Gloria Estefan is set to reconnect with her heritage through her upcoming Spanish-language album, her first in 18 years. Early on Thursday (March 20) — coinciding with the arrival of the spring equinox — the Cuban-American icon unveiled the lead single from the project, which was penned by her producer-husband Emilio Estefan and is aptly named “Raíces” (Roots).
“Enjoy every moment because you never know what life has in store,” Estefan sings, drawing a parallel between love and life and planting seeds. “For a fruitful harvest, you must learn how to sow/ With faith and commitment, that tree will establish roots.”
“The track ‘Raíces’ resonated with my spirit the very first time I heard it,” Gloria Estefan shares with Billboard Español. “As a Virgo, I have a profound bond with nature, and I perceive life as a garden, where love is the seed. I am convinced that what you nurture with kindness, patience, and faith will eventually blossom into happiness.”
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She continues: “It’s crucial not to overlook the chance to show love because every heartfelt word and act lays the foundation for a beautiful future — and that’s the essence of this song.”
Recorded at their Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, “Raíces” honors the rhythms that have shaped Estefan’s signature sound: salsa, tropical rhythms, and classic Latin music. This song will also serve as the title track of her upcoming album — the 30th in a career spanning 50 years — set to debut at the end of May through Sony Music. This marks her first complete Spanish-language album in 18 years, since 90 Millas, which launched and maintained its position at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in October 2007.
“For me, returning to recording in Spanish was a significant contribution to our music,” Emilio Estefan tells Billboard Español, emphasizing that they collaborated with “exceptional musicians, engineers, and industry experts” while he personally wrote nearly all the songs on the album to ensure it captured their true essence: Gloria’s sound and his.”
“[At the beginning], I remember people advising us that our sound would never succeed and that we should consider changing our last name. However, we recognized the importance of our culture and origins,” he reflects on their journey since the mid-1970s with the Miami Sound Machine. “When Gloria reached the pinnacle of the charts globally [performing in English], we took a bold step and chose to record Mi Tierra, an album that marked one of our greatest triumphs.”
The legendary debut Spanish LP by Gloria Estefan from 1993, featuring hits like “Mi Tierra” and “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” remarkably held its spot at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart for an incredible 58 weeks. Over thirty years later, the esteemed Cuban producer and musician, alongside the singer-songwriter, present “a message of thanks to the fans, the media, those who had faith in us, and to the city of Miami, which witnessed our development and allowed us to share our music with the world.”
“It’s an emotional moment for both Gloria and me, a celebration of our culture and audience,” Emilio Estefan states. “The most rewarding aspect of a career is leaving behind a legacy of appreciation.”
Watch the music video for “Raíces” below.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
