Jorge Luis Chacín on Condensing His Essence in ‘De Amor, Sueños y Cantares’: ‘A Little Journey Through All My Decades’

Jorge Luis Chacín, one of the most recognized and sought-after contemporary Venezuelan songwriters in Latin music, returns this week with De Amor, Sueños y Cantares, his first studio album in four years. The project features 10 new songs that encapsulate the best of his essence.

The former member of the group Guaco infuses his unmistakable tropical flavor into tracks like “Dale Más,” “Todo Pasa” with Luis Enrique and the focus track “Una Canción,” effortlessly moving between salsa, merengue and ballads with a sound that blends the traditional with the contemporary.

“It’s like a little journey through all my decades, through everything I’ve learned even before Guaco,” Chacín tells Billboard Español.

Released independently on Thursday (April 30), De Amor, Sueños y Cantares (which means “Of Love, Dreams and Songs”) is built on three narrative pillars: love, dreams, and singing as a way of life. The title, Chacín explains, summarizes the entire concept of the album.

“De Amor, because I’ve always been an eternal lover of life, of things, of love itself. I wanted to talk about the countless ways to love and feel: loves that ended, those left unfinished, those that blossomed, the ones that last forever and the ones that don’t,” the musician explains. “Sueños, because I’m an eternal dreamer and I believe, as they say, that our truest life happens when we daydream. To dream, you need a little faith amidst the chaos we live in, in this congested world.”

“And Cantares,” he continues, “because, as it says in the press notes we sent out, [it elevates music to a poetic and spiritual space, inspired by the idea of singing as a way of life]. I compare singing to, for example, when I visit friends who aren’t musicians but love karaoke. I see that when people sing, they disconnect. It doesn’t matter if they can’t sing well; it’s therapeutic. I believe singing is the most beautiful way to live.”

In addition to Luis Enrique, the album includes two special collaborations: “Tan Bonita y Sin Novio” with Venezuelan poet and singer-songwriter Lalo Yaha, inspired by a poem of the same name written by Yaha; and “Déjà Vu” with Chacín’s youngest daughter, Natacha Chacín, who is 21 years old.

“It’s not just because she’s my daughter — don’t let her hear this — but she’s amazing. I think she’s going to surpass me, God willing, because she’s very talented,” says the proud dad, who also mentions a double celebration as the release coincides with the 29th birthday of his eldest daughter.

Members of Guaco contributed to “Todo Pasa,” while two luminaries from the Dominican Republic — Janina Rosado, pianist and musical director for Juan Luis Guerra y 440, and her husband, renowned percussionist Juan De La Cruz “Chocolate” — collaborated on the merengue track “Dale Más,” the album’s first single, released in February.

Chacín produced De Amor, Sueños y Cantares alongside Pablo Rodríguez, a 27-year-old musician whom he considers “like a son” and who has been working with him since the age of 14. “It’s great because he’s an excellent musician. He sits with me, and we understand each other musically like a total pro, but he also understands today’s world and the sound of urban music. So, with him, I produced these songs to have that classic sound that is my essence but also fresh to the ear,” says the veteran artist.

Born in Maracaibo and now based in Florida, Chacín is one of the most relevant Latin music songwriters today. His recent works have been performed by artists like Camilo, Elena Rose and Los Ángeles Azules (“Carteras Chinas”); Ricardo Montaner (“El Último Regreso”); and Fonseca and Grupo Niche (“Con Dinero y Sin Dinero,” which was nominated for the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards in the record of the year and best tropical song categories). A recipient of BMI Awards, he has also written or co-written songs for Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Becky G, Prince Royce, Thalia and more.

When asked how he decides which songs to keep for himself and which to give away, his answer is simple: “I learned to be a cheerful giver because I love hearing my songs performed by great artists,” he says. “I really enjoy it; I’ve never been selfish about it. What I do is, when I write for myself, I’m a little freer.”

Listen to De Amor, Sueños y Cantares below: