Juanes presents his next album in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, Dolby Atmos (EXCLUSIVE)

In the days leading up to the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards, Colombian guitarist and singer-songwriter Juanes has teamed up with several brands – including Apple Music, Universal Music Group, Dolby Atmos and Mercedes-Benz – to preview his highly anticipated new album. A number of outlets, including Variety, have been invited to take advantage of the "immersive sound experience".

Immersive was one way to describe it. For the read, Juanes hopped this reporter into the back of a Mercedes-Benz (pictured above), to cruise the surface streets of Las Vegas as several tracks from his new album - slated for release early next year – blared through the car speakers. . The singer says the partnership, or better yet "experience" of the drive-in preview, was done in an attempt to accurately showcase his new record's texture (mixed in Dolby Atmos) and lyrical composition, "the way I always imagined and wanted it to sound like.”

As the drums ring out, the beloved Latin pop rocker follows nearly every change of pace, smashing the rhythms of cymbals and drums with his index and middle fingers tapping against his knee. When the first song ends, he begins to lay out the foundations for what will be his 11th studio effort – starting with the already released “Amores Prohibidos”. The sultry record produced by Sebastian Krys has a slight psychedelic rock influence, imbued with rough riffs and Juanes signature guitar solos. Lyrically, the song reads like an escapist daydream about separation and forbidden love, aligning with themes of isolation and the pandemic.

"The idea for the song came from an article I read during the pandemic about the difficulty of maintaining private relationships, those who couldn't be known to the world, because of the challenges of seeing the other person," the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame said. "Musically, if you take the beat out of the song, it's actually cumbia, a type of Colombian folk music, but then when you bring the rest of the production back and loop, it takes a bit of sound and ambience. like 'Hey Ya' by Andre 3000 - then I added lead guitar in the style of Chuck Berry for more of a classic rock vibe to match the poetic lyrics of that person you meet 'In The Dark ' when no one else can see ."

"Writing during the pandemic made him connect with his daily life," Krys commented of the song, "His children, his wife, his music, his fears and his passions. It's obvious to me that he tapped into another level of musical exploration and curiosity that only a handful of artists never reach."

Krys continued, "I believe Juanes has reconnected with his fearless and innovative songwriting that has defined at the start of his career. This song sounds 100% Juanes and at the same time is unlike anything he's done before. Juanes has always been an innovator.”

Most details of the remaining unreleased tracks have been requested to remain strictly secret, as the upcoming set will be Juanes' first collection of original releases since 2019's "Más Futuro Que Pasado," in which the musician cobbled together chart-topping genres from Latin folk to reggaeton and pop. The new record will follow up on his 2021 cover album "Origen," which consisted of 12 live performances featuring songs by Joaquín Sabina, Fito Paez, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

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