[Si] TV

She took the reggaeton world by storm with Kama Sutra in 2005, and now Adassa’s much anticipated self-titled, major-label debut, is the buzz of the industry. The first single, "La Manera," shows-off that huge voice and the Estevan Oriol directed video has been blowing up MTV Tres since April. We met her on the set of the video shoot to find out what’s changed in the two years since she last spoke with Rego.

Rego: What’s the biggest difference between Adassa today and Adassa of 2005?
Adassa: I think I’ve grown a little shell. Things that used to get to me don’t anymore. I’m just here to do what I do, to sing, to make music. I got caught up a little too much in the politics in the past, I got mixed up with certain people through the press and the grapevine and got quoted saying some things that, even though they were taken out of context, I still shouldn’t have said. So I’ve learned a lot that way. There are no classes for that kind of thing, no coach, no book to read. You just have to live it and learn it, hopefully. Luckily I’ve learned.

Rego: You’ve also had a chance to work with some great artists like Juanes...
Adassa: He’s great. Such a sweet, humble person and so talented. Our schedules actually didn’t permit us to record together in person, but we sent music tracks and voice tracks back and forth, collaborated over the phone, which was still amazing. I ran into Juanes at a party, and he was just sitting there in a corner with one older guy, and when he saw me he came right up and gave me a kiss, and said "Hola! ¿Cómo estás?" He’s the sweetest, sincerest man. I think people respect that.

Rego: What is it about Colombian culture that has resonated with music fans?
Adassa: Well first, the music is amazing. Colombia has such a diverse musical tradition. The coast has its own flavor, Cali is totally different, Bogotá has a mix of everything, Medellín is a little different. Pop artists there have so much to draw from. But more than that, I think it’s the artists themselves. Juanes, Shakira, I mean, they are the biggest artists on the planet and they’re so humble. They’re so real, not jaded by fame or anything. If you see Shakira on a red carpet, she carries herself with such dignity, no crazy entourage, no attitude. People can respect that.

Rego: Reggaeton has grown and evolved in a short time. Where does it go now?
Adassa: Reggaeton has been around a lot longer than most people realize. Back in '80s' guys like El General started it all, and even though he didn’t call it reggaeton it’s essentially the same thing we have today. The biggest change in recent years has been the business side, one, but also the production side. Reggaeton sounds like studio music now, not so raw like it used to. People are mixing it with bachata, with merengue, and different hip hop and Jamaican beats. You know, I was born in Miami, grew up in St. Croix, my parents are Colombian, so for me all of this diversity is great because that’s me. I grew up on Celia Cruz, Olga Tañon, so now that I’m making music I can’t just do reggaeton. I have to mix other things because that’s who I am.

Rego: Advice to up-and-coming females?
Adassa: Musically you got to fight for your breaks, and women, Latina women in reggaeton, we got to fight harder than most. Hip Hop and reggaeton… very male-dominated like you said. Not sexist, but male-dominated. I mean, look, there’s me. There’s Ivy Queen. And… that’s it! There are so many talented women out there that just don’t get the chance, and I definitely want to change that.