Manos Arriba

Manos Arriba
An image of Chana holding up her hands against a pink background. It has the words "Chana" and "Manos Arriba".
EP by Chana
Released January 27, 2008
Genre Pop
Length 16:17
Language Spanish
Label Patacon Productions
Producer
  • Chana
  • Marthin Chan
Singles from Manos Arriba
  1. "No Me Mandes Flores"
    Released: 2008
  2. "La Duda"
    Released: 2008
  3. "Icaro"
    Released: 2008

Manos Arriba (English: Hands Up) is an extended play (EP) recorded by Dominican-American singer Chana, released on January 27, 2008, by Patacon Productions. Following the disbandment of Eden's Crush, Chana felt inspired to record and release Spanish-language music independently after she met producer Marthin Chan. She had been previously approached by executives from Latin music record labels, but sought a career in more alternative genres of music rather than conventional Latin pop.

Chana identified her musical style as trop-electro-hip-pop, and music critics described the EP as crossing multiple genres and not specifically tied to Latin American topics. Chana's collaboration with Chan produced a diverse sound, incorporating vocal styles and influences from pop, reggae, power pop, and disco. Consisting of five tracks, Manos Arriba was released as an audio CD and a digital EP. Its lyrics revolve around Chana's past relationships and break-ups, and Chan looked to Manu Chao's music for inspiration for the songs' production.

It spawned three singles: "No Me Mandes Flores", "La Duda", and "Icaro". "No Me Mandes Flores" was the third most downloaded song on iTunes Latino, and "La Duda" was promoted as the "Single of the Week" through the iTunes Store. Commentators wrote the music video for "Icaro" was inspired by Chana's modern dance training. The EP was praised by music critics for its sound and experimentation with various musical genres. Manos Arriba was successful in Latin markets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Background

Rosanna Tavarez, professionally known as Chana, rose to fame initially as a member of the girl group Eden's Crush, which was created as a part of the United States version of the reality television franchise Popstars.[1] The group signed with London-Sire Records after winning the television show and released their debut album in 2001.[2] They broke up when the record label closed down in 2003.[3] During interviews while promoting Manos Arriba, Chana avoided questions about her past with Eden's Crush to distance herself from the group and its sound.[1][4] The release of the EP was described as "implod[ing] [Chana's] girl-group roots" by a writer from Latina.[5]

Prior to auditioning for Popstars, Chana said that she was frequently approached by executives from Latin music record labels. She explained that she had felt unprepared for a music career because of insecurities stemming from only performing karaoke and not having taken vocal classes. Chana also wanted to avoid conventional Latin pop, saying that she "wanted to come up with something distinctive, even if the crowd would be niche".[6]

Following the disbandment of Eden's Crush, Chana worked as a host on entertainment television shows appearing as a "sidekick" on On Air with Ryan Seacrest for example.[1] Chana later said that her work as a host for programs on the TV Guide Channel provided her with the money and time to experiment with music.[4] She paid all the costs of the EP's development, recording, and release.[7] The singer's stage name "Chana" was developed from a shortening of her first name Rosanna.[6]

Recording and production

During the creation and recording of Manos Arriba, Chana worked closely with producer Marthin Chan.[4][6] She was introduced to him by mutual friends of her husband and Univision producer Andres Baez.[4] At the time, Chan was auditioning singers for the group Popvert.[6][8] Chan said that he was first interested in collaborating with Chana due to her pitch; Chana reported that they initially bonded over their shared interest in 1980s music, such as that of Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Velocity Girl.[6]

The Los Angeles Times's Agustin Gurza described the creative process between the pair as Chan creating the instrumental first, followed by Chana crafting the lyrics and melodies alongside him.[6] Chana based her lyrics on her previous relationships and break-ups, while Chan found inspiration in the music of Manu Chao.[9] Chana reported that she had some difficulties during the production process due to the personal nature of the lyrics.[10] Although she said that it was more challenging to write lyrics in Spanish, Chana expressed a preference for it as she felt that it was more poetic than English.[4][9] She often consulted a Spanish-English dictionary to translate her ideas.[9]

All five songs on the extended play (EP) were written and produced by Chana and Chan.[11] The pair worked on Manos Arriba for roughly two years and recorded it in Chan's recording studio in the garage of his home in Echo Park, Los Angeles. They initially created the material as a way to secure a record deal, but later decided to release it independently.[4] Chana later said that the decision allowed her to have more creative input on her music and image.[12] They completed eighteen tracks and chose five for the EP.[10][13]

