Since breaking into Puerto Ricoâs reggaeton scene in 2015 with their track Nasty, Gigolo y La Exce have steadily risen to the top of the music charts, amassing a loyal fanbase. Throughout their career, the duo has explored a variety of sounds while still maintaining the unique and particular style that earned them collaborations with titans of the industry, such as ArcĂĄngel, Bad Bunny, Myke Towers, and Farruko. Most recently, in an interview for the Apple Music program La Formula Radio with El Guru, the two were challenged to create seven songs in seven days. For this project, Gigolo y La Exce set up a headquarters in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and made a base out of what they dubbed their âLock Down Campâ. It was there that the actâs debut album Las Torres was born.
What has the recording process been like for this LP?
G: Itâs been one of the most beautiful things weâve ever experienced because â aside from the fact that the entire concept for this LP has been in the works since we became a musical duo â everything weâve learned, we applied to this project. So, this whole process has been like a flashback of the past five years in this industry. It shows on the LP.
LE: The evolution of our career so far is in this LP, putting a spin on our sound while staying true to the type of music we started out with â what people got to know us through, which is R&B and trap. We explored different themes, different rhythms⊠We have a trap song called Blanco Negro thatâs pure street music â itâs like an ode to the streets. We came across the perfect moment and the perfect choice of producers. In the LP, youâll find a bit of everything.
When you started out, did the people around you give you their support?
LE: I think that, when you start dedicating yourself to what you love you shouldnât be thinking about needing support. You should think about your progress, whatâll help you grow, and the upcoming process. You canât be thinking about how much money youâll earn, you know? Yes, our family was always there for us and supported us at every step, but you always have to be the first to believe in yourself so that others around you will want to support you and believe in you, too.
G: All I can say is that the only person who didnât see it was my dad. He was the only person who didnât see it, because he didnât understand it, you know? I get it, because heâs an older person; I know where itâs coming from. The chances were slim, especially for an artist, so I understand him in that aspect. Still, itâs up to me to show him that it is possible and we are proving it. My mom, on the contrary, would always tell me something that I now tell to my son: Do what you love. If itâs something you love, itâll make you get out of bed in the morning. Maybe what you love isnât in demand and canât guarantee you money, but it will be a demand on your part because youâll want to get up each day. The only thing that makes me get up in the morning, even if I go to bed at 4:00AM having to wake up three hours later, is music. Thatâs why I know that weâve been successful and will continue to be successful.
Why did you choose to do this interview in your recording studio?
G: This place, the studio, is where we spend most of our time. I think I spend more time in the studio than at home. We come here even if weâre not going to record a song. Even if itâs to sleep on the couch here, we stop by. I like to think this is something I, in part, learned from ArcĂĄngel. In fact, itâs something he himself says often: âI go to the studio even if Iâm not recording anything. At the very least, Iâll be there. If an opportunity comes up, Iâll be there; Iâll be in the studio.â This place is special, because itâs where weâve created a lot of tracks.
LE: We meet with a lot of colleagues here, too â we meet up with our team. Itâs like an office. Here, we can hang out, watch an NBA game â anything â all while we work, record our music, and other artists stop by⊠Itâs almost a recreational space for us.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
G: One of the hobbies Iâve most recently gotten into: I bought a drone and started doing drone shots. Almost all the drone shots from the music camp we did in Aguadilla were shot by me. The hour-long documentary weâre working on will show them more in depth. I also enjoy meditating in silence, listening to music, waking up at 4:00AM or 5:00AM to listen to nature sounds⊠I like reading the Bible, too; so, when I have time, I read it. You know, since this worldâs so crazy nowadays, I try to do it. Music, too. Thatâs whatâs great about doing what you love: Your hobby becomes a job that youâll do forever and you wonât see it as work. Thatâs why I often say that music is also one of my hobbies.
LE: Being with my family, spending time with close friends⊠Iâve known the people closest to me for over ten years. We listen to music, spend time in the barrio thatâs a muse to artists like us, and hang out in the studio. I also like reading new things so that my mind is full of different ideas as I work on a project. Thatâs basically what I do in my free time.
What has been the biggest lesson youâve learned this last year, with everything weâre going through right now?
LE: Value the people around you, your family⊠Value time, value work⊠Above all, value life. Sometimes, all you want is money, money, money. Today, we are in a pandemic, you know? Sometimes, you make plans and you put in a lot of effort, but God has the final say. Iâve learned to value time. This pandemic has even helped us focus more on what we do. We even released an LP, which wasnât planned. Weâve grown, Iâd say, and Iâve gotten closer to God. I have a much closer relationship with Him now. The pandemic hasnât been able to stop us, thank God.
G: I learned that, in life, your plans are only drafts and, depending on what happens, youâll have to flow with what comes at you. You have to go with the tide; if you go against it, youâll drown. So, draft plans for all you want to accomplish this year and, depending on everything thatâs thrown your way, just go with it.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
G: We just released our LP, so our next move will be to work on remixes for all of the tracks. The goal is for people to be able to hear the full scope of our music: the intros, the choruses, the verses⊠We want each track to reach its full potential, and we think the remixes will help take our songs to the next level.
LE: Our fans wanted the color and flair thatâs unique to Gigolo y La Exce â our style of R&B and trap. I think, next, theyâll want more albums. The plan, from that point on, will be LPs and beyond. All the projects we have lined up now are albums, so thereâll be a lot of new music out. The next LP will be much bigger, so just imagine what comes after.
CONNECT WITH GIGOLO Y LA EXCE
photos / Vivian Colberg
interview / Mikel Corrente
writer / Laura Mercado Collado