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By Michael Lopez

There is a very good chance that a Desmond Child song is in your iPod right now. This music writer extraordinaire has created some of the most memorable tracks of the past 30 years. And now he's up for three Latin Grammys for his work on Ricky Martin's Musica + Alma + Sexo. Desmond spoke to us exclusively about what went into making the album.

"I'm so excited about the nomination," Child said. "It's been so unexpected! I'm so glad that somebody heard the record and appreciated all of the hard work that we put into it."

And the true fans know that Desmond has put a lot of hard work into the Ricky Martin catalog. Along with Robi "Draco" Rosa, he's written classics like "Livin' La Vida Loca," "The Cup of Life," and "She Bangs." Child went on to explain how Música became a much more intimate project for the singer.

"The first time I worked with Ricky, I was collaborating with Robi Rosa," he said. "Ricky was touring a lot back then. He would come in and sing with us and then he would leave. This time he decided to stay put and be a part of every note and every word that went into the record. I’m really happy about that."

And don't think Desmond's work is strictly limited to the Latin realm. His songs have been recorded across nearly all genres and he’s built longstanding collaborations with bands like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and Kiss. Explaining how he was able to bounce across so many musical genres, he said,

"I focus on the singer and not on the style. If you look at my work, I've done rock, Latin, pop, R&B, Broadway, and jazz. There's actually nothing different about working with a Latin artist and an English-speaking artist. You just need to focus on them and what they need. That's how it turns out good."

Child actually has very strong ties to the Latin music world. His mother is famed Cuban songwriter Elena Casals and his uncle was a regular performer at Havana's legendary Tropicana club back in the 1950's. So clearly, winning a Latin Grammy would be quite an accomplishment.

In the meantime though, we had to ask Desmond which Latin music stars he'd love to work with next.

"I would love to work with Luis Miguel," he said. "I would also love to collaborate with Shakira. I've actually never worked with her, though somewhere on my website it says that I have. Working with her would be a dream of mine."

We're sure another dream of Child's is taking home that Latin Grammy gold. You can root for him and Ricky when the festivities kick off on November 10!

Did you enjoy Ricky Martin's Musica + Alma + Sexo album? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Desmond Child, Draco Rosa, Exclusive Entrevistas, Latin Grammys, Música, Musica + Alma + Sexo, Ricky Martin, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Get ready for another 80's remake. No, we're not talking about The Thing (though it does fall into that category), we're talking about the dance heavy drama Footloose! Featuring retro jams, a bevy of sexy stars, and shuffle moves that'll put J.R. Martinez to shame, we expect it to hit big at the box office this weekend. And so does writer/director Craig Brewer, who spoke with us about the movie at a recent press conference.

"I was a huge fan of the original," Brewer said. "I call myself a Footloose-ologist. I know everything there is to know. I was also very emotional about the whole thing. I needed Footloose when I was 13 and I know that there were a lot of people that needed Footloose at that age."

Craig went on to say that when the movie first came out in 1984, he had just turned 13 and experienced many of the same feelings that lead character Ren goes through. There was the constant moving, the small-town life, and (of course) the music and dancing.

And though the Footloose reboot has plenty of wild dance sequences, Brewer admitted that he wanted it to pack an emotional punch as well. Craig's resume is full of adult-themed dramas and you can definitely see elements of his hits, Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, in this film.

Though Brewer did admit that at first, the studio wanted him to incorporate a much more Glee-esque feel into the movie.

"When we started pre-production, Glee had taken off and American Idol was huge," he said. "And I can understand why the studio wanted to go in that direction. I just tried to remind them of some of the things that were in the original. If that first Footloose came out now, it would be rated R. When I first submitted my movie, it came back R. I had to change many lines."

One thing Craig didn't change was the awesome dance-off at the end of the film. As he explained to us, he had a great choreographer on set to make sure the moves were always synchronized and always innovative.

"We felt really comfortable about the dance sequences," he said. "My choreographer and I bonded because we wanted it to be amazing dancing, but we didn’t want it to look too choreographed."

Other than practicing hand jives and pop n’ locks, we had to ask Brewer what he most wanted the audience to take away from the new version of Footloose.