Composition and sound

Manos Arriba consists of five tracks.[1] The EP opens with "No Me Mandes Flores" ("Don't Send Me Flowers"), which Agustin Gurza called a "cold kiss-off to a stubborn ex-lover".[6] The second track "A Veces" ("At Times") deals with jealousy, and features salsa horns and tropical influences.[4][6][9] The following song "La Duda" ("The Doubt") centers on confusion over a man sending mixed romantic signals; the lyrics are accompanied by synthesizers.[14] On the fourth track, "Icaro" ("Icarus"), Chana sings about the subject of the Greek myth. Rather than criticizing Icarus for his hubris, her lyrics have a more positive interpretation that praises his desire to follow his passions despite the risks. Chana identifies closely with Icarus, saying: "I would rather take the risk and fall on my butt. It's about that part of you that says just do it."[4] The EP concludes with "The Whistler", which mocks the practice of catcalling.[14] In his verses, rapper Malverde assumes the role of a cat-caller.[6]

The New York Daily News' Carolina González wrote that the content on the EP was not specifically tied to Latin American topics even though Chana performs the songs in Spanish.[1] Ayala Ben-Yehuda of Billboard agreed with González, and reported that Chana's music did not fit into "any rigid Spanish-language genres".[14] González noted that the material crossed several genres, describing it as "boundary-ignoring music that can best be summed up as pop". She noted that the instrumentation, specifically the guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, and horns, were reminiscent of reggae, power pop, and disco.[1] Agustin Gurza described Chana's vocals as a combination of "soulful inflections" and "electronic staccato phrasing".[6]

While discussing her perspective on her music, Chana identified it as "trop-electro-hip-pop".[6] She followed this up by explaining: "The definition of pop has become looser, more inclusive. When you talk about pop, you're basically talking about a hook, a melody that catches your attention." She said that she wanted to make the material both easily accessible, as well as artistic, clarifying that she never set out to make music as experimental as that of Björk.[1] She experimented with Caribbean music after developing an interest in it while studying African-American dance and music in the Dominican Republic.[9] When asked about how her music is received, Chana responded that various Latin communities responded to it differently as they had different definitions of mainstream and underground music.[1]

Release and promotion

Manos Arriba was released on January 27, 2008, as an audio CD and a digital EP,[15][16] through Chana's own record label Patacon Productions.[4] Chana held a release party at Bordello Bar in Los Angeles and performed several of the tracks.[6] She also did an interview and performance for the TV Guide Channel.[17] The iTunes Store promoted the EP by featuring it as the Best of the Week in iTunes Latino, the name of the store's Latin music section.[1] According to the Latin music website GritaRadio, Manos Arriba was successful in Latin markets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.[10]

Following the EP's release, Chana performed the songs during several performances across the United States.[1] Chana and Chan decided to promote the EP as independent artists, choosing to play local events and a "series of happenings" hosted by the groups Turn Off the Radio, Hang the Deejays, Remezcla and Automatico.[6] On April 7, 2008, she performed as part of the Billboard Latin Music Conference along with Aleks Syntek.[4][7] She also performed on Spanish-language networks, such as mun2 and Telemundo. During the summer of 2008, she promoted the EP by participating in the Latin Alternative Music Conference and the Los Angeles' Sunset Junction festival.[14] Ayala Ben-Yehuda praised Chana's live performances as showcasing "a convincing swagger and a dose of self-deprecating humor".[14] Chana's show at the Hard Rock Cafe in Santo Domingo was praised by Adrian Morales of Dominican Today, who described her music as a "clever rock, dub and electronica blend".[18]

Chana attributed her eclectic touring schedule to her understanding of rock and roll, saying that she heard the genre of music defined as: "You rock, you get in a van, and then you roll."[1] When asking about her intentions for the EP, she responded that she did not have an exact plan for its promotion and that she would rather "let it work itself out".[4] Chana expressed a desire to record more material for an album, which would include some songs from the EP.[12] She said that she was interested in working with Thom Russo to expand her sound from that on the EP.[19]

