Latin GRAMMY-nominated collective Rawayana's "Welcome to El Sur" is a sunny, soothing track dedicated to their native Venezuela.
The song, a mix of laid-back Latin American and African sounds, takes them all back to Venezuela where currrently only one of their members resides—three members no longer live in the country due to political and economic reasons. They see the song as an optimistic, dreamy return home. The group explained the song's meaning in a statement to GRAMMY.com:
"People from Latin America share the same idiosyncratic-cultural regrets and shortages that impede our development, despite the fact that we find ourselves in different stages of similar [life] cycles. Hence, ‘Welcome To El Sur,’ in addition to being a welcome, is also an aspiration to rise above the adversities that those of us who live in this corner of the world face in order to achieve sufficient clarity that allows us to evolve."
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The video's animation is a collaboration between Totem TV, Walt Disney Animation Studios Director of Animation, Jorge Ruiz Cano, Brocoli Records, and Rawayana.
The track comes after the release of a string of singles "Camarones y Viniles," "2020" and "Mi Amigo Luis." The band last released an album, Trippy Caribbean, in 2016.
"Welcome to El Sur" will be a part of their forthcoming album out later this year. The song will be available on streaming platforms on March 25.
