Enrique Infante

Let’s start from the beginning. I really want people to get to know you better. It would be good if readers could develop a connection to you and want to come out to see and hear you play because they feel they know you.

Have you always lived in Columbus area? I moved to Columbus on Oct 30th 1998 after spending a week in NY when I first entered America on October 24, leaving Lima Perú for a first time in my life on Oct 23rd.

If no, where are you from? What brought you here? LimaPerú. I got an invitation to a Taekwondo Tourtnament. My wife and son were here already, so I stayed. I’m currently divorced.

Do you have family? My Children Arat (16) born in NY, Luna Biancca (7) born in Columbus whom lived with their mom Iris Reátegui (Peruvian) I will marry Kimberly Hollingsworth (Venezuelan) in 2012.

How old are you? In April I turned 40

How did you do in school? 1 to 10= 7 in some grades in others 5

What were some of your favorite subjects? History, Geography, Physical Education, Literature, Philosophy and of course Art, marching band, music in general.

Did you enjoy writing or English classes? In my case, Español. Yes, I enjoyed it.

When you were between ages 10 and 16 what was the music you were listening to?

All types. From Afro Peruvian to Venezuelan and Argentinian Folk, then, to Beatles, Bee Gees, Toto, Police, Zeppelin. After that to Silvio Rodríguez and Trova Cubana. In Between, ballads and 80’s music from the radio.

Did you ever fantasize at an early age that you were playing on a stage? Tell me more. I started acting and doing sketches at 9. I discovered that I could write a song at 17, pretty much when I formed my first band where I played drums. It all came along.

Who got you interested in music? My mom, grandparents, uncles and friends. My grandpa was a great guitar player who travelled the world with his music.

What was the first instrument you started on and how old were you? I was 9. Cajón and spoons. Drums at 15. Guitar at 16. Bass guitar at 19.

What came after that and your age at the time? The songwriting and singing on my early 20’s. Singing became serious after 30.

Did you take lessons or study music somewhere formal? 1 month of musical theory in a music institute inLima. Guitar lessons with my grandpa and private lessons of guitar and singing after that.

At what point did you decide to take your music to a public level, and what was that first step? (open mic etc.) I was 19 when I first played in a local restaurant inLima. We basically made some money on that day, and that was such of a big deal for us. I’ve always played originals and then some cover songs.

How did you feel after that? Completed

What kind of gear did you have in the beginning? None. Everything was borrowed or rented.

Tell me about some steps you have taken from that beginning point to where you are now? I traveled to Europe in 1996 with a very famous Peruvian band that recorded a soundtrack for a Peruvian awarded movie in Germany. I co-wrote and written music for several theater plays, won some band contests and share stage with amazing musicians, some of them very well known. In ColumbusI released my first album in 2006

If money were not an object: What instrument would you buy today? A Gibson Les Paul, a few Multiac Godin, a fender Stratocasters. Then some of the best bass guitars and drum sets in the world.

What sound system would you buy for your gigs? I feel very comfortable with Marshall

What type of recording gear would you buy? Pro-tools

What type of computer would you buy? A Mac

Where would you want to live to further your music career? The Mother Earth

Where does that leave Columbus? My Home and a great opportunity for the music I do.

Is original music at the top of your list or do you also do covers? Originals been always a priority

Do you prefer solo or a band with your music? It does not matter and it depends on some factors

You have recorded - Espresso Yourself Local Music

En un concierto íntimo el pasado sábado cinco de mayo presentó el cantante Enrique Infante en Columbus, Ohio, su primer álbum en el que despega como solista y al que tituló Canciones Ajenas.

Infante estuvo acompañado del conjunto del cual es fundador, Dejavu Latin Fusion Rythms.

El álbum, presentado por su sello Dejavu Latin Music Productions, fue grabado desde el 2009 hasta el 2012 en estudios en Estados Unidos, México y Perú. Canciones Ajenas combina Pop y Rock con ritmos propios de Latino América y el Caribe, tales como salsa, festejo, mambo, cumbia, vallenato, timba, bossa nova, y rumba.

Infante dice que el álbum se llama Canciones Ajenas porque las ideas se encuentran afuera, en el universo, y que lo único que él tiene que hacer es recibirlas. Dice que las canciones no son suyas cuando las recibe y que definitivamente le pertenecen al público una vez que las canta o las graba.

Unas 35 personas participaron en el proyecto para sacar Canciones Ajenas, incluidos técnicos y músicos de México, Perú, Chile, Costa Rica, Venezuela y Estados Unidos. El álbum contiene un poema tributo a la cantante argentina Mercedes Sosa por parte de su paisano, Félix Amicantonio.

