Minneapolis based musician/producer Cory Wong is on a mission to spread the music of Peru's coast as far and wide as possible. Last April, he traveled to Lima and assembled an ensemble to help document Afro-Peruvian music. The group was called Peña (a meeting place or grouping of artists/musicians) and their first album was released in October '10 on Wong's Secret Stash Records imprint. The self-titled effort was a collection of 17 tracks that eloquently displayed the different styles within the genre and was accompanied by a documentary DVD, impressively packaged in an lavish wooden box. The album quickly received critical praise from tastemaker's like NPR Music, PRI's The World, All Music, Blurt, Afropop, etc. and landed on many year end lists. Due to the impressive reception and passion of Secret Stash, they didn't want to stop with one album, when they've recorded over 50 tracks during Wong's week-long visit to Lima. Wong has carefully hand-picked more gems from that Peña session, and is back in the studio mixing and mastering another cohesive collection of music, slated for release on February 22, 2011.
Naturally this poses the question, “Why release two separate volumes?" Wong explains, “when we got back from Lima last year we sat down and divided up the recordings into two excellent collections that stood well on their own. It actually drove me nuts to hold back some of my favorite recordings for Volume 2. Due to the reception of the first volume, we knew it was time to release the rest of the tracks on this second volume. In fact, I think I may like Volume 2 a bit more than Volume 1," concluded Wong. “With such a vast collection of recordings it can be a bit overwhelming to digest it in one album. Great tracks have the potential to be overlooked and can get lost in the shuffle. This way each track is likely to get a bit more attention from people once they dive into both volumes."
Secret Stash Records has a history of innovation and playing by their own rules. From a slew of vinyl only releases, to the hand assembled wooden box packaging of the first Peña record, to their creative use of mobile technology, they are constantly trying new ways to package, market, and sell their products. This time around, they've opted for a digital only release. “We don't feel that this product is “vinyl-centric," and to be perfectly blunt, we just don't like CDs. We released Volume 1 on CD, but now that the brand is established, we are confident that digital distribution will be the most effective way to bring Volume 2 to consumers," says Eric Foss, Wong's partner in the label. Peña Volume 2 will be available through all the major digital music services such as iTunes, Amazon, and Napster. It will also be available for purchase directly from the label's website as MP3s , WAVs, and Apple Lossless/AAC (the preferred format for the audiophile crowd).
To Cory Wong, the music encompasses more than just his own passion for Afro-Peruvian music. He is focused on growing public interest in what he calls “one of the most soulful and heartfelt genres of music I've ever heard." In addition to the release of Peña Volume 2, Secret Stash is also planning the release of a compilation of classic Afro-Peruvian recordings this spring. Wong and Foss compiled the collection during their time in Lima. Also, in an effort to help share Afro-Peruvian music with young musicians, Wong has assembled a live ensemble and educational curriculum that he is bringing to colleges throughout the country this fall. What may have seemed like a one off project to some people is on the path to becoming a musical force with serious longevity.
Naturally this poses the question, “Why release two separate volumes?" Wong explains, “when we got back from Lima last year we sat down and divided up the recordings into two excellent collections that stood well on their own. It actually drove me nuts to hold back some of my favorite recordings for Volume 2. Due to the reception of the first volume, we knew it was time to release the rest of the tracks on this second volume. In fact, I think I may like Volume 2 a bit more than Volume 1," concluded Wong. “With such a vast collection of recordings it can be a bit overwhelming to digest it in one album. Great tracks have the potential to be overlooked and can get lost in the shuffle. This way each track is likely to get a bit more attention from people once they dive into both volumes."
Secret Stash Records has a history of innovation and playing by their own rules. From a slew of vinyl only releases, to the hand assembled wooden box packaging of the first Peña record, to their creative use of mobile technology, they are constantly trying new ways to package, market, and sell their products. This time around, they've opted for a digital only release. “We don't feel that this product is “vinyl-centric," and to be perfectly blunt, we just don't like CDs. We released Volume 1 on CD, but now that the brand is established, we are confident that digital distribution will be the most effective way to bring Volume 2 to consumers," says Eric Foss, Wong's partner in the label. Peña Volume 2 will be available through all the major digital music services such as iTunes, Amazon, and Napster. It will also be available for purchase directly from the label's website as MP3s , WAVs, and Apple Lossless/AAC (the preferred format for the audiophile crowd).
To Cory Wong, the music encompasses more than just his own passion for Afro-Peruvian music. He is focused on growing public interest in what he calls “one of the most soulful and heartfelt genres of music I've ever heard." In addition to the release of Peña Volume 2, Secret Stash is also planning the release of a compilation of classic Afro-Peruvian recordings this spring. Wong and Foss compiled the collection during their time in Lima. Also, in an effort to help share Afro-Peruvian music with young musicians, Wong has assembled a live ensemble and educational curriculum that he is bringing to colleges throughout the country this fall. What may have seemed like a one off project to some people is on the path to becoming a musical force with serious longevity.
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