When lockdown first started a year or so ago, many of us made our peace with it by turning to that lengthy to-do list. ‘What a great opportunity to catch up on some jobs’, we thought. ‘Or perhaps I’ll learn a new skill’, we kidded ourselves. ‘I know, I’ll learn Japanese, and the piano’, we outright lied, as we locked the front door, kicked back on the sofa, and lined up yet another box set marathon. 

Well, all of us, except Selena Gomez, that is. The American actress, singer and producer, who has always been proud of her Hispanic heritage, instead used the last year to brush up on her Spanish skills with the help of a language coach (though she was already fluent), and get to work in her home studio on her first ever Spanish-language record, the seven-track Revelación EP, produced by Tainy. In doing so, she made the rest of us look really, really bad.

But don’t let that put you off this new release, because Revelación is an absolutely joyous collection of songs that positively brim with affection. Throughout the record, you can not shake the feeling that Gomez poured herself into this project, giving each song her absolute all.

Opening number De Una Vaz is a slowed down R&B number that immediately reveals how fantastic Gomez’s voice sounds in Spanish, losing absolutely none of it’s richness for the change of languages. Buscando Amor then raises the tempo with its smooth and sultry story of a night out dancing with friends. 

Puerto Rican rapper Rauw Alejandro lends his skills to Baila Conmigo, and the vocal interplay between Gomez and Alejandro is a delight as they weave a story of young lovers who overcome a language barrier of their own. Dámelo To’ is propelled along by a thumping beat, while Vicio is a slick pop affair, and Adiós shimmers with some killer tempo changes. 

Gomez’s last album Rare landed last year, and it was a fantastic dance pop record and a triumph in its own right, but Revelación offers something very different. It’s an EP made for the sheer joy and love of Latin music, and it’s hard not to smile and dance along as you listen. 

Revelación  tracklist:

1. De Una Vez
2. Buscando Amor
3. Baila Conmigo (with Rauw Alejandro)
4. Dámelo To’ (featuring Myke Towers)
5. Vicio
6. Adiós
7. Selfish Love

Watch the official video for De Una Vez here. 

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.