Q&A: Reggaeton star Calderon goes back to the streets

MIAMI (Billboard) - On March 6, Puerto Rican reggaeton veteran Tego Calderon will embark on his first extensive U.S. tour, dubbed El Abayarde Contraataca.

Calderon will play 17 club dates before going to Latin America. Also on his slate is a small role in "The Fast and the Furious 4," due in theaters in 2009. Calderon spoke to Billboard about his new ventures.

Q: Why this type of tour?

Tego Calderon: "It's a little guerrilla style, going back to the streets. We wanted smaller venues to be closer to the audience and closer to our roots. We'll travel by bus, and the staging will vary according to the venue. Sometimes we'll be able to play with a bigger ensemble. But in general, instead of having that big band I always have, we'll have a smaller group, and we work with a mix that I like and that retains the elements of my music. We always have the DJ, and we also have our bomba drums, to be able to present our culture. I think I'm a bridge between the old and the new."

Q: Was it hard to get used to this reduced format?

Calderon: "In the beginning. But having 12 to 15 people onstage is expensive, and this allows me to be seen in places that haven't seen me before. And having my DJ is like going back to our beginnings. I'm also a bit sentimental about where I play. And I like the feeling of an intimate venue much more. I feel more real, more accessible, more me. Although we will do a mega show to close the tour in New York."

Q: You've recorded in English for a mainstream market. What are your thoughts on crossing over?

Calderon: "I'm a fan of music playing in any language. Latin stations play music in English, and I would like them to play music in Spanish. I've done songs in English because it's the language of hip-hop. But I don't do it thinking about a crossover. And our fan base continues to be predominantly Latin."

Reuters/Billboard