"My wish is that people who have never seen Footloose are going to see it and feel inspired when they leave the theater," he said. "I felt a sense of camaraderie and friendship in that movie that I could experience in real life. I want them to have the experience that I had when I watched it with my family."

You can feel the Fooloose inspiration this Friday, when it hits theaters across the country.

Are you looking forward to the Footloose reboot? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Craig Brewer, Exclusive Entrevistas, footloose, Música, Movies & CineMás, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Los Rakas are coming off an incredible summer. Having toured on both coasts and partnered with Heineken for “The Spot,” their notoriety has increased tenfold. But, with more fame comes more haters and Raka Rich has been feeling the need to silence them. So what better way to do it, than with a brand new solo single called “Nunca Cambiaré?”

“This song was inspired by the message of no change,” Rich told us in an exclusive interview. “People were saying that I changed and I’m telling them that I have not. I’m doing all the same stuff I had done before.”

And though some may think Rich going solo could signal a change, he explained that he and partner Raka Dun have been putting out individual tracks for years. He also assured us that Los Rakas is still very much intact and planning plenty of new stuff for the upcoming year.

“This track isn’t me trying to break off,” he said. “Dun and I started as solo artists and we are always about doing our own thing. That’s part of us and that’s part of Los Rakas.”

Rich also put out a very engaging video for “Nunca” which was actually shot while he and Dun were on tour with “The Spot.” In it, you can see him strolling the streets of New York and taking the mic in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. Interestingly, he told us that the video was just a mashup of footage they had randomly shot.

“When we were in New York, it wasn’t like let’s shoot a video for a song,” he said. “It was more like, here’s some great footage so let’s use it. The entire thing was completely natural and organic.”

One other interesting thing to point out in the video is the introduction of a new Raka. Shown as a tattoo and a gold medallion, Rich proudly introduces Raka Smiley, the unofficial mascot of Los Rakas.

“Our logo is about being proud where you came from,” he explained. “The dude doesn’t mean that you’re gangsta, it means that you’re a happy guy. We call him Raka Smiley. He’s the third Raka and the reason behind the movement.”

You can find a ton of more info about Rich, Dun, and Smiley by visiting the Los Rakas website. Get Raka Rich's 'El Flow Californianio: Mixtape Vol. 1'.  'Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada EP' is out now.

What do you think about Raka Rich’s new single? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Los Rakas, Música, Nunca Cambiare, popnews, Raka Dun, Raka Rich, Raka Smiley, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Forget the Van Halens, if you want to know about a true musical dynasty, look no further than the Rodriguez-Lopez's! In between Omar, Marcel, and Marfred, these talented hermanos are changing the face of free-form jamming. Omar and Marcel's Mars Volta outfit has won Grammys and made major dents on the Billboard charts. And Marfred’s ensemble, Zechs Marquise, is making big musical strides too, particularly with their new release, Getting Paid.

"We had a ton of fun making Getting Paid," Marfred told us in an exclusive interview. "We spent a lot of time on the songs and were really happy with the end result."

Described by critics as an "otherworldly groove album," Paid features all of the prog rock elements that Volta fans have come to love. Zechs had previously gotten attention for their 2008 debut, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare. Though he was proud of that work, Marfred explained that Nightmare was a much darker record and differs greatly from Getting Paid.

"Our last record was very dark and moody," he explained. "But this one has a lot more light. It's way more colorful and it has more energy."

Just looking at Paid’s album cover, that's easy to see. Featuring a combination of suited owls, elephants, gorillas, and lions, it’s got quite a bit of symbolism buried beneath the lines. Though Marfred claimed that the cover art does not contain subliminal clues, he did admit that its imagery was open to interpretation.

"Every song on this album is its own character," he said. "We wanted the artwork on the album to fully represent that."

As the resident bass player of the band, Rodriquez-Lopez gets quite a few moments to shine on Paid. Typical tracks on the record can run anywhere from three to eight-minutes (with plenty of monster jams included). And though Marfred claimed to love everything on the record, he did admit to having a few faves.

"My favorite one to play is 'Mega Slap!'"  he openly confessed. "Although 'Getting Paid' and 'Crushin It!' are awesome live jams too."

You can check out all 9 experimental tracks on Zechs Marquise's Getting Paid, which is in stores now.

