Honduran-Canadian singer-producer Daniela Andrade shares smooth Latin-inspired R&B on “Ayayai”

Toronto-based artist and producer Daniela Andrade will blow you away regardless of whether or not you understand the language she’s singing in. Close your eyes and you’ll find yourself blissfully sinking into the haunting Spanish serenade that's her new single “Ayayai”.

Andrade’s voice is arresting and wildly distinct; it’s quite nearly impossible to stop listening. The 27-year-old singer has never failed to deliver an incredibly smooth, intoxicating sound with a modern production complexity that meets (but never upstages) her vocal prowess.

The Honduran-Canadian singer is guided by many genres and influences, including jazz, old-school soul, and contemporary R&B, but the most obvious influence in “Ayayai” is her Latin background. Born to Honduran immigrants, Andrade often draws from her heritage in her songwriting and musical style as a whole. That being said, up until now we haven’t truly seen her explore this background in such a pure, straightforward manner: writing in her parents' native language.

On “Ayayai” Andrade explores an alternate meaning for a Spanish colloquialism that commonly alludes to a feeling of frustration of confusion. Instead, she takes the phrase to mean something a bit rosier. “This expression has always been difficult to translate for me as it can be used in different senses,” explains Andrade. “For this song, I wanted to portray that feeling of when you look at someone across a room and play out how things may go down.”

As Andrade writes and sings in Spanish, she manages to maintain the equally powerful, non-Latin elements of her music. Her soul influence is still prominent in the track’s melodic style, which is guided by lush, modern electronica and mellow vocal effects. What results is a sublime marriage of culture.