BENDITO ENTRE LAS MUJERES
Sergio Vallín has been a highly recognized musician for more than a decade now. His talent has been exposed to the world as the guitarist for Mexican super rock group, Maná, who has broken sales and touring records worldwide. But Vallín’s career hasn’t been limited to the thousands of miles of nylon and metal that his guitar has used with the famous band; his talent and passion for music has allowed him to discover new paths of creativity. His new solo project enriches his already versatile career that combines precision and perfection with his already established sound. His debut album “Bendito Entre Las Mujeres” (Blessed Amongst Women) will finally see its release on a worldwide scale on September 22nd.
THE BEGINNING
Sergio Vallín had his first contact with music in elementary school, where he was part of the school band along with his siblings Rocío and Fernando. He also had in his Uncle Ciro, his first instructor in the art that would become a way of life; it wasn’t until after he turned 13 when his family moved from Mexico City to Aguascalientes, where Sergio had his first formal lessons with the classic guitar which would change his life forever.
During those teenage years, Sergio continued perfecting his craft by having a formal education with classes at the Casa de Cultura and through personal instructors. In addition, he nurtured his love and his talent by discovering some amazing music from all genres by artists such as: Joe Satriani, Paco De Lucía, Al Di Meola, Santana, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, AC/DC, etc. These icons aren’t the only ones that left an impression on him and his style but also the “anonymous warriors” as he calls them, street musicians that live for and because of music without worrying that the only satisfaction is spiritual and not monetary.
At the age of 22, Sergio was an already experienced musician with many lessons under his belt. These lessons during his earlier years would prepare him for much bigger stages. A lot of these lessons happened in the times of the band Wando, a group he had created along with his siblings and some friends
“WITH MANÁ I FOUND FERTILE GROUND TO PLANT MY SEED”
Maná was a band making a name for it when band members Alex, Fher, and Juan decided to look for a new guitarist to replace the previous one. After many long and tedious tryouts, the band decided on choosing Sergio; they were sure he was the guitarist that the band had been looking for. “I think what caught their attention was that I was a musician who was comfortable with many styles and that I had the desire to keep learning, growing, and definitely open to try out new ideas”, says Sergio, who with Maná has been able to incorporate many different styles and use instruments such as the Flamenco guitar and the Cuban tres, which has enriched the sound of the band.
Joining Maná was a radical change in his life in every single way and in his 15 years as a member, Sergio has an enormous sense of pride and gratitude for everything he has been able to experience. He states, “Maná has given me the passport to an unlimited amount of experiences, the ability to see the world and meet so many different people, to know the power of music; music is much more than just some chords, music is one of the best ways to show the richness of life.”
VALLÍN, BLESSED AMONGST FEMALE VOCAL TALENT
More than 18 years ago, Sergio had his band with his siblings Rocío and Fernando, where he would write the songs that his sister would sing. This would give him a chance to be able to write songs that a female could sing. Today, after all these years, life has given him the opportunity to get to know the female figure as a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, and a daughter. This experience with women is the driving force behind his debut album “Bendito Entre Las Mujeres” (Blessed Amongst Women). “I felt it was time to give a tribute to that universal female figure”, says Sergio.
For this wonderful journey, Sergio had the full support of his band mates in Maná, with whom he is extremely grateful for allowing him to express himself with this very personal project.
For this album, Sergio was the writer and composer of every lyric and every chord with the exception of the song “Fragilidad”, a Spanish-language cover of the classic Sting track “Fragile”. He was able to find the ideal voices that would help him share those wonderful ideas and feelings that he had been treasuring. Once he had the concept of the album ready, he began to approach close female friends of his, colleagues from the musical world, and also artists that his label would introduce him to.
Sergio is convinced that he has been blessed with the light of 11 stars that helped him give life to this story. “Each queen is unique in her own way, I’m so honored to have had the opportunity of working with them, and the album’s title expresses my genuine feelings toward the subject”, says Sergio. There is a lack of words to describe the amazing musical and personal quality of each vocalist that helped out on his album: Ana Torroja, Rosana, Ely Guerra, Paulina Rubio, Natalia Jiménez (La Quinta Estación), Ivete Sangalo, Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy), Raquel Del Rosario (El Sueño de Morfeo), Janette Chao, Mariajosé, and Rocío Vallín, his sister.
On this project, Sergio has also served as a producer, a job that was new to him but resulted in a rewarding experience. This has allowed him to better understand his band mates Fher and Alex, who produce the band’s albums. For this album, Sergio invited the renowned producer Sebastian Krys (Luis Fonsi, David Bisbal, Eros Ramazzotti, Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, and Tommy Torres) to co-produce the album with him. He feels that it was a key move to bring him on board because Sebastian helped to streamline all the elements of the project, to give each different style one united sound that helped make the record more cohesive, a challenge considering all the different vocalists.
