Gloria Estefan is paving the way for a comeback this year and might I say quite a big one. Her last English album, 2003’s modestly received Unwrapped, was her last attempt in the American music market.
Now, she’s back with the help of Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, who produced the majority of the new album with Estefan, entitled Miss Little Havana. Not only does Pharell lend a hand to her latest effort, but so does Pitbull on the song “Wepa!”, which no doubt will be the next hottest track to hit top 40 radio and simultaneously most likely be the next biggest catchphrase of the next 12 months.
In an exclusive interview with Examiner.com Gloria dishes on her comeback year, Miss Little Havana, and much more!
Examiner.com: You have been well out of the spotlight for a little less than a decade. What made you decide to make a comeback and in the year 2011?
Gloria Estefan: Well Pharell approached me with the song Miss Little Havana first and I really liked it. The end result was a record. It felt like a really natural process. We clicked together well. He came up with some really cool stuff and it felt really great.
The album is coming out exclusively at Target?
Estefan: Yes it will be coming out exclusively at Target. The problem is that there’s no more record stores!!! That’s the sad truth nowadays. Us artists are constantly looking for new ways to bring music to our fans, though. We’re putting a lot of promotion behind this as well.
Are you going on tour with this album?
Estefan: I don’t have anything planned, but I am going to do things promotional wise for this record. I want to get to the eastern block, which I’ve never done. My last tour was in 2004, but you never know. I don’t have anything planned for this album because my daughter is in school.
Explain how your evolution of style has changed throughout the years since your days with the Miami Sound Machine.
Estefan: Well, we always did things that stayed true to ourselves and my fans always gave me the opportunity to evolve. They have not pigeonholed me at all.
I cannot imagine stop singing “Conga”. I hold Mi Tierra, my first Spanish Language album, very close to me because that was all done in my native tongue and won me my first Grammy. The Gloria album that was in 1998, that was truly an all dance/pop record to the horns and percussions that run the gamut. I love this record because Pharell brought his urban sensibilities to this record, but it’s still all us. It just worked really well together. This record will unite old school and new school fans because of all the experiences and growth we had through the years.
Who do you consider to be your inspirations? Did you listen to anything in particular before going in to make Miss Little Havana?
Estefan: My inspirations include the Beatles—love, love, love them, Elton John Carole King, and Stevie Wonder. And no, I never listen to any Top 40 or anything in particular before I go in to the recording studio.
What are your goals for this record and do you consider this your big comeback?
Estefan: I’m super excited about this record. Social media helps me out and I’m officially now tweeting, which Pharell got me to do, by the way. I just didn’t think I wouldn’t have the time at first. My job as an entertainer is to take you some place else. I love exploring different genres of music to please my fans.
I hope the fans enjoy this record and dance worldwide. That is my contribution as a musician. All I hope that it gets out there and hope it’s well received.
For more on Gloria Estefan check out her web site at http://gloriaestefan.com and don’t forget to pick up her newest album Miss Little Havana in stores at Target on September 27.