Who are your favorite experimental bands? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Getting Paid, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez, Música, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, The Mars Volta, Tr3s Exclusives, Zechs Marquise

By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Hugh Jackman is a cinematic chameleon. One second he's a razor sharp mutant in X-Men, the next he's a historical hero in Baz Luhrmann's Australia. And now the Aussie actor is taking on an entirely different kind of role, playing Charlie Kenton in the new robot boxing flick Real Steel. Jackman spoke exclusively with us at a recent press event and discussed how he got into "fighting" shape.

"I watched Rocky and I watched Raging Bull," Hugh explained when asked about how he prepared for the film. "They were both very inspiring."

But keep in mind, Real Steel is far more than just a typical sports movie. Between the ring scenes and animatronic fights, there is a sensitive story about a father and his son. Hugh confessed that it was tender undertones of the script that actually attracted him to the project.

"At its core, this is a relationship drama and it's a road movie," Jackman said. "I was really drawn into it and the relationship of the father and the son. Plus, my character Charlie is an all or nothing kind of guy."

Of course it probably won't be the sentimental stuff that packs movie audiences into the seats. Real Steel’s true selling points are its charismatic robots and cutting-edge special effects. The lead mechanical fighter (named Atom) pretty much steals the show and develops quite a strong relationship with Hugh's fictional son.

"The boy in the movie sees Atom as his lifeline," he said. "That robot represents everything to him. And [the director] Shawn Levy has allowed the audience go along on that journey as well."

Moviegoers are certain to discover Real Steel robots that they feel most attached to. Atom will definitely attract the sensitive crowd, while characters like Noisy Boy will appeal to techno-geeks and Zeus the hardcore boxing fans.

Jackman was purposely shy when we grilled him about his favorite onscreen robot, but did throw out the name of who his six-year-old daughter loves best.

"My kids are mental about this movie," Hugh jokingly said. "My daughter loves the robots so much! Her favorite one is most definitely Noisy Boy."

You can see Jackman, Atom, Zeus, and Noisy Boy rattle things up when Real Steel hits theaters on Friday!

Are you planning on watching Real Steel? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, boxing, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hugh Jackman, Movies & CineMás, Real Steel, Sports, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

The "El Headliner" fans have spoken yet again and this time they've shown a massive outpouring of love for Colombian-American rocker Ria. Mixing a bold blend of pop, R&B, and dance grooves, her unique sound has captured the attention of some very influential people. But more importantly, she captured the attention of the OurStage listeners and took down the "El Headliner" crown for the month of August.

"Finding out about the win was very exciting!" She told us in an exclusive interview. "There's nothing like being reminded that people really like what I'm doing. They really like my music, my look, my vibe, and that's extremely assuring because I absolutely LOVE what I do!"

Ria happens to have some very high-profile fans too. Legendary rocker Melissa Etheridge was a big early supporter of her music, loudly proclaiming that she "rocked her world" after a performance in Boston.

And Ria has actually been rocking the mic for a very long time. As she told us, her first brush with music came while singing in church.

"I've always had an inherent desire to sing music," she said. "But the turning point that made it clear to me was when I became a cantor in church. From there on, I began my journey towards a life of music…private lessons, then talent shows, and beyond."

Interestingly, Ria showed so much talent that she was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music. A true haven for the sonically gifted, Berklee alumni include stars like Juan Luis Guerra, Quincy Jones, Paula Cole, and (not coincidentally) Ms. Etheridge.

"Berklee will be in my heart forever," she went on to say. "It provided a rich, international, competitive training ground for my career. It was in Berklee that I discovered my own sound. And it was in Berklee that I got to sing for one of my favs…Melissa Etheridge."

Obviously the sound that Ria developed proved to be quite enchanting. After spending more time honing her songwriting abilities, she crafted a very catchy debut album. Tracks like "Alright," "Queens,"and "Simply Happy" have already put her on the map in markets across the world.

Now a touring phenom as well, Ria has opened for acts like John Mayer and is currently overseas performing for the Euro crowd. So what could be next on her musical agenda?

"Next is new music and new places," she said. "I am currently checking out some offers, meeting new musicians, and treading new waters. I'm excited to see what's in store."

And so are we!

