Cheep & Snail

We’ve been following Calle 13’s career since back in the day when we first met working at a Latin magazine, and their music showed us a humaness that was lacking in other “urban” acts we had to cover. After interviewing them a few times we can say these people are great musicians, and above all, great human beings with a sensibility that’s very rare to find. They are not afraid to speak their mind, and actually say something meaningful.

I had a chance to be in the press room at the Latin Grammys where I was on assignment, and it saddened me to see so many people were harsh to them. Their awards got rolled in on a table because they had NINE, and the media, one particular Venezuelan “journalist” decided to attack them with a question that not only was based on wrong assumptions but completely out of place. As a Venezuelan, I was flabbergasted that this man had gotten the chance to ask the first question and chose to attack Calle 13 instead of inquiring about their collaboration with the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, our pride and joy. Their performance of “Latinoamérica” opened the night and was so powerful it brought tears to the press and got a standing ovation, showing exactly why the hell they’ve garnered so many awards. So I yelled and asked the question, and Visitante kindly said they never thought it could happen but they loved Dudamel for all the work he is doing, breaking paradigms in his industry, just like Calle 13 is trying to do —and has done— so it was like a dream come true.

Today Cheep and I discussed that we can’t wait until they go all independent just like Radiohead and continue doing whatever they want.  There’s no other act like them, and instead of people staying ignorant and hating for no reason, we hope they listen to the message in their music… seek truth and stand by it at all costs. We’re proud of you Calle 13, we’re proud you are Latinos and make us proud to be Latin, too. Salud! —Snail