Pushing Beats and Creative Boundaries: Domino Saints on AURA, La Youcy at Miami Music Week, and the Future of Latin Electronica
In the vibrant heart of Miami Music Week, Creativity Squared host Helen Todd spoke with Domino Saints, the Puerto Rican urban pop duo making waves in the Latin electronic music scene. With the pulsing energy of Miami as their backdrop, Gigi Ojeda and David Leal shared insights into their creative journey, their unique approach to blending musical traditions, and their vision for the future of Latin electronic music. The interview was right before they flew to Paris and Mont Saint Michel in France to film and direct their new music video and single: “AURA”. Check out the interview to hear more about their creative evolution to being behind the camera as creative directors and directing themselves!
“There’s something divine about music, and it has to come from a person. I think there’s nothing more creative than a human being.”
Gigi Ojeda
Domino Saints New Release: AURA
Already with a wave of positive press, Domino Saints’ latest release in partnership with Apple’s Platoon label is “AURA”, a bold and uplifting new single that celebrates inner strength, motivation, and authenticity. The track is part of Platoon’s She Runs the Boards initiative and holds special significance as the first Spanish-language release under the program, which was created to uplift and empower women in music.
Their vision for “AURA” came to life with cinematic and stunning visuals paired with the duo’s creative and musical talent which are on full display to be enjoyed watching the music video.
“Our vision is to take Latin Music and our culture to the rest of the world and make our own rules along the way.”
Domino Saints
Creating a New Space in Miami Music Week
As Miami transformed into a global epicenter of electronic music during Miami Music Week, Domino Saints carved out a distinctive niche with their curated event, La Youcy. This celebration aims to showcase the growing Latin electronic music scene that has been flourishing in Miami and all corners of the globe.
“The concept of La Youcy is something really chic, and something that doesn’t matter if you’re Latin or not, it just feels global. It feels inclusive that you just want to come here and have a good time,” Gigi explains, emphasizing the universal appeal they’re aiming for. “And it’s very upscale. It’s like good vibe, good energy, very colorful.”
David elaborates on the significance of this event within the broader context of Miami Music Week: “The Miami Beach team, we’ve been working so hard to create a scene of Latin music within the electronic space. There’s been a lot of Latin DJs that are based in Miami and they’ve been playing all over the world, but they’ve been working on this sound where we’re taking Latin urban sounds, Latin tropical sounds, and making them into our electronic space.”
This fusion represents more than just a musical trend—it’s a cultural movement that celebrates the rich heritage of Latin music while embracing the innovative possibilities of electronic production.
From Puerto Rico to the Global Stage
The story of Domino Saints begins in Puerto Rico, where music flows through the island’s cultural bloodstream. David, who was born in Venezuela with Colombian family roots before settling in Puerto Rico, met Gigi through a series of serendipitous events involving surfing, a shark encounter, and a birthday jam session…when they were fifteen years old!
“We met in Puerto Rico. I was originally, I’m an immigrant. I was born in Venezuela. My family’s Colombian ended up in the US when I was really little. And finally, my family settled down in Puerto Rico. And that was the best thing that happened to me,” David recalls, highlighting how this multicultural background has influenced their musical approach.
Puerto Rico’s vibrant music scene provided fertile ground for their creative development. “Puerto Rico’s always had this awesome musical energy. And there’s so much coming out of the island, obviously it’s really known for Ton and we love Reggaton, but there’s always been people also exploring different genres like reggae music, obviously tropical Latin music, rock,” David shares.
The duo’s journey from aspiring solo artists to successful creative partners wasn’t without its hesitations. “For a long time we had this fear of doing it together because the taboo, like, oh, you can’t work with your partner, that shit’s going to go bad,” Gigi confesses. However, their shared musical vision eventually overcame those doubts, leading to a decade-long collaboration that has produced chart-topping hits and innovative projects.
Breaking Boundaries: Music Without Borders
Domino Saints’ approach to music deliberately transcends language barriers and cultural divisions. They create bilingual music that connects with diverse audiences, fulfilling Gigi’s dream of truly universal musical expression.