Have you had a chance to hear Ria's music? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Berklee College of Music, Blogger: Michael Lopez, El Headliner Contest, Exclusive Entrevistas, Música, Melissa Etheridge, Ourstage, Ria, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

It almost makes sense to title the first snippet of music from Prince Royce's new English album "Addicted." A lush ballad with hints of bachata and tropical rhythms, it's definitely got sounds that'll get you hooked. And according to Royce, "Addicted" is just the beginning of some great songs to come!

"This song is sort of a preview of the English album," he told us in an exclusive interview. "Now fans can see what's coming up."

"Addicted" made its big premiere online this week and Royce said you can expect to see it on iTunes by September 20. Even more exciting, was PR's confirmation that he will be performing it live in concert when he hits the road with Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull.

"Next week we start the tour and I can't wait," Royce said. "It's an honor to be working with Enrique and Pitbull. They're fun guys to work with and they work really hard. I'll definitely be singing 'Addicted' on the tour."

But as far as the rest of Prince's English album goes, he said it's still very much a work in progress. Right now he's recording two back-to-back LPs (the other being all-Spanish) and Royce made sure to emphasize that everything he's laying down will be brand new.

"The fans have been waiting a long time for new Royce music and I’m excited to give them two albums," he said. "These are both completely new. 20 new songs to be exact. It's a lot of hard work, but I think the fans deserve it."

Royce went on to say that he hopes to have the Spanish album out by January and the English one by early spring. And though that may seem like a long time from now, at least we have a fun teaser track to stay "Addicted" to in the interim.

Are you planning on picking up Prince Royce’s new single? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Addicted, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Música, Prince Royce, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Had a chance to listen to Francisca Valenzuela's music yet? If not, you most certainly will in the near future. The Chilean singer-songwriter is fast becoming an international superstar with her heartfelt tracks and charismatic personality. We had the chance to talk with Francisca after a recent performance at L.A.'s famed Dodger Stadium and she seemed quite humbled by her success.

"It's been an adventure," Valenzuela enthusiastically said. "Starting in Chile and now being able to showcase my material in places. It’s so exciting!"

Interestingly, Francisca was actually born in the states and spent the first 13 years of her life in northern California. She went on to explain how living in the U.S. and Chile had given her a wide variety of musical influences. And devoting her life to songwriting wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision, she had been drawn to the piano since the age of six.

"I've been doing artistic stuff since as far back as I can remember," she said. "I started playing piano at six. Then in high school, I participated in singing contests and talent shows. Then I got into bands and started making demos. Things slowly began to take off after that."

And though she's only 24-years-old, Valenzuela has already paid quite a lot of dues. She went to say how her demos were initially rejected by all of the major record companies. But, after increased viral attention (and some catchy original songs), Francisca got signed to an independent label and things took off quick.

Her first record, Muérdete la Lengua, went Gold and was named one of 2007's 50 best albums by Rolling Stone Chile. It even got her on the radar of Perry Ferrell, who added her to the roster of his Lollapalooza Chile festival.

"Playing Lollapalooza was amazing," Francisca said. "There were audiences from all over the world. Plus, it was very exciting to see Chile get put on the map as a music festival locale."

Now Valenzuela is hyping her second release, Buen Soldado. Co-produced by Mocky (who helmed Feist's Reminder album), it's gotten a ton of critical praise and even scored an MTV Iggy hit with its single "Quiero Verte Más."

Francisca had a hand in the production of "Quiero's" memorable video and explained to us how she loves expanding her creativity beyond music.

"I published a collection of poetry when I was young. I write constantly and I love the visual aspects of music. I love film and I have input on the production side of all my videos and the artwork on my albums."

Obviously, Valenzuela has a lot of good things to come. And don't be surprised if you hear the word "crossover" tied to her music either. She has already recorded in English and clearly has major mainstream potential.

Francisca went on to explain her secret to staying grounded and achieving her musical goals.

"Have a good nucleus of people you can trust and work with who are your absolute confidants," she said. "And make sure to keep everything in perspective and keep working hard."

Sounds like solid advice to us! You can check out more of Francisca Valenzuela's music by visiting her personal website.

