the american dj Marshmello and the Colombian singer Manuel Turizo pay homage to the electronic merengue of the 2000s with the release of “El Merengue,” a cross-genre tune that celebrates both rhythms.
Leading Grammy-nominated artist and producer Marshmello has joined forces with young Latino artist, songwriter and phenomenon Manuel Turizo to release a new joint single, “El Merengue,” which debuts with a music video starring both artists.
The two artists unveiled the mega-collaboration in the heart of New York City’s bustling Times Square last Friday (February 24) when one of music’s most recognizable “heads,” the helmeted Marshmello, appeared on the subway in New York. New York and in the busy streets of the city. As the clock struck 5 pm ET, the iconic helmet was lifted to reveal Manuel Turizo. Fans mobbed the Colombian heartthrob causing chaos and excitement as the duo, remotely on IG Live and in person, announced the new single featured on seven surrounding Billboards.
That same night, Marshmello took advantage of his performance at the electronic music event held in Mexico City “EDC” to reveal more of his new collaborations with Latino artists. The resourceful DJ and producer debuted another previously unreleased song with Mexican artists Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma. In addition, his fans are waiting since he left a clear post on his social networks announcing that he is working on himself and on the production of a new album.
The release of “El Merengue” follows Manuel Turizo’s worldwide hit ‘La Bachata’, which has proven to be a complete hit by entering the following Billboard charts: Billboard Hot 100 chart for 21 weeks (highest position #67 ), Billboard Global 200 for 33 weeks (highest position #6), Hot Latin Songs for 34 weeks (highest position #5), Tropical Airplay for 10 weeks at #1 (stayed on the chart for 40 weeks) and Latin Airplay for 1 week in position #1 (remained on the chart for 38 weeks). Additionally, the song was in the Spotify Top 50 for 31 weeks (peaking at #3) with over 969 million audio streams and 403 million views. This week, Turizo has two songs on Billboard’s Top 10 Latin Airplay chart, and they are: ‘La Bachata’ at #2 and ‘Éxtasis’ at #8.
The audiovisual piece of “El Merengue”, directed by Chadrick Preuss and Sandeep Vadlamudi, shows Turizo reminiscing about his ex-girlfriend just before seeing her in the crowd at a nightclub. With the confidence he gained thanks to the shots, Turizo acts on impulse by approaching her and her ex-boyfriends dance in what seems to be a mist of passion, to the smooth rhythm of electronic merengue, or was it all just a dream? At the end of the night, Turizo is consumed by emotion but his friend Marshmello comforts him and they both leave the premises.
The scenes of the video detail the lyrics of Turizo’s “El Merengue” composed by Manuel Turizo himself, Marshmello, Edgar Barrera, Julián Turizo, Miguel Andrés Martínez Perea, Carolina Isabel Colón Juarbe, Nicolás José Cotton and Juan Diego Medina Vélez. The song was produced by Marshmello, Nico Cotton, Slow Mike, and Edgar Barrera.
The collaboration also follows Marshmello’s sensational release “Numb” featuring Khalid, which peaked at number three on Billboard’s US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. “El Merengue” explores for the first time the genre of Electronic Merengue.