ALVAREZ MOTIVATED – SEE VIVA!
Maria’s on singer’s mind
Being one of the most dominant reggaeton artists of the decade hasn’t dulled the drive of J Alvarez.
His most recent album, “Big Yauran,”earned him a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Urban Music Album last November.
Enjoying the momentum of recent video releases such as “Motivame” — which surpassed 1 million views within four days of its Feb. 13 debut on YouTube — the Puerto Rican hit maker, 34, forms part of a star-studded lineup that’ll be performing at DJ Alex Sensation’s Mega Mezcla concert at the Prudential Center on April 20.
“Sometimes, I look back at where we came from, where my family came from and see how we’re living now,” says Alvarez, who was born and reared in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, to parents from the Dominican Republic.
“It keeps motivating me to not lose that dream of wanting to keep growing. It’s what motivates me the most to wake up every day to leave a clear path to my children and those closest to me. Because, directly or indirectly, people by my side benefit from everything that I’ve worked for, and that also fills me up with a lot of pride and lots of satisfaction.”
Though 2018 promises to be another big year for the reggaeton artist, the aftermath of the devastation caused by hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico remains on his mind. With access to water, electricity, shelter and food still limited or non-existent in many parts of the island, many storm victims have had to uproot their lives and start all over — including those who have had to pick up and move to the continental U.S.
“It’s incredible,” J Alvarez says. “You know you’re here now today, don’t know where you could be tomorrow. You have to be humble, keep yourself grounded and know that you’re not made out of iron, that something can happen.
“I’d say that Puerto Rico went through a very huge crisis, and I see a lot of changes,” the “Otro Nivel De Musica” singer adds. “Some are bad, some are good. It’s increased robberies, the desperation of the people. But there are a lot of people who’ve valued life more, people who’ve changed, people who, perhaps, weren’t as affectionate with their children or their wife and vice versa, and now they’re valuing who their wife is, what food is.”
The sobering matter, J Alvarez says, has fueled his fight to remain in the upper echelon of the musica urbana genre.
“It’s made me hungrier to make music, to keep on helping my own employees who suffered (the hurricane’s impact) first-hand and to be a part of their growth, because many have had to start all over again,” says Alvarez, who has worked with other entertainers to raise money for hurricane victims.
“They lost their homes, others moved to Orlando. So, if I can (help) with the reconstruction of their homes, I’ll be there.”