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Few artists embody the mulit-facets of musicality, personality and sensitivity in such as well-rounded way as Soraya. A songwriter, guitarist, arranger, producer, and singer, Soraya is blessed with a distinctive, sensual voice. From the first notes of her songs, you simply know its her it couldnt be anyone else.
Throughout the rise of her career, Sorayas music has been praised in many different ways as organic, original, incisive, and poetic. Her music is known for its timeless melodies, but also for thought-provoking, down-to-earth lyrics. This wonderful combination comes from Sorayas Colombian background, but also from her international soul. The commercial success of her music doesnt take away from its substance and artistry.
And just as a thousand superlatives have been used to describe her music, a thousand stories have been told about her career.
Theres the story of the young Latina singer-songwriter who crossed over into Adult Contemporary with her bilingual songs and modern sound. Then theres the story of the rising star whose ascent was abruptly halted by a diagnosis of cancer. Theres also the story of the brave woman who, against all odds, beats the illness and returns trimumphantly to the stage. And theres the story of the woman who won the 2004 Latin Grammy in the new and prestigious Singer-Songwriter category, for her album Soraya, beating out such living legends as Joan Sebastián, Juan Gabriel and Joan Manuel Serrat.
After such an incredible comeback, where could she possibly go now?
To something even better, of course. Something that will inspire us to find new superlatives for Sorayas music, as she creates a new chapter in her life.
This chapter is reflected in the title of her new album, El Otro Lado de Mí (The Other Side of Me). Its a title that promises to reveal much, but it doesnt reveal everything. This is an album of contrasts, starting with the red color of its cover, and continuing with the rock n roll chords that open the first song, Ser.
Written by Soraya, and co-produced by Soraya and Sebastián Krys (Carlos Vives, Obie Bermúdez, Gloria Estefan), El Otro Lado de Mí is a journey through genres and cultures, a showcase of romantic lyricism, commercial pop, and social commentary.
Its the most diverse and finest album of Sorayas already sterling discography.
When you listen to this album as a whole, its still me, but its the next step, she says. When life gives you something traumatic to deal with, you have two choices: depression, or saying, It doesnt matter. Ill do what I want to do. And thats whats going on here. This is a record I couldnt have made earlier in my career.
Comprising 12 songs, El Otro Lado de Mí includes Lead Me, the English version of first single Llévame. The moods range from the high-energy rock of Ser and Llévame to the delicate folklore of El Otro Lado de Mí, the lovely balladry of Como Sería and the socially conscious Alma de la Calle. All in all, its a mix of rock and pop, of electric guitar with Colombian soprano guitar (tiple) and mandolin. Its certainly the other side of Soraya the side she hasnt shown us before.
Every song has its place and its reason for being in this beautifully told story, which is centered on Sorayas native country, Colombia. In fact, Soraya wanted to return to her roots in order to embark on a new muscial path. In Bogotá, she collaborated with musicians from her country, who contributed a distinct artistic vision. Therefore, the Colombian influences show up in many of the albums songs.
I wanted to challenge myself and perform with people Id never worked with before, Soraya says. I wanted to look for a different perspective on my songs.
But that wasnt all that Soraya was looking for. One morning over coffee at her Miami home, she read about a shoeshine woman in Bogotá whod won a national poetry award. Moved by this inspirational story of triumph over adversity, Soraya sought out the woman, who is known as Alma de la Calle (The Soul of the Street).
Soraya traveled all the way to Bogotá to find her, and their meeting inspired Alma de la Calle, one of El Otro Lado de Mís loveliest songs. The cuts emotive narration ends with the words of Alma de la Calle herself, reading her poems.
Then for a completely different feel, theres the pulse-pounding rock of the first single Llévame, and the album-opener Ser. Theyre songs that talk about those days when you just want to be, Soraya says with a smile.
Another standout is La Promesa, whose humor will surprise those who see Sorayas general songwriting style as intense. She comes full circle with the substantive Gotas de Perdón, a song about war and aggression that could apply equally to Colombia or Iraq.
In the past, Soraya hadnt been known for writing directly about social issues, but on this track her criticism is at once elegant and devastating.
Beauty and substance can co-exist in music.
Soraya debuted in 1996 with En Esta Noche/On Nights Like This (Polygram Latino/Island Records). Her career took off almost overnight, as two of her singles hit No. 1 and No. 6 on the Billboard charts. Long before others rode the much-hyped crossover wave, she simultaneously released English and Spanish versions of her work. The effort paid off with the bilingual smash De Repente/Suddenly, which made her a star in Latin America and among U.S. Latinos. The success opened doors for her, and she got the chance to write songs for international TV programs, which made her known in Australia and Germany.
She followed up in 1998 with Torre de Marfil/Wall of Smiles, whose title track was co-written with none other than the legendary Carole King. With her fresh voice and persuasive melodies, Soraya toured with acclaimed artists such as Sting, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bolton and Natalie Merchant.
In 2000, just two weeks before she was scheduled to embark on a U.S. promotional tour for her adventuresome third album Cuerpo y Alma/Im Yours, Soraya was diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease that took the life of her mother, her grandmother, and an aunt.
In the wake of the diagnosis, Soraya suspended all promotion, putting her career on a lengthy hiatus while she fought her illness. But the letters and e-mails her fans sent her made her realize that many of them had little information about breast cancer. So she resolved to share her story with them, in so doing becoming one of the most effective proponents for awareness, prevention, and treatment of the disease, especially in the Latino community.
Her great efforts in this field earned her the 2004 Billboard Spirit of Hope Award (Premio Espiritu de la Esperanza), given annually at the prestigious Billboard Latin Music Awards.
The recognition cited her tireless dedication to raising awareness of breast cancer, to helping patients, survivors and their families, and to searching for a cure.
Upon winning her battle with cancer, Soraya returned to the limelight in 2003 with the new album Soraya, her first on EMI Latin. This self-titled work won her the 2004 Latin Grammy for Best Singer-Songwriter Album.
Soraya serves as the Latin ambassador for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and is a spokeswoman for the educational cancer website livingwithit.org. In these roles, she has participated in awareness campaigns in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Central and South America. Wherever she goes, she helps women learn more about breast cancer so they have a better chance of preventing it or treating it early.
The press has written about her inspiring story and the passion and courage shes brought to this campaign. Shes been featured on NBC News, ABCNews.com, ABC Primetime, CNN, and NPR, and in Cosmopolitan, People en Español, U.S. Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Hispanic Journal, and Latina Magazine, among many other broadcast and print outlets.
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