Are you a fan of Francisca's music? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Buen Soldado, chile, Exclusive Entrevistas, Francisca Valenzuela, Música, Quiero Verte Mas, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

For the record, Saving Private Perez is not a sequel to that World War II Tom Hanks film. It's actually one of most popular Mexican movies of the year and it's set to hit American theaters this Friday. Writer/director Beto Gomez is clearly quite proud of the final product and spoke exclusively to Tr3s about how this political "dramedy" came to be.

"I grew up watching a lot of American movies," Beto said. "With this, I wanted to make a movie without the nudity, the violence, and the typical stuff you expect from Mexican cinema. I wanted to make a movie for the family. This movie is a comedy, but it has a lot of dramedy."

Indeed "family" is an integral part of the Private Perez plot. The premise of the movie revolves around a vicious crime lord (played by Miguel Rodarte) who travels all the way to Iraq to rescue his missing brother. But before taking the epic journey, he assembles his own hilarious "A-Team" of commandos to accompany him on the mission. Known as "The Tomatoes," they make up many of the film's funniest moments.

"Sinaloa, where I grew up, was famous for its tomatoes," Gomez said when explaining the team name's origin. "My father was an agriculturalist, so in a way it's a sign of respect for my family. Tomatoes are something that is very important to my life."

Interestingly, Beto admitted that Sinaloa actually doubled for Iraq when he was shooting the film. Not that you could tell. Each set piece was beautifully designed and Private Perez was chock full of top notch special effects. As Gomez explained, it took a lot of time and money to get the final product to the screen.

"I really enjoyed making this movie, but it took over six years to make. It was extremely expensive and very tough to find investors."

But now that Private Perez has found its audience, it's clear that the effort was well worth it. Though Beto was a little shy when it came to discussing a sequel for the "Tomatoes Team," he did say that this movie put him on the Hollywood radar.

"It's funny, since this movie came out I've gotten offers from the states," he said. "I'm currently having meetings in L.A. which is great. For my next project, I have an idea that would include American characters and Mexican characters, but right now it’s too soon to tell."

Obviously Beto's brimming with talent and we can't wait to see what kind of projects he'll be cooking up next.

Are you a fan of Mexican cinema? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Beto Gomez, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Miguel Rodarte, Movies & CineMás, Salvando al soldado Perez, Saving Private Perez, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Last week, we mentioned how director Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns were looking to "freak out" America with their pandemic movie Contagion. And though they've done a terrific job of setting up the terror, it's the cast performances that will really turn you into a germaphobe. At a recent Contagion press conference, several of the actors got to chime in on why they joined the project.

"Steven sent me the script and said, 'read this, then wash your hands," star Matt Damon jokingly said.

Matt actually plays the "everyman" in the movie. A happily married father of two, his character's world is turned upside down when his wife (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) contracts a lethal virus and dies after experiencing a seizure.

Damon explained how he had met with real doctors to get information on how people react to a loved one's sudden death. He went on to say how being a parent has changed his perspective on keeping his family healthy.

"I'm more protective than I've ever been now that I have children," Matt said. "My wife's nickname for me is 'Red Alert'."

Laurence Fishburne plays Dr. Ellis Cheever in the film. As one of the chief physicians researching the cure for Contagion’s mysterious disease, he was required to recite quite a bit of complicated medical dialogue.

"I was blown away by how smart this script was," Fishburne said. "Because, to be quite honest, a lot of what's being made now is stupid."

Actress Jennifer Ehle's role required even more research. Her character is a hard-nosed scientist who is racing against the clock to test virus strains and find the master antidote for the Contagion outbreak. Ehle seemed to deeply enjoy the chance to flex her scientific acting muscles and likened the story to a good-old-fashioned suspense novel.

"Contagion’s script was a wonderful page-turner," she said. "I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of it."

But the big question on everyone's mind at the press conference was, how exactly to categorize Contagion? Is it a horror movie? A political commentary? Perhaps an Oscar-worthy drama? Matt tried his best to sum it up when he said,

"This movie is a really exciting, but it’s also horrifying at the same time."

You can judge for yourself when Contagion hits theaters this Friday.

Are you planning to watch Contagion? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Contagion, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Ehle, Laurence Fishburne, MAtt Damon, Movies & CineMás, Steven Soderbergh, Tr3s Exclusives