Anything can happen when the sun goes down. Boza’s new album, Sin Sol, takes listeners on a journey into a world that comes alive when the sun sets. The Panamanian rapper captures the essence of nightlife in his 13-track LP that transcends borders and genres. From reggaeton bangers such as the viral hit “Booty Puty” to more laid-back vibes with “Ocean”’ featuring Kenia Os, the album seamlessly moves between afrobeat, jersey club, electronic, and house. Whether it’s strolling under the starlit sky on Barcelona’s beach or roaming through the buzzy streets of Italy, each song on Sin Sol is a musical chapter inspired by the rising star’s experiences as he toured through Europe.
As Boza prepares to hit the road on his first stateside tour this month, the release of Sin Sol is just one of the exciting parts of the year for the 25-year-old rapper. The Volar USA Tour kicks off on June 22 in Sterling, VA, and will take him to major cities nationwide, including New York, Houston, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. Boza also recently earned a Male Artist On the Rise nomination at this year’s Premios Juventud.
Boza sat down with Remezcla for a track-by-track interview to delve deeper into the creative process behind five standout tracks on this special concept album. Because there is so much more to Sin Sol than meets the ear, Boza shares the stories behind these songs to shed some light on the after-dark adventures he’s bringing his fans along for.
“Ocean” (feat. Kenia Os)
I’ve been wanting to collaborate with a woman, and Kenia is the only woman on the album. We weren’t together in the studio when we recorded the song. She had other things going on, and I was busy working too. But she liked the song [when we sent it to her], and she’s a great artist.
After the song was mixed and we shot the video [in Mazatlan, Mexico], it became my favorite song on the album. It doesn’t always happen like that. Sometimes I end up liking a song other than the single, but this one is my favorite.
“Booty Puty”
I used this one song from a while ago as a guide for Booty Puty, “Asereje-ja-de-je.” It was weird because I was writing a song that had nothing to do with that. It just occurred to me to say it. It ended up becoming the first single, and I’m really happy with the song, and it got a really good reaction in South America.
“Te Conozco”
“Te Conozco” is a song that has a lot of my essence, and Panamanian essence. For me, that’s everything because it makes me unique in the industry. Everyone has an identity. You can listen to five different artists, and none of them will sound the same.
“Sin Waze”
I was buying myself some ice cream, and the guy who was selling it to me said, “I like the bambas you’ve got on.” And I was like, “What’s a bamba?” He meant the shoes I was wearing. So I learned a new word and unlocked a new level there [laughs]. [He mentions “bambas” in the song]. [While in Spain], I went out with this one girl, and from visiting her, I memorized the route [to her place]. That’s where the name “Sin Waze” came from.
“Zucarita”
This is one of those songs that have my essence and sound. You can call it “jersey club.” I really love listening to Drake, and he put jersey club on the last album he released. Lil Uzi Vert released one, and Bad Bunny just came out with one and went global with that. But maybe when Drake put it out, it didn’t go global because not everyone understood what music he was trying to make. Maybe he was too in the future? When I heard jersey club, it inspired me to write “Zucarita.” The song has the same golpe as jersey club. Not a lot, it’s a little slower, and it’s more singable than the original jersey club. The title has a double meaning with “su ca” (sugar) and “her face.”