Baseball and Latin music collided at Latin Music Week 2023’s Latin Swing panel, which took place on Wednesday (Oct. 4), presented by Rimas Sports. In the discussion moderated by Ángel “El Guru” Vera of Rapetón Entertainment, Latin trap stars Arcángel and Eladio Carrión were joined by athletes Ezequiel Tovar (Venezuelan baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies) and Francisco Javier Álvarez (Venezuelan baseball catcher for the New York Mets).
The 45-minute conversation touched on the intersection of the music and sports disciplines, how Latin music and baseball are deeply ingrained in the cultures of Latin American countries, as well as how it serves as a source of national pride and unity.
Álvarez highlighted how listening to Latin music is a mood changer. “If I am have a bad day, we listen to music, it changes your life in the moment,” he said. He also touched on the power of teamwork, saying, “You can’t think about yourself only. You have to think as a team, so every time I go into the game I want to win.”
“The competition I have is with myself, to always surpass yourself,” echoed Tovar. He also mentioned that dembow and reggaetón are what gets him hyped before games, stating that his state of mind changes to win it.
Tovar’s walk-up song is “Feel Me” by Argentinian rapper Trueno, and Álvarez’s is Dominican dembow song “Boy Boy” by Yaisel LM and Hansel El De La H.
Multi-hyphenate artist Carrión — who is not only hitmaker, but a professional swimmer and an avid golfer — related plenty to the sports hustle. “I swam Monday to Sunday three times a day at three in the morning for four hours. If you are a great professional, then you’ll do extraordinary work.”
Arcángel offered personal anecdotes relatable to Latinos. “I grew up watching baseball on television,” he shared. “I grew up admiring athletes. I’m a fan of sports in general, of the discipline to be able to stand out. If [the athletes] are Dominican and Puerto Rican that encouraged me a lot. [I admire] the discipline they have to put in. They have to train, the dizziness is different.”
Celebrated for more than 30 years, the 2023 edition of Latin Music Week includes a Superstar Q&A with Shakira; the Legends on Legends chat with Chencho Corleone and Vico C; Making the Hit Live! with Carin León and Pedro Capó; a panel with RBD’s Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, and Maite Perroni; Superstar Songwriter discussion with Edgar Barrera and Keityn, and, among many other sessions, Q&As and workshops. See the ultimate Latin Music Week guide here.
Official partners of the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week, taking place Oct. 2-6, include AT&T, Cheetos, CN Bank, Delta Air Lines, Lexus, Netflix, Michelob ULTRA and Smirnoff.
Latin Music Week coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony, which will broadcast live from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla., on Thursday (Oct. 5) and will air on Telemundo. It will also broadcast simultaneously on Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.
