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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'Aventurera'
Artist - Razteria

Razteria (aka Renée Asteria) can be described as a fusion of early No Doubt, Steel Pulse, Los Aterciopelados, and Marisa Monte. Indeed, she will soon be releasing her fifth full-length album, Aventurera, worldwide through her own Asteria Records on March 18th, 2016. An album that will be released to "honor Spring," the album’s first two singles and videos, 'Aventurera' and 'Change', were already released on digital platforms January 15th and 22nd 2016, respectively.

The album calls out to the adventurer in each one of us to go beyond what we know, reach into the unknown, and challenge ourselves to grow. This theme is woven into a concept across all 12 tracks, with each song being part of the “Aventurera’s” story. “The Adventurer” is each of us, in one form or another.

The album opens with the first single, and the title track itself, 'Aventurera,' a beautiful, gently hip swaying melodic mix of Caribbean and reggae that instantly makes your musical senses aware that you will be transported to an incredible place for the 50 minutes or so. That's backed by the acoustic guitar intro work of the second single, 'Change,' where Razteria's foreign tones ebb and flow across and through the lyrics perfectly. Using her multicultural background (born in the USA of Bolivian-Dutch heritage and raised in France) and along with Rahman Jamaal, they allow it to transcend into a smooth rap track thereafter.

The storybook telling of 'Life' is next and inclusive of an out-of-nowhere rock guitar chorus, is backed by 'Take My Hand,' a cut that itself lowers the beats enough that it becomes a rather delightful, and highly insightful song. In doing press for this album, Razteria has stated that she truly believes that there is something on this album that everyone will be able to make their own, relating to the messages embedded within the soundscapes of these songs. I have to agree, as the lyrics are like everyday storytelling adventures for us all to know and yet already fully understand.

The SKA-strutting beats of 'Little Sister' make this one song something very special for me on this album, and Razteria backs it perfectly with both the slower paced 'Once Again' (complete with another Rahman Jamaal rap mid-section) and then the sultry R&B smokey feel of 'Zone.' Next up is the deep reggae bounce of 'Thankful,' a track that makes you smile from ear to ear, as the sun shines through your window, and that's followed by the heartfelt plea embedded within 'The World.'

Aventurera was recorded and produced at Razteria’s own Truffula Oak Studio. The studio’s name comes from being nestled in an old growth of live oak trees hidden in El Sobrante Hills, CA, and symbolizes a goal of sustainability with the imagery of the Truffula tree (the central focus in Dr. Seuss’s environmentally themed classic “The Lorax”).

With other artists featured on Aventurera including Sang Matiz, Rahman Jamaal, Carolyn Smith, Chatterbox, Seneca, as well as Waddell Bell and Lou Neuburger (bass and drums, Fyah Squad Band), Raliegh Neal (keys, Michael Franti and Spearhead), Jayme Arredondo (drums, Don Carlos), Joe Newton (drums), Anthony Ant (trumpet), Dave Eagle (percussion), and Luke Thomas (guitar), this incredible, truly a breath of fresh air recording is (sadly) brought to an end with the gentle breeze of 'Winds,' a lovely 'Can't Touch,' before a stunning 'Once Again (Vocal Bonus Mix)' closes the album out.

For More Information and Tour Dates please visit Razteria’s website:
www.razteria.com

For Music Samples or to pre-order the album “Aventurera” please visit:
www.asteriarecords.bandcamp.com





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