“We’ve always been known since day one with fusing rhythms and even from before, taking all the sounds from the Caribbean, not only from Puerto Rico, from Jamaica, from Virgin Islands, and obviously a lot from Africa because that’s where the roots of our rhythms come from and blending that with pop electronic music,” Gigi explains.
This commitment to inclusive musicality stems from their early experiences performing for international audiences. “We would have people from all over the world coming to our shows, and they were like, ‘Oh my God, I love your music. I have no idea what you’re saying.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s not cool,'” Gigi recalls. “So we started adding English into it, and honestly, that’s my dream. And if someday I’m learning Italian and Portuguese, and I’m going to throw that in there too because I think that the music is for everyone, and it should be universal, and it’s a universal language.”
Human Creativity in the A.I. Age
In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming creative industries, Domino Saints maintain a balanced perspective that embraces technological tools while preserving the irreplaceable human element in music creation.
“Creativity is one thing, but imagination is really what draws out your creativity.”
David Leal
“I love A.I., as I was telling you. I mean everything that we did visual, I love it as I did with A.I., and I love it as a tool,” Gigi shares. However, she draws a clear line when it comes to music creation: “I think when it comes to music, there’s something divine about music and it has to come from a person. I think there’s nothing more creative than a human being. And I think that that’s what gives it the energy, and that thing that when someone sings that song, it makes your hair stand up.”
This perspective reflects a nuanced understanding of how A.I. can enhance creativity without replacing the human essence that gives music its emotional resonance. Gigi also raises important points about artist compensation in the digital age: “I think also that it is really important to protect the artist nowadays. And sometimes we’re just feeding and just giving information, not only to A.I., but all these technical platforms, and the artists aren’t getting compensated for it.”
Creative Evolution: Beyond Music
While their music has earned them six number ones and notable achievements like inclusion in the FIFA 21 game soundtrack, Domino Saints have expanded their creative horizons beyond performing and producing. They’ve evolved into creative directors, visual artists, and brand collaborators.
“We’re doing so, so I consider ourselves creatives. Yes, we are artists, but we’re total creatives. I love everything,” Gigi explains. “And now dabbing into A.I., but also as creative directors. And now we’re directing our own videos.”
Their holistic approach to creativity has led to award-winning brand collaborations with companies like MasterCard, where they’ve done much more than simply provide music.
“Everything that we’ve done with brands is not just like, oh, just give me a song. No, it’s been like we create the entire campaign for the brand, cater for the brand with our brand in it as well, and do something that is a full collaboration, not just give me the money, I’ll give you the song.”
This multifaceted creative approach reflects their commitment to authentic artistic expression across all mediums.
The Gift of Music
As the conversation draws to a close, David shares a beautiful metaphor that captures the essence of their creative philosophy: “I always visualize it like a tree, and it’s like some sacred tree that certain people have a blessing to climb it and then bring down fruit. But once you bring it down, it’s like for everybody, it’s not for you anymore. You’re just the guy who has, I love the ability, the gift to bring it down.”
This perspective — that music is meant to be shared, not possessed — speaks volumes about Domino Saints’ approach to creativity. They see themselves not as owners of their music, but as conduits bringing something beautiful into the world for everyone to enjoy.
Gigi leaves the Creativity Squared audience with a powerful message of creative encouragement: “I think that what we’re talking about is that anything is possible. They’re exploring all aspects of your imagination… I think that if you let yourself and not doubt yourself that you are capable of doing so many things, I think that you just have to go and do it. And what’s the worst that can happen? Nothing.”
As Domino Saints continue to push boundaries with their upcoming release “Aura” on Apple’s Platoon label and their innovative approach to Latin electronic music, they embody the spirit of fearless creativity that defines artists at the forefront of cultural evolution. Their journey from Puerto Rico to global stages stands as a testament to the power of authentic artistic expression that transcends borders and brings people together through the universal language of music.
