Ricardo Luis Porrata, known as Ricky Luis, has released "Amiga," his first single as a solo salsero after five years as lead vocalist of N'Klabe. The song came out this week. El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora both report the release, and neither gives an exact date.
Luis was in Puerto Rico on October 20 and 21 to promote the single. "Amiga" is a love confession that he wrote himself.
Leaving N'Klabe
During his time with N'Klabe, Luis sang on four albums released through Sony Music and Universal Music, according to the coverage. That puts the new single in a different position from his group work. The major-label distribution that carried those albums is gone, and the song now goes out through the independent label OTB Records.
Publishing has also changed hands. The single is administered through Wave Factory Music Publishing, which is affiliated with ASCAP, the performing rights organization that collects royalties when songs are played publicly. Because Luis wrote "Amiga," the publishing side of the song sits inside his own setup rather than a major's.
Neither outlet carries a direct quote from Luis about why he left the group or why he chose an independent route, so the reasons behind the move are not on the record.
Who made the record
The credit list shows how a Puerto Rican salsa single is now put together across several countries.
- Arrangements: Edwin Sánchez and Mike Rivera.
- Recording: Andy Shoemaker, at Rax Trax in Chicago.
- Mixing: Luis "Peke" Vega, at Essential in Peru.
- Mastering: Mike Fuller, at Fuller Sound in Miami.
- Video: shot in Peru.
That means the song was recorded in the United Midwest, mixed in South America and mastered in Florida, with the video filmed in Peru. None of the steps happened on the island, though the artist, the genre and the promotion are Puerto Rican.
The credits also show that the record was built from separate specialists rather than from one studio under one roof. Arrangers, a recording engineer, a mix engineer and a mastering engineer are each named, and each works in a different city.
What is known and what is not
The reports describe "Amiga" as a return to salsa, with Luis now fronting the project under his own name. The single is out now, and its video is available. Neither outlet announces an album, and no shows or tour dates have been confirmed.
The two reports are the only sources for the credits and the label and publishing details above. Anything beyond them, including a release date or a follow-up project, has not been announced.