3/8: Mexican duo Rio Roma in Phoenix
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Romance will be in the air when Mexican duo Rio Roma make their Valley debut this week. Comprising Jose Luis Roma and his brother, Raul, the pair offers a breathy, slow-burn brand of pop music designed to be listened to when the lights are low.
Launched in 2008, Rio Roma has scored on radio with such tunes as the lovely "Me Cambiaste la Vida" and the optimistic "Mi Persona Favorita." The group is famous enough to fill the 10,000-seat Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. That makes it surprising that they have been booked into La Flor de Calabaza, an intimate restaurant in downtown Phoenix, for their first U.S. headlining tour.
Jose Luis, a top songwriter who has penned songs for Alejandra Guzman and Alejandro Fernandez, answered questions by e-mail to plug the show.
Question:Before launching Rio Roma, you recorded a regional Mexican album as Josel y Raul. How different would your career be if that took off?
Answer: We believe that everything happens for a reason. That album was part of what made us into what we are today.
Q: Your songs are quite romantic. Is that just an image?
A: We are hopeless romantics. We love to enjoy the moments of love and experience it in all of its phases.
Q: Where do you get the inspiration?
A: All of our songs are based on personal experiences and definitely women are our main inspiration.
Q: Your songs are popular at weddings. What does that mean to you?
A: We used to sing in some of Mexico's best wedding bands and it was our dream to someday make our songs famous and have them be part of the music played and danced to at weddings. Today, we are sure that in Mexico, Ecuador, Chile and Peru, to name a few, people get married to a Rio Roma song.
Q: What's the biggest change since becoming famous?
A: We're exactly the same, but with the difference that we have less time to see our friends and family. That makes us value the time spent with those we love even more.
Q: What has been the high point, career-wise?
A: Without a doubt the two sold-out shows at Auditiorio Nacional in Mexico. The Latin Grammy nominations also make us very proud.
Q: What is left for you to achieve?
A: There are many things we have yet to achieve, but without a doubt we want our music to keep breaking boundaries and someday be heard worldwide.
Q: A lot of famous people have recorded your songs. What meant the most to you?
A: We have much respect for our colleagues, but if we had to choose it would "Día de Suerte" by Alejandra Guzman, "Todo Cambio" by Camila and "Perdón Perdón" by Ha*Ash.
Q: Who else would you like to work with?
A: We would love to collaborate with Marc Anthony, Bruno Mars, Luis Miguel, Laura Pausini, Vicente Fernandez and Yuridia.
Q: If you and Raul disagree, musically speaking, who wins?
A: Most of the time we agree but if we do disagree someone has to make the decision. There are three people we turn to: Our other brother is the artistic director for Sony Music; our sister, Yahel, has a great ear for music; and our mom.
Q: In Phoenix, you are playing a very intimate venue. Do you like that?
A: We love that closeness with people and definitely every place has its magic. Intimate or a big stage, we give ourselves entirely.
Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.
Rio Roma
When: 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8.
Where: La Flor de Calabaza, 705 N. First St., Phoenix.
Admission: $70; VIP tables start at $500.
Details: 602-730-8533, facebook.com/LaFlorDeCalabazaLL.