Calma Carmona
San Juan, Puerto Rico | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | INDIE
Music
Press
Just when you thought her specialty was acoustic soul music, Calma Carmona comes back with an experimental EP. Presentiment is sensual, vulnerable yet empowering, passionate and intriguing. Blending English and Spanish (Ms. Carmona is Puerto Rican), she takes the listener on a dreamy journey. Most of the songs from the EP deal with love found and lost within the space and time continuum.
Relax, breathe and embark on the Carmona spaceship below!
- L. C.-D. - AFROPUNK
http://www.pepsi.com/es-us/d/content/15535945/Video-of-the-Week:-Calma-Carmona---%22There's-No-Other-Girl%22
"With a sweet demeanor and a killer sway, Calma Carmona first charmed audiences at the now-defunct Café Seda in Old San Juan in 2007. She’s grown a lot since those days and managed to craft a live sound that’s as powerful as it is unique, making her music organic-–with a thumping hip-hop beat—and her stage presence magnetic. She’s so good, in fact, that Beyoncé chose her to open her show a month ago in San Juan – and in case you haven’t noticed, we like Beyoncé here.
Carmona’s There’s No Other Girl is simple, but it gets it right, keeps you connected to what’s important: a singer, her band, a room, and the audience (that’s you). It’s a testament to her fire that Carmona keeps you riveted as she belts the chorus and winds her way through the verses. If you need special effect and choreography, this isn’t for you, but if you want to see a singer really feel the music, look no further." - PEPSI
Calma Carmona walks in unassuming. She captivates with her small stature and raven head of endless coiled locs, an aesthetic as majestic as her voice: velvet-smoky on one hand, jagged-soulful on the other.
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She makes her way to a conference table, places one hand atop the other and, with her sweet demeanor, begins to break down — so dreamy, it’s almost a hum — the concept behind her newly-arrived EP, Presentiment.
“This is a little more experimental than the last one. It has more urban trapped beats, mixed with very soulful baselines and twangy guitars,” explained Calma, who combines her Afro-Latino roots and seamless Spanish to English crooning without sounding trite. “The vocals are very minimal. It’s more about creating a feeling and just hitting play and going towards that space.” - VIBE
As for me, I have a fever, and the only thing that can cure it is new Latin soul. I've already documented my obsession with several new singers, and today I get to showcase another favorite — this one from Puerto Rico.
So come join us, and as always, tell us what you think in the comments. What are your musical obsessions? - NPR
La novel cantante de latin soul Calma Carmona aún no lo cree. Asegura que vive “un sueño” al conocer que será la telonera del concierto de Beyoncé en Puerto Rico.
La confirmación por parte de Lincoln Road Productions, casa productora que trae a la Isla por primera vez el espectáculo Mrs. Carter Show World Tour la recibió a principios de la semana.
“Es un sueño lo que estoy viviendo ahora mismo. De verdad que no lo creo. Admiro muchísimo a Beyoncé, una cantante que lleva tanto tiempo y que es maravillosa. Además, ella sigue el estilo de Tina Turner que es una de mis artistas favoritas, además de La Lupe. Imagina cómo me siento... es un honor y orgullo que sea en mi Isla”, sostuvo la cantante que hasta el momento es conocida en Puerto Rico dentro de la escena independiente.
Consciente de que a nivel comercial es una vocalista poco conocida, para ella la oportunidad del concierto el 28 de septiembre en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, será la plataforma perfecta para presentar su propuesta.
“Me llegué a presentar en Café Seda en San Juan y mi casa siempre ha sido La Respuesta. Es allí donde he podido darme a conocer un poquito. Sé que el concierto es un gran reto porque la mayoría de la gente que va a estar en el concierto no me conocen”, indicó en entrevista telefónica desde Nueva York, donde ya trabaja en lo que será su primera producción discográfica. Previamente, Calma se ha dedicado a promocionar su proyecto Live Session EP Theres No Other Girl que grabó en el Viejo San Juan y que estrenará el 26 de septiembre en Mun2.
Sobre su presentación de esa noche en el concierto de la intérprete de Single Ladies, afirmó que será distinta porque no estará acompañada de su banda de ocho músicos.
