The pop music charts are abuzz with Billy Carrion’s newest single and album of the same title, “Esta Fiesta,” which translates from Spanish into “This Party.”
Eight years in the making, through a collaborative effort between Carrion and a cast of musicians and friends, the record was released in April, and has reached the Top 10 charts in radio stations in Tampa, Fla., and online salsa stations.
Internationally, Carrion has reached the Top 10 charts in Colombia and even has fans hailing from Japan, Peru, and France. As a musician, Carrion has performed all over the world.
Yet, what you may not know is that all this partying is based in your own backyard. Carrion has lived in West New York for over 11 years.
“My recommendation to anybody who really wants to understand Latin music is to get the album because you have all the styles.”– Billy Carrion
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In May, Carrion took part in an historic photo shoot called “A Great Day in Salsa” by the New York Post with 50 of salsa’s greatest musicians, including the great flautist Johnny Pacheco, Tito Nieves, Willie Torres, and Jose “Cheo” Feliciano among others.
A party starter
Released by Ombligo Music, “Esta Fiesta” includes a variety of music genres that can be put into a CD player and be left alone to entertain everyone at a party without having to hit shuffle to listen to a mixture of rhythms. This feature was emphasized by Carrion, who believes that even beginners will enjoy getting a taste of different Latin musical flavors all under the umbrella of one album.
“You have all the styles,” said Carrion of his CD, which includes Salsa con Golpe (known as hardcore salsa), merengue, and cumbia, with both Mexican and Colombian style influences.
The album is sold throughout the world via websites and music outlets such as Amazon.com.
“My recommendation to anybody who really wants to understand Latin music is to get the album because you have all the styles,” said Carrion “and all very authentic.”
His other life
Carrion’s favorite song on the CD is “Sola,” which translates from Spanish into “a woman who is alone.” The song tells the tale of a woman who is better off alone than to be with a man who doesn’t treat her right.
Perhaps that reflects Carrion’s other career, which has had an influence in his music.
He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, where he majored in sociology with a minor in psychology. This led him to a career in child abuse investigation that has spanned 25 years. Due to this background, Carrion says that he is able to tune in to the complexities of life that are represented in his songs.
“I’ve learned a lot and have seen a lot, mainly the suffering of humans and the deterioration of society and the effects of bad policy in politics,” said Carrion. “Also what a personality disorder could grow into, and how children get abused.”
Carrion says that through meeting people from other countries, he’s learned a lot about their culture and music, which has had an influence on his music.
“The appreciation for the human being and music, gives me that love,” said Carrion.
To learn more about Carrion and his music, visit the singer’s website at: www.billycarrion.com.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com