Dominican soprano Nathalie Peña-Comas released her new single, "Sombras nada más," on Friday, offering a bachata-rhythm reimagining of one of the most iconic boleros in the Latin American songbook.
The song was written by Argentine composer José María Contursi, with music by Francisco Lomuto. It debuted in 1943 and became widely popular through the voice of Mexican singer Javier Solís, who carried it to audiences across every Spanish-speaking market. Solís remains one of the best-known interpreters of bolero and ranchera music from the mid-twentieth century.
Musical production on the new version was handled by Mexican producer Enrique Martínez. Rather than following the bolero's traditional arrangement, the recording fuses the solemnity of classical music with a Caribbean rhythmic identity. Alongside the release on digital platforms, Peña-Comas also unveiled a music video for the track.
The soprano on the fusion
Peña-Comas said her aim was to approach the song with respect but also with freedom, keeping its melancholy and intensity while carrying it toward her own roots. She said that when the bongó and güira begin to dialogue with the cello, the brass and her voice, she feels Mexico and the Caribbean meet in the same emotional space, adding that this felt beautiful, especially since the result is danceable.
Bachata is a guitar-driven genre that originated in the Dominican Republic, while bolero is a slower, romantic style with roots in nineteenth-century Cuban song. Blending the two genres on a single track is the kind of cultural crossover Peña-Comas has built her recent work around.
Musicians behind the arrangement
That convergence runs through the credits. The electric guitars and programming were handled by Wesley Amorim, the keyboards by Enrique Martínez, the electric bass by Carlitos Del Puerto and the drums by Murilo Bueno, giving the recording its contemporary pulse.
By contrast, the cello of Nicole Peña-Comas underscores the song's intimate, melancholic side, while trombones played by Francisco Torres widen its dramatic reach. The Caribbean identity of the track comes through the bongó and güira of Rafael Carrasco, along with additional percussion from Ray Yslas, which brings a distinctly Caribbean rhythmic stamp to the classic. Peña-Comas's vocal is backed by harmonies from Katherine Ester, Roger Zayas-Bazán and Gabriela Martínez.
Second release of the quarter
With "Sombras nada más," Peña-Comas continues a body of work positioned between two worlds: the discipline of classical tradition and the rhythmic and emotional richness of Ibero-American popular music.
The single is the second release in her schedule of new music for the final quarter of the year. It reaffirms an approach that has defined her recent work: taking songs from the collective memory, crossing them with other cultures and sounds, and returning them to audiences in an unexpected form.
Recorded across three countries
The track was recorded between the United States, the Dominican Republic and Austria, with mixing and mastering carried out in Los Angeles. Recording engineers included John Leftwich in the United States, Allan Leschhorn and Alex Mansilla in the Dominican Republic, and Tim Preis in Austria.
Sessions took place at Left Way Studio in Studio City, California; Allangtr Studios and Alex Mansilla Estudios, both in Santo Domingo; and Marinegrau Tonstudio in Vienna, where the cello was recorded. Jean B. Smit handled mixing and mastering at Got2Mix Studios in Los Angeles.
The accompanying video was directed by Andrés Ibáñez and produced by Iván Valenzuela, with cinematography by Luis Reynoso, makeup by Zaira Báez, styling by Natividad Bujalance and post-production by Makoy.