Singles

Manos Arriba spawned three singles: "No Me Mandes Flores", "La Duda", and "Icaro". In the beginning of March, "No Me Mandes Flores" was the third most downloaded song in iTunes Latino. She performed the single on April 8, 2008, at a Miami nightclub known as the White Room, also playing the keyboard as part of the band.[4] Stephanie Nolasco of Nochelatina.com called the single an "underground favorite".[19] Following "No Me Mandes Flores", "La Duda" was released as the EP's second single,[7] and was also selected as the Single of the Week for iTunes Latino.[14]

Chana promoted "Icaro" with a music video. In the video, she is seen performing "full body twists and falls of modern dance".[4] Carolina González identified Chana's choreography in the music video as indicative of her past dancing training in a magnet school and as part of the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company.[1] Jordan Levin of PopMatters also noted that Chana drew upon her experiences at New World School of the Arts and the dance program at Ohio University for the video.[4]

Critical reception

Manos Arriba received positive reviews from music critics following its release. Chana's collaboration with Chan was praised by Agustin Gurza from the Los Angeles Times, who felt they had produced an "infectious fusion of Caribbean rhythms, cool electronic vibes and sharp, satirical lyrics". Gurza viewed their material as representative of the music recorded in Echo Park.[6] A writer from Latina included Chana and Manos Arriba on its list of the best Latin music you don't know, comparing her sound to a mixture of No Doubt and Belanova.[5] The singer's exploration of multiple musical genres was positively received by Jordan Levin, who felt that it was largely successful due to her "faith in her instincts, disregard for convention, and impish sense of fun".[4] The songs and their subject matter were described as "clever" by both Ayala Ben-Yehuda and Adrian Morales.[14][18] Ben-Yehuda followed this up by saying the themes were easily accessible to a large audience.[14] The EP was praised by Univision for inspiring people to dance.[12] A writer from LA Weekly responded positively to Chana's decision to avoid electronic dance music, and highlighted her vocal performance as representing her experiences in art school and time spent in Miami and New York.[20]

Track listing

All tracks were written and produced by Chana and Marthin Chan; information was derived from the EP's official liner notes.[11]

No.TitleLength
1."No Me Mandes Flores"3:23
2."A Veces"3:09
3."La Duda"3:04
4."Icaro"2:42
5."The Whistler" (featuring Malverde)3:01
Total length:16:17

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Manos Arriba.[11]

Management

  • Patacon Productions
  • Malverde appears courtesy of B&G Entertainment

Personnel

  • Chana – producer, vocals
  • Marthin Chan – producer

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide January 27, 2008 Audio CD[15] Patacon Productions
Digital download[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 González, Carolina (July 16, 2008). "Chana's assault to pop stardom - for real". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  2. ↑ Bonacich, Drago. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ Dachille, Arielle (March 12, 2015). "What Happened To Eden's Crush? The Group Wasn't Just Nicole Scherzinger, Ya Know". Bustle. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Levin, Jordan (April 17, 2008). "Indie singer follows her passions from North Miami to Latin music success". PopMatters. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "The Best Latin Music You Don't Know". Latina. August 1, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Gurza, Agustin (March 22, 2008). "Made for each other". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Chana Tabarez debuta como cantante". Diario Libre (in Spanish). March 25, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Jolie Lindholm of Popvert". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. 2006. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Kusnyer, Laura (March 28, 2008). "Chana te hará bailar". People en Español (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 "La Cantante Chana Asaltará A México Con Su Música" (in Spanish). GritaRadio. October 30, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 Manos Arriba (Media notes). Chana. Patacon Productions. 2007.
  12. 1 2 3 "Chana asaltará tus sentidos" (in Spanish). Univision. April 28, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Chana debuta en EE.UU. con su primer sencillo "La Duda"" (in Spanish). Tu Musica Latina. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ben-Yehuda, Ben (July 24, 2008). "Chana Tavarez". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Manos Arriba Music". Amazon.com. January 27, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Manos Arriba - EP". iTunes. January 27, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Rosanna Tavarez/Chana Exclusive". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  18. 1 2 Morales, Adrian (July 13, 2008). "Samir Saba, Chana and Nelson Poket rock Hard Rock Cafe". Dominican Today. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  19. 1 2 Nolasco, Stephanie (October 12, 2010). "Q&A Sessions: Chana". Nochelatina.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Rock Picks: Stagecoach, Alicia Keys, Vetiver". LA Weekly. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.

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