I Love Bachata

Since I decided to make my first DVD, Toke de Keda have been extremely supportive and great Bachata friends. I saw them in concert in Italy in 2006 and they were awesome. I couldn’t believe a Bachata concert would be such great fun. So here is my interview with Elvis, I hope you enjoyed it.

Tony: Hey Elvis, can you introduce yourself and your band members?

Elvis: Hello, well I’m Elvis Perez Guirola, founder of Toke De Keda, born in Cuba raise in Puerto Rico and been in Miami for the last 12 yrs. I been working in music since I was 15 yrs old and have been non stop, working in different style of music but always with latin music.

Eddie Blazquez, born in Puerto Rico raise in Miami is one of the lead singer and songwriter, an co-founder of the group with a long history in music.

Ariel Marmolejos born in Dominican Republic, is a lead singer and our best bachata dancer, he brings that love to our bachata style.

Jalen Acosta, is also Dominican but was raised in New York, he is our rapper and hip-hop songwriter that puts that different touch in our music.

Tony: Where is the band from?

Elvis: Toke de Keda is from Miami, the capital of Latin World, you find latin people from every country and is # 1 in Latin Music Business.

Tony: How did you guys begin, I mean why did you decide to make Bachata music?

Elvis: I have my own recording studio in Miami, I was working with Eddie on one of our songs (Te Extrano - First single) creating a different latin-pop sound with a bachata guitar and from that moment in October 2004 we started with our dominican producer (Roy Tavere) to mix bachata-pop-hip-hop. within 1 month, we dicided to make our own record. I organised some auditions to discover 2 more members and Ariel and James were the perfect choice. They were working in my studio doing there own projects at the time. So we talk about mixing the 4 and making a different bachata style and here it is Toke de Keda.

Tony: Where does the name Toke de Keda mean and why did you decide to call yourself that?

Elvis: Toke de Keda (toque de queda) means curfew and in all of latin america countries there has been a curfew at least one time in its history, so I came up with the idea of a curfew but with music everybody should stay home and listen to music. It’s a very latin word, we all have been thru curfew, old and young people, so let’s make it meaning a good one to remember, Stay home and listen to music (music curfew).

Tony: What do you think about Bachata in Europe compared to the USA?

Elvis: Bachata in Europe is so big and people just love to dance to it, actualy more than in USA, for us it is incredible how a music that came from little towns in Domenic Republic has made it so far away. In USA latin people listen and love bachata but remember they are latin, so it is more common for them to hear Bachata music in radio, tv, clubs, so to see that people from different background in europe have come to enjoy and love our music, it makes us so proud and we feel that we have to do more and better, so that Latin music will keep growing until every TV, radio and club gives Europeans a chance to hear our beautiful music.

Tony: Did you think Lamento Boliviano would be such a big international hit?

Elvis: Never, we did it thinking about making a song that latin people who like rock songs in spanish would listen to Bachata music, but instead it has been an huge hit for us.

Tony: What is your favorite track?

Elvis: It is very hard because every song has a different feeling, but I like ‘Pecado’ a lot, which is from our first album

Tony: Wow Pecato is my favourite too! So are you guys working on a New Album?

Elvis: Yes we are and it is going to be a big surprise.

Tony: Could you share some Bachata Tips for your fans?

Elvis: 1-2-3 uhhh 1-2-3 uhhh remember it is a very sensual dance, the more close together you dance the better it feesl… I love it. Thanks Tony and please I really need help dancing, some new steps in bachata please, you are way ahead of us in the dancing.

Tony: Yeah no worries, I have plenty to show you. Now I know you guys are doing a Euro Tour 08 soon, would you tell us where and when?

Elvis: Yeah we are coming back to Europe and this time we are hitting more countries, so here are the Toke De Keda dates to put in your diary:
Bulgaria: Sep 8th -9th
Italy: Sep 10th - 11th
Denmark: Sep 12th
Sweden: Sep 13th
Germany: Sep 14th
Italy: Sep -15th til 22nd

We would also like to thank all the Bachata fans and also you Tony and I Love Bachata for supporting us all the way, Toke De Keda will continue to make great music, so you could dance until you drop!

Tony: Thanks Elvis and good luck on your tour, I am sure it will be great and people will love it! Please do not forget to let me know about your new album, so we can tell Bachata lovers all over the World about it.