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For those familiar with Latin pop, the name “Thalia” brings to mind the very distinctive images and impressions of swiveling hips, long chocolate-brown hair, and a voice that can go from coy and soft to fierce and booming in a matter of seconds. Indeed, after over a decade of uninterrupted success on the Latin music scene, Thalia is a bonafide recording legend who continues to bring new sounds and catchy tunes to her fans. The music she has masterfully created in her latest self-titled album reflects yet another reinvention of herself and her style.

Born Thalia Ariadna Sodi, the saucy diva began her career at the tender age of nine on Mexican television and theater. In her teens, she was cast in a telenovela (spanish soap opera) called Quinceñera, and it wouldn’t be until she moved to Los Angeles in the 80’s that she would begin her career as a recording artist. Her first album, entitled simply “Thalia”, debuted in 1989 and its singles immediately became chart-toppers. With fans now in Mexico, Europe, and Asia, her career is unlikely to begin losing steam any time soon. Regardless of how phenomenal her music has been and may continue to be, however, she has yet to breach the American audience.

What may be an indication that this fact is soon to change is the inclusion of three English songs in her latest album “Thalia” (the second to be self-titled after her debut album a decade ago). One in particular, a cover of the 80’s song “You Spin Me Round”, is particularly enjoyable. This breathy, seductive stands in stark contrast with the familiar original, which Dead or Alive’s front man, Pete Burns, sang in a low, almost robotic voice.Thalia’s version is made all the more exotic because her accent is slightly detectable.

Departing from the style of her previous albums, “Thalia” has a more techno-based sound integrated into the Latin tunes. This is not the first time Thalia has successfully updated her sound while preserving elements of the traditional, cultural aspects of the music, and it certainly won’t be her last. “I have experimented with several kinds of rhythms over my last eight albums—mambo, salsa, merengue, dance, house, cumbia,” said Thalia. “At this moment in my life I want to relax and surround myself with musicians determined to create new sounds, a new atmosphere. We wanted to create magic with this record.”

The newest addition to Thalia’s resume boasts a number of tracks that definitely make the album worth the trip to your local Wherehouse. Whereas many albums have lists of songs that that all sound similar, the tracks on “Thalia” are almost all unique from each other. In most cases, this experimental approach Thalia decided to take paid off. Of particular note is the very first track, “Tu Y Yo” – which is already a runaway hit internationally. What makes it so infectious is the quick tempo, heavy Latin beat, and the way Thalia chose to sing this song – she practically coos every lyric. In track three, a listener can discover the ideal party song: “En La Fiesta Mando Yo” has a chorus that is easily sung along to, and rest of the song defines the term “upbeat”.

But the album is not made up entirely of songs that you can dance to. One of Thalia’s virtues as an artist is her versatility, and she sings her ballads just as well as she hollers her pop singles. Some softer tunes that deserve a listen include the lighthearted and wistfully sung “Y Seguir” and the playful “Asi Es El Destino”. Thalia also tries her hand at Spanish rap in track number nine, “La Loca”.

The variability between the tracks on this album is not so hard to understand when Thalia’s own comments about her personality are taken into consideration: “I can be very sweet, very compassionate, very loving,” said Thalia. “I can also be very aggressive, strong, defining my boundaries. I can be sweet, and I can be sexy. I’m always honest and that’s what I give through my music.” It is Thalia’s ability to transform herself and transform a mood through her songs – to switch both her and an audience’s emotions on and off - that makes her music appealing on a universal level. Her passion is effectively communicated to you, no matter what language you speak.

Info and picture source - thalia.com