Los miembros del grupo Dejavu incluyen a Enrique Infante (cantante, guitarra y percusión); Kimberly Hollingsworth (cantante); Jeff Crisafulli (guitarra); Steven Bustos (batería); Bill Hilt (guitarra); Tino Casanova (percusión); Carlos Durán (percusión); Sergio Ibañez (cuatro, vocalista y guitarra); Tim Magree (teclado); Evan Oberla (trombón); Jason Branscum (trombón); y Tim Perdue (trompeta).

Enrique Infante, un cantante peruano, compositor de canciones y músico diverso, llegó a Ohio en 1998 y fundó Dejavu en el 2004. Su primer álbum con este grupo fue Abriendo Caminos.

Cuenta Infante que no tiene educación musical formal pero que su abuelo, Felipe Enrique Ángeles Figueroa, tocaba música folklórica peruana y música criolla, y que fue él quien le enseñó sus primera lecciones. Más adelante, Enrique empezó a escribir canciones, a cantarlas y luego a tocarlas, aprendiendo los diversos instrumentos con amigos del mundo de la música.

El cantautor dice que su influencia reside en eventos de la vida diaria y otras músicas, creando primero la canción y los acordes, y luego haciendo cambios y afinando gracias a la retroalimentación que recibe de otros músicos con los que trabaja y del mismo público durante conciertos.

“La canción se graba uno o dos años después de su creación, e incluso hacemos cambios durante la grabación misma”, declara Infante.

Kike tocó previamente con los grupos peruanos Los Mojarras y Pukakuntur. Recibió en el 2010 El Premio Orgullo Peruano por sus éxitos como artista peruano triunfando en el extranjero. Este pasado mes de abril una de las canciones de Infante fue seleccionada ganadora del Concurso de Canciones para celebrar el bicentenario de la fundación de la ciudad donde reside.

Canciones Ajenas está a la venta ya en CD Baby y pronto en ITunes.

Por Ana Quevedo - Contacto Latino

In 2003, Enrique Infante was unemployed, separated from his wife and longing to return to his hometown of Lima, Peru.

He had a choice to make: He could return to Lima with nothing, or he could stay in Columbus and do something he loved.

Infante, 37, chose to stay and pursue his lifelong passion for music, which had fallen by the wayside when he arrived in central Ohio in 1998.

He began writing music and formed a band, Dejavu Latin Fusion Rhythms, in 2004. The band will perform Saturday at Creekside Park and Plaza in Gahanna.

He named the Latin fusion band after the feeling of having already experienced something that's actually being encountered for the first time.

" Deja vu for me is not just the name of a band," Infante said. "It's going back to my roots. It's a connection between me and the past."

Dejavu plays original songs as well as covers of popular Latin American ones. When Infante writes songs, he infuses reggae and disco as well as rock with rhythms he learned while performing in Peru.

"Everybody likes rock or pop in the world," Infante said. "I think that was the key. At the same time, you are kind of giving to the audience out there something new, and you are promoting your own roots."

Infante's musical career began at 9 when he learned to play the cajon, a traditional Peruvian box drum played by slapping the front face. He learned drums at 15. A year later, he learned the guitar, which he played for Peruvian rock bands into adulthood.

For Dejavu, Infante sings and plays guitar. The other members change from show to show, but Infante usually performs with about seven musicians on percussion, guitar, brass, keyboard and background vocals.

Drums are typically the driving force in Latin fusion music.

"I like that the drums are the biggest part about it," said drummer Shane Willis. "It's right up front."

Some band members were unfamiliar with Latin fusion when they auditioned, but some were experienced in the style.

Bass player Scott Gold, an experienced Latin-music performer who has been with Dejavu three years, said he enjoys playing for a group that incorporates so many types of music into its repertoire.

"Dejavu can do anything," he said. "I prefer that.

"We're all influenced by all types of music. So if you can put all types of music together into one show, that's great."

Infante said he has enjoyed the opportunity to perform with local musicians the past six years, although playing thousands of miles from his home country has been tough.

"Doing this in a different country with a different perspective was a challenge," he said.

"I was very happy I could accomplish that and keep my dream."

By Jill Laster
tmikesel@dispatch.com - The Columbus Dispatch

Hosting the album release party for your Latin fusion band on Cinco de Mayo seems a little on the nose, but if you’re looking to experience south-of-the-border sounds in person Saturday, Enrique Infante’s show at Woodlands Tavern is a strong option. The Peruvian-born musician runs the gamut between traditional Latin American sounds and hybrid sounds that summon the ghost of everybody from Santana to Marley. Saturday he’ll celebrate his latest release, “Canciones Ajenas.”

By Chris DeVille - Columbus Alive!