July 8, 2011 – Mexican singer, songwriter, and producer Aleks Syntek performed with his own band at the Conga Room in downtown Los Angeles last night. The author of popular songs like “Duele El Amor” (Love hurts) and “Sexo, pudor, y lagrimas” (Sex, modesty, and tears) also performed his “Historias de Danzon y de Arrabal” (Stories of Danzon and the barrio), a tune inspired in the music genre first popular in Cuba called danzon, and during which Syntek played on a gorgeous stand up bass.
"Cuando el diablo me quiera llevar, condenado por las tentaciones, cuando ya no tenga a quien amar, historias de danzon y de arrabal," say the lyrics of “Historias de Danzon y de Arrabal,” that translate into something like:
“When the devil comes wanting to take me, having been condemned by temptation; when I find myself without anyone to love, I’ll have the stories (the memories) of danzon and of the barrio.”
For some it’ll be Danzon, for others it’ll be Salsa, for yet others The Beatles. The point is, if you think about them enough, Syntek’s poetic lyrics will get you to love him. See a noiseless version of the song on YouTube here.
His real name is Raul Alejandro Escajadillo Pena, a 42-year-old artist known worldwide now as Aleks Syntek, the second name a shorthand for “sin teclados” (without keyboards) reportedly given to him by a friend from whom the artist once borrowed the instrument.
His great talent, accompanied by his also very talented band, created a great atmosphere at the Conga Room.
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