NG'2 'Al Fin' Arrived with their New Production! 

Noberto Vélez (27) and Gerardo Rivas (24) are NG2.  The double significance of their group name represents their initials and the abbreviation for what they represent, the New Generation of salsa.  Their second album, Al Fin was recently released by Sony BMG / Discos 605.  Keeping the same formula as their successful debut album Comienzos and the hit single “Quitémonos La Ropa”, NG2 continues the tradition of salsa music with their new release. Not afraid to please a larger range of audiences, they have recorded a ballad, “Se Nos Va La Vida” and their first single “Como Amigo No”, which combines a variety of rhythms blending salsa with Colombian cumbia and Domincan merengue. The danceable songs and lyrical content make this a very personal project and an enjoyable experience.  The album was recorded in Puerto Rico with the same orchestra that tours with them contributing to the development of their own distinct sound within the genre.  During their visit to the Northeast, I was able to accompany them around as they shared with me one of the things they love the most, their music.  Although the winter weather at times made our trip difficult, it was fun to see the salseros enjoying the snow, which they rarely get to experience, we also took some time for a snowball fight! 

Music has always been a big part of Norberto and Gerardo’s lives since their early childhood so it was only fitting to ask them how these musical traditions have affected their music and their lives today.

¿When did music first come into your life?

Norberto:  I started singing when I was around five or six years old.  Pretty much everyone in my family are musicians and from there is where my anxiety with music was born.  When I was 16 years old I started singing in Elías Lopés’s orchestra, this was my first experience.  I can tell you that this love of being a singer was born from my family and the other public figures that were my inspiration to start singing salsa.

Gerardo: My father is one of the singers of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico apart from him, my uncles are musicians and my brother also sings.  I can tell you that all we are following the steps of my father, each one in his own style.  I started and grew in my first group Gerardito and the Rockolos which if I didn’t have that experience I wouldn’t have the platform I have today.

Gerardo, ¿Does your father, Jerry Rivas help with your projects and give advice?

He supports me one hundred percent.  He is my greatest critic.  Working directly with him has its advantages and disadvantages. He has his way of thinking, and at the end of the day he is my still my father and he is going to want me to think just like him.  But his criticism is very constructive, and the truth is, I see it as a blessing having a father like him at my side.

NG2 was formed after Norberto and Gerardo met during their time in Víctor Manuelle’s orchestra.  Their experience during this time nurtured their love of salsa and prepared them for the start of their own trajectory.  Víctor became a godfather to them producing their first album and remaining a constant supporter of their growth.  Al Fin contains two Víctor Manuelle compositions including the romantic second single, “No Me Perdones”.  An official collaboration will be recorded in the near future bringing them full circle.  The new album also finds them taking on songwriting responsibilities for the first time, with Norberto writing half the songs on the album.  One of my favorites is the song; “Se Nos Fue El Amor” which starts with a slower melodic salsa and then changes into danceable beats that showcase their vocal abilities.

Gerardo, ¿Why do you think it is important to record your own songs?

Because, You feel good when you sing your own songs. The fact that you are singing something of yours is a different feeling and there isn’t that fear not knowing that the way you are singing the song is not the way the other composer who wrote it wants it to sound like. We are lucky to have to Norberto who has the talent to write amazing songs.  At the same time, it is necessary to be open to use other people’s compositions because sometimes like in our case your hit songs are not ones you have written.

Norberto, ¿At what age did you write your first song?

I wrote my first composition when I was 16 years old.  It was from a personal experience that I had with my girlfriend at the time.   From that moment forward I began developing my talent of writing songs.  In 2004, when I was a part of NG2, I began to develop more professionally. My inspiration has always come from personal experiences and the situations of other people.

Although Norberto and Gerardo grew up listening and loving salsa and the musical tastes of their homeland, Puerto Rico they are also big fans of all kinds of music including rock, pop and ballads.  Norberto played me a demo, which was a stylistically different song than he usually records that he had recently written.  The song was a pop/rock ballad.  With collaborations and the mixing of genres being the common trend in music today this song was a perfect example of NG2’s ability to record more than just tropical rhythms and cross the rigid musical boundaries that exist.   

¿If you could record a collaboration with an artist or group who would it be with?

Norberto: We would like to record a song with Juan Luis Guerra. I would also like to collaborate on a song with Natalia Jiménez  from La 5a Estación.  Although we have worked a lot with Víctor Manuelle we would someday like to record an official duet with him.Gerardo: For me, and this is has been a dream of mine, I would like to sing with my own father on our next album.  We have not done this yet and I would like to for my own history.  Also a song with Gilberto Santa Rosa would also be something great because of the similarities that we have.

¿What do you want to accomplish with this album, Al Fin?

Norberto: What we are trying to do, is bring salsa as new figures in the genre, as a duo, we are bringing the danceable, romantic salsa, with swing,  back and want salsa to have the same impact as it did back many years ago when the legendary singers were giving the music its life.  We feel it is important that new faces come along; without new groups like us continuing the tradition, salsa will disappear.

What we are trying to do, is bring salsa as new figures in the genre, as a duo, we are bringing the danceable, romantic salsa, with swing,  back and want salsa to have the same impact as it did back many years ago when the legendary singers were giving the music its life.  We feel it is important that new faces come along; without new groups like us continuing the tradition, salsa will disappear.

Norberto and Gerardo will continue touring bringing their salsa to the world and like their contemporaries, engage and inspire younger listeners as they have been by past generations.  Their talent, charisma and honesty will bring them far and by staying true to their hearts they will succeed in any musical direction they choose.

¿What is the future of NG2?

Norberto: Our goal is to visit and sing in countries where salsa is loved and to become an institution of the music like El Gran Combo has been.  We do not want to be a group for two or three years and than disappear.  We are here to stay and salsa for us is a world language!