Entrevista con WAPEA
Jovany Barreto Tat Tong
The Swaggernautz
18 de febrero 2019
con Kike Posada
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The Duo’s First Single Also Titled ‘WAPEA’ Is a Fun and Dance-Inducing Track That Represents The Cross-Cultural Ideals Behind This Unique Musical Project

Los Angeles, CA. (January 11, 2019.) WAPEA, a cleverly named duo created by Cuban-American, Jovany Barreto and Singaporean, Tat Tong, is a multicultural music project that aims to harness the talent and experience of these two acclaimed producers to create a refreshing new cross-cultural sound for the 21st century.

The name WAPEA is an acronym for the phrase ‘When Are People Evolving Again?’ which humorously captures the essence of the artists’ philosophy of transforming existing rhythms into boundary-pushing new creations channeling their raw emotions.

Barreto and Tong started working as a producer-songwriter collective in 2012 under the name of The Swaggernautz. Together they have produced over sixty Top 20hits, including twenty #1 hits worldwide and over ten certified platinum singles. Their discography has charted at #1 across five continents in sixty-six countries including: U.S., Mexico, Australia, Philippines, China, among others. They have worked with influential artists such as Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato, CNCO, Troye Sivan, CD9, Jorge Blanco, Show Luo, Aitana, Anahí, Elefante, among many others.

As WAPEA, the duo debuts with a self-titled single, a fun and dance-inducing track that represents the cross-cultural ideals behind this unique musical project. The name “WAPEA” carries an empowering meaning, as it’s also Caribbean slang for “work it, do ya thing,” a mantra that speaks to what the musicians want to put out into the world. Their philosophy was inspired by Afro-Latina star Cardi B, more specifically her realness and fearlessness in being who she is regardless of what others say. “She embodies the spirit of our group and what we aspire to be,” said WAPEA about Cardi B.

The cultural mix that Barreto and Tong bring into WAPEA is profoundly reflected in their sound. For this first cut, they combined Caribbean rhythms with a line from an iconic Chinese folk tune titled “Horse Racing,” played on the erhu (Chinese 2-string fiddle). This fusion creates a fascinating and vibrant new musical product unlike anything audiences have heard before.