INTERVIEW: Beloved superstar Andrés Cepeda brings the romance to NJ
Photo: Andrés Cepeda will soon perform in New Jersey and New York City. Photo courtesy of Ricardo Pinzón / Provided by Sony Music Colombia with permission.
Andrés Cepeda, a multi-hyphenate musician from Bogotá, Colombia, has built a most impressive career. He is a bonafide superstar in Colombia, the United States and beyond, amassing many hit tunes, appearing on TV shows like La Voz and bringing his romantic songs to thousands throughout the world. Now the producer-singer-songwriter will stop at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 11. New York City audiences will also have the chance to see him at the storied Carnegie Hall on May 1.
“I think my fans in New Jersey can expect a very energetic and romantic show,” Cepeda said in a recent interview with Hollywood Soapbox. “I’m traveling with my full band, and I’m doing the best songs of my repertoire, and especially those [that] are in the rock pop world. I’m very excited to perform in these very special and iconic venues like the Carnegie Hall and the State Theatre in New Brunswick because I believe my fans and this music deserve a very special venue to perform. I hope you guys enjoy it, too.”
The new tour is called Tengo Ganas, and it features Cepeda’s exploration of rock music, which will allow him to break away from solely performing acoustic sets and piano playing. So, fans should expect guitars, synths and drums. “I really hope they sing along and they dance and they express all their feelings and the emotions that hide behind these songs and what these songs have meant in their lives and in mine,” the singer said. “I’m going to talk a little bit about all those experiences, and I really hope people can sing and dance to our music.”
Cepeda’s recent album, Décimo Cuarto, was well received and featured numerous collaborations with other artists. For Cepeda, this was a crowning achievement that he remembers fondly.
“I think the thing I love the most about this project was the collaborators, the people I sang and wrote and produced with, a bunch of new artists, people who have very fresh ideas, people who are very successful and share with me this love for romantic lyrics and romantic music,” he said. “So I learned a lot from them, and I hope they learned a little bit from me. And we exchanged experiences about producing, songwriting and performing these songs. I think it was a very nice stage of my career to share with all these young musicians what we think and how we approach our craft.”
Cepeda came of age in Bogotá, the capital city in Colombia known for its vibrant music scene. Cepeda called the tunes emanating from his hometown both interesting and diverse. He remembers the music halls being dominated by rock ‘n’ roll and folkloric music, so he immersed himself in those worlds.
“So I picked up on a lot of that, and I learned from the best,” he said. “My teachers, my masters were people who were doing this kind of music many years ago and people who have helped lay the foundations of what is the Colombian music scene today.”
Perhaps Cepeda’s most prominent gig is his judging duties on Colombia’s La Voz, which is similar to The Voice in the United States. He has been on the reality competition series for 12 seasons and has enjoyed every minute of the experience. He especially likes working with the younger musicians and being a mentor as they enter the difficult music industry.
“It takes me back,” Cepeda said. “It brings me back to the time when I was beginning my career and growing up with all these dreams and expectations about making music, a life choice, so yeah I really enjoy it a lot. I like to be a part of a show, which is so transparent and so familiar, so family-like. I really enjoy being a part of it.”
In the years ahead, Cepeda has many plans that he hopes come to fruition. He is currently developing a new album, which has already been pre-produced, and now he and his team head into the studio. There will also be a movie about his career, plus more work with a rock ‘n’ roll band. Whatever lies ahead, Cepeda know it will center on music.
“The years ahead, I think they are going to be full of music,” he said. “I have lots of musical projects.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Andrés Cepeda will perform Thursday, April 11, at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and May 1 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
