“..music for the masses doesn't have to sound like product.
Ponce has rhythm, melody, spark, beauty and plenty of personality”

“[Ponce] is a great songwriter… and when he performs in a more acoustic, relaxed format, the results are magical”

Carlos Ponce Is Proving A Latin Pop Artist Can Evolve Into A Meaningful Songwriter While Still Being A Fan Favorite

Just over a week ago, at a radio sponsored concert in Madison Square Garden, Carlos Ponce was swarmed by fans when he made his unexpected entrance from the back of the hall, stopping to sing in the middle of the crowd – without question giving the most audience connecting/energetic performance of the night. Last week, on the day his eagerly-awaited new album was released, Ponce was embraced by well over a thousand fans at in-store appearances in his native Puerto Rico. And of course, as an accomplished actor, Carlos is seen by millions of TV viewers everyday in Univision’s latest soap opera. Lately in Latin music, this kind of popularity is often synonymous with empty/formula pop – but, with the just released Ponce (EMI Latin), critics are finding a greatly matured song-writer, who (combined with the production talent of Emilio Estefan Jr. & Joel Someillan) has created an album “with a cool vibe that comes off contemporary without losing its Latin core”.

The songs with meaning approach can be seen in the album’s first single that is quickly climbing the charts. While many male Latin singers today continue to rehash the repetitive I Love You/I Want You theme, “Mujer Con Pantalones” is portraying/encouraging the continually growing empowerment of Latina women in their relationships and lives. Another prime example is “Nalgadas de Sabina” in which Carlos takes the recording industry to task for forcing artists to stifle broader artistic expression in the interest of air-play and sales. During a press conference in Puerto Rico, The San Juan Star quoted Carlos explaing the track:

“I wrote the track because today in general there’s a lack of conscience and meaningful topics in the lyrics that top today’s pop charts everywhere. The fact that many labels are controlling creativity and freedom of expression of artists is really frustrating for many of them, because you can not grow as a singer or a composer.”

Crediting his own record label with affording him the freedom to create a more serious record, Carlos Ponce has delivered an album that might just surprise anyone who had given up hope for Latin Pop.

For more information on Carlos Ponce, or copies of his new album Ponce,
Please contact John Reilly at 212.445.8440 or jreilly@webershandwick.com


Sample Early Press Quotes About Ponce

“On his third album, Ponce, the singer-songwriter banks on his breezy charm, a batch of strong songs and stellar production from Emilio Estefan Jr. and Joel Someillan, and he scores. The album is better than 1999's Todo Lo Que Soy, and it leaves his promising debut, 1998's Carlos Ponce, in the dust. In the three years since Todo Lo Que Soy, Mr. Ponce learned a few things about crafting music and selling his songs. Ponce is thoroughly commercial. Every tune has radio potential; they all sound crisp and clean, not muddled by overproduction. But music for the masses doesn't have to sound like product. Ponce has rhythm, melody, spark, beauty and plenty of personality. Mr. Ponce works the sexy rasp in his voice during irresistible dance floor numbers such as "Canela," "Jabón" and "Mujer Con Pantalones." All three songs capture the innate tropical spirit of a singer born and raised on an island famous for its connection to salsa. He turns tender – but not melodramatic – with ease, as on the ballads "Mia" and "Dime Caricias." Both cuts eschew Latin pop's habit of drenching love songs with strings for a more spacious arrangement punctuated by lovely acoustic guitars. And Mr. Ponce's material can be aimed at the clubs with just the slightest remix. From the quasi-electronic "Ahora o Nunca" to the rhythmic rocker "Llevame Contigo," he has his fingers on a percussive pulse. Throughout, Ponce has a cool vibe that comes off contemporary without losing its Latin core. Spanish guitars, percussion and lyrical colloquialisms abound. There's no mistaking this album for an 'N Sync knock-off (Luis Fonsi's latest, anyone?) or some dance-pop thing that happens to be chirped in Español. The 29-year-old Mr. Ponce, who is fluently bilingual, hasn't forgotten his heritage. On Ponce, he embraces it and moves forward. A-“
– Mario Tarradell, Dallas Morning News – 4/28/02

“On his third album, Carlos Ponce seems a lifetime away from his recording debut when he was perceived as yet another TV star who happened to sing. If on his sophomore effort Ponce tried to break away from that image, here he does it completely, coming across not as a traditional balladeer, but as a singer/songwriter… [Ponce] is a great songwriter… and when he performs in a more acoustic, relaxed format, the results are magical. This is an album of strong tracks, many compelling and beautiful…”
- Leila Cobo, Billboard – 5/4/02

“Pop rock/ballad artists stopped shocking the music world years ago, but once in a blue moon there’s one who comes along and presents a controversial topic which calls for attention... On his latest solo effort, [Carlos Ponce] blasts record companies for allegedly forcing artists to only ‘create’ commercial, radio-friendly material... Ponce’s new album marks a departure from his previous two recordings”
-Ian Mallnow Maceo, San Juan Star- 4/23/02