“Voy sola, con Papa Dios y la pista”, reveló con sinceridad la vocalista que revela que sus influencias son “la Fania en los sesenta en New York con La Lupe y Santana 69’ Woodstock”.
Calma Carmona es una puertorriqueña que se crió entre Estados Unidos, Alemania y la Isla. Es por eso que lograr que trascienda su música fuera las costas isleñas se convierte en su norte, el que espera alcanzar mediante oportunidades como las del concierto de Mrs. Carter.
En septiembre 6 fue escogida por sus fanáticos como artista de la semana en el portal de MTV Iggy. - El Nuevo Dia
Le point commun majeur de ces artistes remarquées n'est pas simplement qu'elles sont des femmes mais que leur musique n'était pas forcément adressée au grand public. Elles n'appartiennent pas toutes à la scène alternative mais la plupart proposent une solution ou un moyen de s'exprimer autrement à travers la musique.
Elle ont su créer leur propre univers et le conserver dans une industrie du star système où les normes dominantes sont masculines. Si leur réussite ne s'estime pas selon leur chiffre d'affaire, elles proposent un art nouveau, frais et parfois agréablement choquant. Si vous ne les avez pas écoutées en 2014, le Huffpost Tunisie vous propose une séance de rattrapage avec une sélection des 10 musiciennes qui ont su s'imposer par leur style.
Calma Carmona, le nouveau souffle de la soul latine
Calma est une musicienne originaire de Puerto Rico qui chante aussi bien en anglais qu'en espagnol. La diversité des langues reflète aussi une diversité des styles et des références qui vont de l'intensité de PJ Harvey à la douceur d'Erykah Badu. - Huffington Post Tunisie
The existence of a potent whisper presents itself through singer-songwriter Calma Carmona’s vocals. Hailing from Puerto Rico, the singer blends her Latin soul sound with bilingual Spanish-English lyrics. Calma’s soft voice befits the English translation of her alias as “calm.” Though calm in tone, Calma has a controlled power that’s manifest in the dimensions of her voice range. Calma’s soulful goodness has lead her from the underground scene in 2009 to opening for Beyoncé in Puerto Rico last year.
In this premiere of Calma’s latest single, “Dancing in the Dark,” the songstress enlists the aid of Frequency – the Grammy Award-winning producer behind Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster.” The mellow, seductive rhythm coupled with Calma’s delicate, smoky vocals channel an early Erykah Badu vibe (circa 2000 “Didn’t Cha Know”). Along with the unveiling of “Dancing in the Dark,” Calma speaks to us about her unique, Latin-influenced artistry. - Life + Times
Discography
There's No Other Girl Live Session EP
Presentiment EP
Photos
Bio
Soul songstress, Calma Carmona native of Puerto Rico was named by The Huffington Post Tunisia, Noisey Mexico and AFROPUNK as “the latest musical obsession,” (NPR Alt.Latino) Carmona has captivated listeners throughout the world with her debut EP There’s No Other Girl. Her sound is painted with subtlety and passion, seeking to attract listeners with every verse and chorus.
Driven by Carmona’s signature “smoky and soulful voice that is at times velvety smooth and slinks in the mold of great neo-soul singers like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, and at other times, punctuated by feisty growls,” (MTV Iggy) Girl on A Bridge is influenced by her nomadic lifestyle. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Carmona, a self-described “army brat” spent time growing up in Puerto Rico, southern US states and Germany.
Since her first performance at Cafe Seda in Old San Juan in 2007, Carmona has performed on many prestigious shows, including opening for Beyonce’s Ms Carter World Tour in Puerto Rico. With the musical maturity she has gained in the last few years.
In addition to having strong support from cultural tastemakers, including Urban Bush Babes, Remezcla and Life + Times, Carmona was named MTV Iggy’s Artist of the Week and the video for her single, “There’s No Other Girl,” was Pepsi’s Video of the Week. “Taking that sizzling Latin passion and using it to charn out some equally stunning soul music, Calma Carmona touches everything she does vocally with an understated elegance.” (AFROPUNK) Calma's currently putting the finishing touches on her much anticipated album . Stay tuned for The album Set to be released early next year.
Band Members
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