Giuliano Carrella was a great experience. I was able to understand a little more about the writing and the interpretation of the strings. They are brilliant! – Amilcar

Jazz players such as Alfonso Deidda, Francesco Angiuli, Javier Girotto, Hernan Luciano Fassa and Irene Ermolli have intertwined the variegated jazz harmonies with the rhythms of the Afro-Peruvian tradition, such as the landò, the festejo, the atajo de negritos and the Panalivio.

I think the hardest part was composing and arranging the album itself.
It is like getting naked and being openly vulnerable with your feelings. It is not easy at all as you need to face your own emotions as well. – Amilcar

The quality of the compositions is giving the artist the opportunity to participate in the incoming Latin Grammy contest in 8 categories.

Telling more means expressing the inexpressible; just listen to each song, feel it with your own skin and give it the shape that your experience evokes.

LISTEN HERE