GIANT STEP™ | Malena Perez Forum - Malena Perez Billboard Article

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New York, NY

Jul 11th, 2006 at 09:38:02 AM EST

And the praises keep coming in.

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July 15, 2006
BEATBOX: PÉREZ HAS DIY SPIRIT
Artist Builds Her Own Brand With Self-Released 'Stars'
BY KERRI MASON

he message of 2005's Billboard Dance Music Summit was unmistakable: "Self-made artists are in." Nearly a year later, MySpace and digital distribution have become givens of any campaign, indie or major, and unsigned artists without any real direction seem to outnumber bikini-clad pinups in cyberspace.

But then there is Malena Pérez. No artist embodies the modern DIY spirit quite like this resplendent newcomer. Emboldened by the moderate success of her 2004 deep house single "Free to Fly," Pérez assembled a team of producers, wrote a crop of original songs, recorded an album and launched her own label to release it. The result, "Stars," comes out July 11 on Cubanita Groove.

A relatively typical story, right? But the beauty of Pérez—apart from her bohemian, Audrey Hepburn good looks—is in the details. "Stars" is an effortlessly airy collection; simple yet lush, with elements of Pérez's Latin upbringing, as well as her adult appreciation for Everything but the Girl and Sade. She sings in Spanish and English, sometimes within the same track. The album's artwork—Pérez's distinctive blue-gray eyes peering out from a swath of purple flowers—embodies the music within. Her MySpace page (nearly 2,000 friends and counting) lists her influences and tells her story: Atlanta-raised, daughter to a Cuban father and German mother, anthropology and literature major at Notre Dame, now dedicated to helping female artists make their own way in the music industry.

In short, Pérez is a woman's woman who could make a man melt, or in industry-speak, "the total package." Or maybe even "a brand."

"I've always wanted to have control over my intellectual property, my image, who I work with," Pérez says. "I think we as women in the industry should be able to feel self-sufficient. A lot of female vocalists tell me that they feel they fall into that trap, [that] their vision for their project becomes their producer's vision, and five years later, they look back and think, 'How did I get here?' "

Collaborations with house producers like Osunlade, Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and Carlos Niño & the Life Force Trio will put "Stars" on dance fans' radar, as will the involvement of marketing crew Giant Step. Pérez is also assembling an international street team via MySpace bulletins and getting a band together to interpret "Stars" live.

Pérez recently signed a new artist—smoky singer Jacqueline Marie. And she plans to donate a portion of Cubanita Groove's proceeds to charities aiding battered women.

All told, there is nothing helpless about this ingénue.


	TUESDAY \| DEC 02, 2008		Find a forum: Advanced Search You are here: All : All Artists : Malena Perez Forum : Malena Perez Billboard Article Author Message soulangel Location: Brooklyn, NY Jul 11th, 2006 at 07:11:26 PM EST congratulations, linda! you deserve it! blessings from soulangel aka la solita Michael Yu Location: New York, NY Jul 11th, 2006 at 09:38:02 AM EST And the praises keep coming in. ----------------------------------- July 15, 2006 BEATBOX: PÉREZ HAS DIY SPIRIT Artist Builds Her Own Brand With Self-Released 'Stars' BY KERRI MASON he message of 2005's Billboard Dance Music Summit was unmistakable: "Self-made artists are in." Nearly a year later, MySpace and digital distribution have become givens of any campaign, indie or major, and unsigned artists without any real direction seem to outnumber bikini-clad pinups in cyberspace. But then there is Malena Pérez. No artist embodies the modern DIY spirit quite like this resplendent newcomer. Emboldened by the moderate success of her 2004 deep house single "Free to Fly," Pérez assembled a team of producers, wrote a crop of original songs, recorded an album and launched her own label to release it. The result, "Stars," comes out July 11 on Cubanita Groove. A relatively typical story, right? But the beauty of Pérez—apart from her bohemian, Audrey Hepburn good looks—is in the details. "Stars" is an effortlessly airy collection; simple yet lush, with elements of Pérez's Latin upbringing, as well as her adult appreciation for Everything but the Girl and Sade. She sings in Spanish and English, sometimes within the same track. The album's artwork—Pérez's distinctive blue-gray eyes peering out from a swath of purple flowers—embodies the music within. Her MySpace page (nearly 2,000 friends and counting) lists her influences and tells her story: Atlanta-raised, daughter to a Cuban father and German mother, anthropology and literature major at Notre Dame, now dedicated to helping female artists make their own way in the music industry. In short, Pérez is a woman's woman who could make a man melt, or in industry-speak, "the total package." Or maybe even "a brand." "I've always wanted to have control over my intellectual property, my image, who I work with," Pérez says. "I think we as women in the industry should be able to feel self-sufficient. A lot of female vocalists tell me that they feel they fall into that trap, [that] their vision for their project becomes their producer's vision, and five years later, they look back and think, 'How did I get here?' " Collaborations with house producers like Osunlade, Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and Carlos Niño & the Life Force Trio will put "Stars" on dance fans' radar, as will the involvement of marketing crew Giant Step. Pérez is also assembling an international street team via MySpace bulletins and getting a band together to interpret "Stars" live. Pérez recently signed a new artist—smoky singer Jacqueline Marie. And she plans to donate a portion of Cubanita Groove's proceeds to charities aiding battered women. All told, there is nothing helpless about this ingénue.