3Y4 is a new project that combines the beauty of Cuban and Puerto Rican musical traditions with innovative and energetic House and Electronic music, resulting in an invigorating and hypnotizing style they usually call “Latin House”. It all started with a curious American-born musician called Sandoval. He was raised in a Cuban exile community in Miami where he grew up in constant contact with all sorts of Latin Music. During High School and college, he turned away from these rhythms, as he felt more attracted to dancefloor sounds. However, after listening to old-school Cuban ensemble ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ something woke up inside him. He asked his mother if he could borrow some music and immediately dived into the records of legendary Fania All-stars, Celia Cruz y La Sonora Matancera, and many more. Shortly after, he was fascinated by the idea of combining his favorite indie and club sounds, with his recently rediscovered passion, Latin music.
One of the bands that most impacted Sandoval and later influenced his songs was the Grammy-winners ‘Los Amigos Invisibles’. So after opening for the renowned Mexican pop star Natalia Lafourcade, when Sandoval saw Pardo who has worked with the Amigos, he approached him and humbly asked if the Venezuelan star would be interested in mixing his next album. To his surprise, Pardo kinda declined the offer: He was not only interested in mixing the project, but he wanted to produce it. Pardo’s presence in the project is palpable through his hip, grooving vibe that gives the project a new dimension to their sound.
The name of the project, “3Y4”, comes from the traditional folk instrument: the three-stringed Cuban Tres guitar, and the four- or five-stringed Puerto Rican cuatro guitar. His name and music resonate with one of the objectives of the projects they have which, according to the members of the group, is to “pay respect and tribute to the African origins of, and continued contributions, to Latin music. Brought to the Americas in the cruel chains of slavery, and yet producing our most beautiful vibrant cultural heritage out of savage oppression.”
The latest production by 3Y4, titled 'Zion Wolf', is a seductive, danceable, and passionate take on Jai Paul’s original song. It showcases their Latin inspirations and demonstrates the immense talent of the group. The innovative sound of the album combines the awakening strings of the tres and cuatro, Caribbean percussion, electronic synth bass, and introspective lyrics in both English and Spanish. These lyrics convey feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, and a yearning for love amidst challenging circumstances and questionable companions.
What sets 3Y4 apart is their ability to effortlessly defy expectations and seamlessly blend diverse elements with natural and humbling ingenuity. Their vibrant energy and captivating sound are just beginning to emerge, leaving us eager to hear more of their upcoming work. It is clear that 3Y4 represents the power of music to unite people across cultural boundaries and create an atmosphere of joy and celebration. With their immense talent, we anticipate great things from them in the near future.
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