Music album distributed by Virgin Music (Universal Music Group)
Client: Germán López
Arrangements Coordination: Glocal Sound (Héctor González Sánchez)
Release
2022 – Label: Jeito, Distributed by Virgin Music (Universal Music Group)
About the Album
“Alma” is an internationally recognized music album by Germán López, produced by Grammy-winning producer Gregg Field, recognized for collaborations with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, John Williams, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder. The album features an impressive lineup of renowned international musicians, including Richard Bona, Lila Downs, Josemi Carmona, Jorge Pardo, Antonio Serrano, Seckou Keita, Alain Pérez, Israel Suárez “Piraña”, Andreas Prittwitz, Tim Ries, Cheche Alara, and Aboubakar Syla.
Glocal Sound was responsible for structuring the arrangements based on the given composition, reharmonizing sections to enrich the musical language, and creating the individual instrumental scores. The goal was to provide musicians with a clear foundation in the studio sessions, allowing them to interpret and elevate the arrangements with their own artistic input.
Tracks Arranged by Glocal Sound
- Mediterráneo
- Afromenco
- Aires De Tanguillo
- Tanganillos De Oriente
- La Última Gota De Café
- Toledo
- Margullo
- Faro De Arinaga
- Pa’ Artenara
Creative Process
Receiving the Initial Sketches
Glocal Sound received the compositions from Germán López, which already had clear harmonic structures and melodies, along with some rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment ideas. These served as the foundation for developing complete instrumental arrangements.
Developing the Arrangements
Using virtual instruments, we orchestrated the arrangements for each instrumental line, including percussion, drums, bass, keyboards, flute, and more. This process was a continuous exchange between Glocal Sound and Germán López, who provided feedback throughout to fine-tune every musical detail and ensure that the arrangements reflected his artistic vision.
Preparing the Recording Sessions
Once the final arrangement versions were approved, we created structured Pro Tools sessions with precise tempo maps for each track. This meticulous preparation allowed the recording engineers to easily import MIDI and audio materials, ensuring seamless workflow in the studio. Each instrument was exported as separate tracks, so musicians and engineers could quickly mute or isolate specific elements, facilitating maximum flexibility during the recording sessions.
Three Years of Refinement
The recording process of Alma was an extended journey. Over three years, Gregg Field and Germán López carefully refined each track, overcoming the challenges of remote collaboration and navigating the complexities brought by the global pandemic. Despite the difficulties, the dedication and passion of everyone involved ensured that the final version of the album was a refined, emotionally rich, and cohesive piece of work.
Credits
- Music composer / lead artist: Germán López
- Producer: Gregg Field
- Arrangements Coordination: Héctor González Sánchez (Glocal Sound)
- Additional Arrangements: Roman Gottwald, Aitor Antruejo.
- Featured Artists: Richard Bona, Lila Downs, Josemi Carmona, Jorge Pardo, Antonio Serrano, Seckou Keita, Alain Pérez, Israel Suárez “Piraña”, Andreas Prittwitz, Tim Ries, Cheche Alara, Aboubakar Syla
- Label: Jeito
- Distribution: Virgin Music (Universal Music Group)
Recording Studios
- Madrid: Infinity Studios
- Los Angeles: G Studio Digital
- London: Air Edel Studios
- Miami: Bonayuma Recording Studio
- Groove Punch Studios
