Every year the Latin Grammy Awards go BIG when they present their annual ceremony on the Spanish-language, television network, Univision: big productions, dancers, special collaborations, splashy sets, lots of pop stars and musical icons. Often, the Latin Grammy voters reflect that approach with their selections. But every now and then they show an adventurous spirit that rewards artistry over glitz.
This year was one of those, when the alternative singer-songwriter Natalia LaFourcade won mainstream nods for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Hasta La Raíz," the title track for the full-length deemed Best Alternative and Best Engineered Album. (It also won for Best Alternative Song.)
The Spanish-language pop world is dominated these days by the bad boys and girls in the Urban categories, with reggaeton dominating the charts. So it shouldn't be a surprise that LaFourcade's sparse, intimate celebration of love, romance and heartbreak struck a chord with the voters, packed as it is with beautifully emotive writing and musical playing.
Another one of the album stand-out tracks is "Para Que Sufrir," an artful look back on a relationship that didn't work.
Hasta La Raíz is out now on Sony/RCA.
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