In a pop music world
largely dominated by Anglo-Saxon products and musicians, Panamanian songwriters
who hit the big time are rare, not to say an oddity. Indeed, at first sight the
small Central American country hosting less than 5 million inhabitants is not particularly
known as a main producer of international pop songs.
اضافة اعلان
Erika Ender hails from
Panama and is living proof that it is all about quality and not quantity, that
exceptions exist, and that this can result in outstanding music. I discovered
the exceptionally talented musician almost by accident while watching a show on
a French TV channel — yes, the world is getting smaller every day.
The lady was singing
Despacito, the megahit made famous and usually interpreted by Luis Fonsi and
that is ranked an all-time second on YouTube with a mind-boggling 7.5 billion
views count. Ender’s interpretation of the song was very different from
Fonsi’s, including the mainly piano-based and very refined instrumental
arrangements, compared to the heavier, more dance-based version of Fonsi, with
the signature Latin rhythms.
First was the
attraction of Ender’s singing. A lot of soul, genuine emotion, amazing voice
control, all done with exquisite style, finesse, and subtlety. But then came
the big surprise: It appeared that Ender actually was the one who wrote the
song, not Fonsi! Which made me want to go and to discover more about her.
Born in Panama City and
a Panamanian citizen, Erika Ender also has US and Brazilian roots, courtesy of her
two parents. This makes her feel comfortable and to sound great singing in
Spanish, in English, and in Portuguese.
If Despacito was the song that changed everything for the singer and
songwriter, back in 2017, newer releases like In the Middle, and performances
with Brazilian pop star and iconic singer Roberto Carlos bring more of the
special and elegant flavor that characterizes Ender’s songs. They are made of a
smart combination of new sound and traditional melodies.
This makes them bridge
the gap and appeal to a large audience and please all age groups, from
teen-agers to more mature listeners.
Apart from her solo
recording of Despacito, Ender has also made it a successful duet with the above-mentioned
Roberto Carlos. Ender is 46 and Carlos 80, but their musical combination works
perfectly. Singer Roberto Carlos is not to be confused with the equally famous
Brazilian football player with the same name.
Back to Basics, Asi
Eres Tu, and Si Te Quieres Quedar are other great songs by Ender that are worth
listening to and enjoying. In most of her compositions the piano is at the forefront,
playing a major, leading role, amongst all other instruments. It is interesting
— and a refreshing thought — to note that after years of electronic-based arrangements
and productions, the acoustic piano, along with the acoustic guitar, are strongly
back in pop
music. This is true not only in Ender’s works, but with countless
other musicians too, like American John Legend for example, and his brilliant
piano parts.
By any measure, the
music of Ender is enjoyable, fresh, and classy, standing out in the music scene
today. However, there is not enough variety, not enough change between the
melodies and the overall sonic atmosphere they create. To put it bluntly: Her
songs
sound too similar in the end. If for instance you play 10 songs by Ender
in a row, it gets a bit repetitive to the ear. But this is the case with most music
today. Prolific, truly creative songwriters are not found every day.
Still, I am happy to
have discovered Erika Ender’s music and I often play a selection of her best
songs.
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