When Jacobo Vega-Albela left New Mexico for upstate New York to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a performer and composer, he knew it would change him forever. Ready to expand his potential, he soon found himself on a path that some only fantasize about. He has since transformed his extraordinary journey and its captivating highs and lows into his first album with 577 Records.
“Un-Belonging is a record underpinned by tremendous joy, optimism, and love for the world counterbalanced by a persistent, nagging feeling that I don't exactly fit in where I am,” explains the rising composer. “A feeling that serves as a perpetual invitation to lean in, to try to accept change gracefully, and to move through my life as though I am the protagonist of my own story.”
Recorded four years after he left the Southwest, the album offers nine tracks that will tug at your heartstrings. “To Hope” elegantly translates the raw excitement and spirited delight Jacobo brings to his beloved genre while the proceeding track, “Plonqs”, seems to illuminate the beauty of exploration and change. Jacobo integrated trio, quartet, and quintet settings to capture the diverse feelings and colors he has experienced along this passion-driven adventure. He also used musical contributions from his closest friends and collaborators to define the sound of the album.
As an artist, Jacobo is inspired by the classic rock, indie, and Latin music from his youth, a healthy obsession with the post-bop sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and an impressive background in 20th-century classical music. He has performed with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, The Western New York Big Band, The Swooners, and more.
Un-Belonging drops May 9! Grab one of only 200 first-edition CDs or download your digital copy.
