Sheila E, synonymous with musical excellence, has embarked on yet another remarkable career chapter. The iconic American singer and drummer, who has performed with Prince, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross, is releasing her debut salsa album, “BAILAR.”
The famed performer tells Latinidad Collective that she’s carried this album in her musical heart for some time.
“It took a couple of years for us to even put this together, and it was something I always wanted to do but didn’t realize that I hadn’t done it yet. And I thought, you know, this is the perfect time,” she explains.
Sheila’s latest musical venture adds to her roster of unforgettable records that have touched the hearts and souls of many
Reflecting on her decades-long career, Sheila describes it as a rollercoaster of experiences — insane, inspiring, and challenging.
“It’s just been amazing. You know, every time I do a new project I feel like I’m starting over, which is a beautiful place to be. To feel like you’re doing something new. I love that I get to do what I get to do,” she adds.
With each new project, Sheila finds herself rejuvenated and ready to explore uncharted territories in music. Starting anew opens up a world of possibilities, a testament to her enduring passion for creativity and self-expression.
“BAILAR” is the performer’s first venture into salsa music, which she knew would be “challenging.”
The “Bemba Colorá” musician explains, “Well, I knew this was going to be challenging because playing salsa music is not my first, you know, music — Latin jazz is completely different. Completely different. And I knew challenging myself musically, this was going to be very challenging.”
“I don’t like to stay in a place of being comfortable or complacent, and I think that that’s how we grow and continue to grow: is to think outside the box and keep moving and keep making things happen, and knowing that this is going to be challenging,” Sheila continued.
Overall, the musician notes that working on the project “was very exciting” and expresses her desire for people to “enjoy” it.
Sheila wanted to team up with two fellow Latina powerhouses who would help her elevate her homage to a salsa icon
One of the album’s standout tracks, “Bemba Colorá,” features collaborations with two esteemed Latinas, Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar. Sheila explains that selecting these artists was a deliberate choice, driven by her admiration for their talents and contributions to the music industry.
With Estefan’s powerhouse vocals and Succar’s distinctive tone, the song takes on a new dimension. It pays homage to the legendary Celia Cruz while infusing it with fresh energy and artistry.
Sheila knew that if she honored the salsa legend, she would need voices that channeled Cruz’s vibrancy.
“Well, I mean, Celia is the Queen and how could you, like, reproduce a song that was already and has been amazing — to try to do justice. And I could only think of one singer that I knew that would be Gloria Estefan to sing this song,” the musician added.
Despite being friends with Estefan, she was still unsure about deciding to ask her to collaborate.
For Succar, Sheila was mesmerized the first time she saw her singing on TV.
She attests, “And then, [Tony Succar’s] mom, Mimy, she’s sung on [a] television show a couple of years, or so ago when I heard her sing, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I would love to have your mom sing on the record.’ He’s like, ‘Really?’”
“Bemba Colorá,” the first song off of the album, is a celebration of womanhood
To further celebrate the power of the song, Sheila released “Bemba Colorá” on International Women’s Day on March 8.
“It’s just like, you know, it’s the perfect day. I mean, yes, women, we should be celebrated every single day, of course, 365 days a year, absolutely. And we multitask and we do this and we do that,” she begins.
The drummer continues, “But, you know, for us three women to come together to celebrate someone, an icon that we love, a legend, Celia Cruz on that day, who was international, well, internationally known, is just a perfect day to do it.”
Sheila hopes to inspire younger generations with a love for a genre that she wishes never disappears
As Sheila prepares to share her music with everyone, she invites fans to a live concert experience in Miami Beach. On April 3, the artist will be taking to the stage at The Fillmore Miami Beach.
This event promises to be an electrifying celebration of Latin music. It will feature performances from Sheila and a lineup of renowned musicians like Estefan, Succar, and more.
For the musician and drummer, “BAILAR” was a labor of love. She hopes it will inspire younger generations and instill an appreciation for salsa.
Sheila asserts, “I just want the young people to know that this music is so inspiring. We don’t want it to go away. You know, there’s there’s some greats that are still left and, you know, it’s like this music is amazing and it makes you want to dance.”
“And, you know, people and especially now, people need to dance. You get a need to get out, enjoy yourselves, and this music really does that,” she concludes.