Other talented musicians participated on the recording of this album such as: Abe Laboriel Jr. (Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney) on drums, Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) on bass for 3 tracks, Luis Conte (close friend and collaborator on many of Maná’s albums) on percussion, his brother Fernando Vallín on bass for 10 tracks (he was worked with Maná on several occasions), and on backing vocals the talented Flamenco singer Macarena Rodríguez, the wonderful Alih Jey, and Karla, his daughter.
Vallín is at a key point in his career, not only because he has plans to continue his successful career with Maná, but because he finally gets to show his first solo project, an artistically challenging and excellent work that shows off his new role as a composer and that demonstrates his uncommon talent mixed with some of Latin Pop’s most important female singers.
VALLÍN, “BENDITO ENTRE LAS MUJERES” (BLESSED AMONGST WOMEN)
The album opens and closes with instrumental tracks that show off Sergio’s signature Sound. The Intro and Outro serve as the bookends for the 11 tracks that showcase each vocalist’s talented sound.
Here is, “Bendito Entre Las Mujeres” (Blessed Amongst Women), in Sergio’s own words:
¿Por Qué No Te Vas? (Why Don’t You Leave?) / Ana Torroja
“I have always had an enormous admiration for Ana Torroja; during several years I would cover Mecano songs with my siblings and other places that I played. To work with her is a dream come true! I’m so honored that she accepted my invite to sing on this track, she’s a great artist with a unique sound and style”.
Palabras Rotas (Broken Words) / Janette Chao
“Five years ago I was able to co-produce her album “Luciérnagas”. Besides being an amazing composer, when Janette sings, she has this amazing ability to wrap you and give you goose bumps. This song I wrote because I was bewitched by that special connection we had when we worked together”.
Sólo Tú (Only You) / Raquel Del Rosario (El Sueño de Morfeo)
“I feel so fortunate for having met Raquel. Her voice perfectly reflects that tenderness and sensitivity that she has as a person and as an artist. I know that because of her voice, this song expresses the power of unconditional love that a woman has when she falls in love”.
Tan Dentro de Mí (So Inside of Me) / Rosana
“Rosana is a powerful singer-songwriter. Her voice has this special color and an uncommon force allowing her to be one of the most important songwriters around. She’s not used to singing other people’s songs; that is why I’m so honored that she chose to sing one of mine”.
Milagro Catastrófico (Catastrophic Miracle) / Ely Guerra
“Ely is an artist who is so unique, her style is instantly recognizable, and it is hers and hers alone. She was able to do with my song what I never could imagine when I finally heard it. Her magic is tattooed all over this song. When I started writing this track, in my heart I knew that this song was for her”.
¿Por Qué Te Vas? (Why are You Leaving?) / Rocío Vallín
“Rocío is the second female figure whom I ever lived with besides my mother. She is my sister! She has been my accomplice in life and in my music. She was one of the great inspirations behind this whole project. She has one of the most beautiful voices on this planet and I can’t even begin to express what I feel when I hear this track sung by her!”
¿Qué Pasa, Tío? (What’s Happening Man?) / Mariajosé
“¿Qué Pasa, Tío?” is one of the most risqué tracks on the album, not only musically but also in its lyrical content. Mariajosé had a difficult track to record because more than sing, she had to speak. I know she’s an amazing singer but I never imagined that she could give life to the character in the song in the way that she did!”
No Más Traiciones (No More Betrayals) / Paulina Rubio
“I’ve known Paulina for so many years but we had never had the opportunity to work together. Some months ago we were at the same party in Spain and we had a jam session. I loved hearing her sing and I needed her to be included on this project, so I wrote this track just for her!”
Gotas de Ti (Drops of You) / Ivete Sangalo
“I saw Ivete for the first time in a video on YouTube and I was so awestruck by seeing the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil completely filled and singing her songs, but when I heard her sing...wow...I instantly fell in love with the sound of her voice and her personality. I will forever be grateful to her for going into a studio to record this track while she was 7 months pregnant!”
Esa Soy Yo (That’s Me) / Natalia Jiménez (La 5a Estación)
“I had the chance of meeting Natalia a few years ago. She is a real whirlwind, with an amazingly enchanting personality and with a diverse range that allows her to easily sing ballads and rock tracks. She has an incredible voice and her presence on stage would make anyone go nuts. She sang this track the way no one else could, she definitely made it her own”.
Fragilidad (Fragile – Sting Cover) / Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy)
“I’m convinced that Joy’s voice is one of the most captivating voices that I have ever heard. The tone of her voice shows the many shades and colors that a vocal range can have. I’m so happy that she sings on this cover. It is definitely one of my favorite songs by Sting”
