HAUSER - The Making of ‘The Player’

Album is OUT: http://hauser.lnk.to/theplayer Follow HAUSER: https://www.instagram.com/hausercello https://www.facebook.com/hauserofficial https://www.tiktok.com/@hauser https://hauserofficial.com/ TRACKLIST 1. Sway 2. Livin’ la Vida Loca 3. La Isla Bonita 4. Bésame Mucho 5. Quando, Quando, Quando 6. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White 7. Señorita 8. Obsesión 9. Quizás, Quizás, Quizás 10. Historia de un Amor 11. Let’s Get Loud 12. Waka Waka Creators: Producer: HAUSER, Steven Mercurio, Matthias Gohl Orchestra: Czech National Symphony Orchestra Arranger: Steven Mercurio, Teese Gohl, David Chesky, Bongi Duma Recording & Mixing Engineer: Filip Vidovic Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill One of today’s most captivating artists, HAUSER has achieved global stardom on the strength of his hands-on creativity and massively appealing approach to blending genres of music. On his new album The Player, the critically acclaimed Croatian cellist brings his dazzling virtuosity to the world of Latin pop and jazz, unveiling new dimensions of the extraordinary musicality he first displayed as a founding member of 2CELLOS. The groundbreaking duo graced the stage in over 40 countries across the globe in iconic locations such as New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, and even the Vatican and performed alongside such wide-ranging acts as Andrea Bocelli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Elton John. Together, they racked up over one billion streams and amassed an international fanbase, having appeared on The Bachelorette, Today Show, Good Morning America, Ellen, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CNN en Español, as well as the NFL and UEFA sports broadcasts. Now, HAUSER embarks on his own with The Player, a global dance party in album form, once again revealing his rare gift for casting mainstream hits and classic favorites in a fresh and exciting new light. The follow-up to his 2020 solo debut Classic, a #1 hit on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Albums chart, The Player arrives as HAUSER’s most re-inventive body of work to date. To that end, HAUSER shaped the album’s lush and brass-heavy arrangements with the help of producer Steven Mercurio (a conductor/composer who’s also worked with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Chick Corea, Andrea Bocelli and Sting), and enlisted the illustrious Czech National Symphony Orchestra for every track. “Because so much music is artificially made these days, I wanted to highlight real musicians while creating a unique sound that brings something new to each song,” says HAUSER. In assembling the album’s eclectic tracklist—featuring reinterpretations of everyone from Shakira to legendary Cuban composer Osvaldo Farrés—HAUSER tapped into his near-encyclopedic knowledge of Latin music history. “It was difficult to narrow down the selection, because I know hundreds of songs that would be amazing for this project,” he says. “I’ve always been such a huge fan of Latin music, its warmth and energy and passion, and I found that it came very naturally to create something so full of movement and spirit.” A bold departure from the quiet splendor of Classic, The Player delivers such high-energy standouts as HAUSER’s electrifying take on Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” adorning the album’s dance-ready lead single with effervescent cello melodies, fiery horns, and fierce guitar work. On “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás,” world-renowned violinist Caroline Campbell joins in for a seductive, tango-inspired update of Farrés’ bittersweet tale of love and longing. “I wanted this album to include all the different rhythms you find in Latin music—not only tango but also samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, and bachata,” HAUSER notes. One of the most tender moments on The Player, “Historia de un Amor” centers on a particularly soulful performance from HAUSER, who adds a new intensity to the sweetly sorrowful ballad penned by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almarán. A shining testament to his ingenuity as a song interpreter, HAUSER’s spirited reimagining of Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud” unfolds in a dizzyingly intricate arrangement while fully preserving the pure vitality of the original. And for The Player’s majestic finale, HAUSER offers up a no-holds-barred rendition of Shakira’s “Waka Waka,” complete with pulse-pounding percussion and buoyant choral harmonies led by South African performer Bongi Duma of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. Known for his captivating live performances, HAUSER now looks forward to bringing The Player’s songs to life in his forthcoming solo tours. “My vision for the first part of the show is to keep it more classical, and then for the second half the band and brass section will join me and we’ll get everybody up and dancing,” he says. “These songs are beloved by so many people, and I’m excited to share them in a way that no one’s ever heard before—I can’t wait to spread their joy and love and energy all around the globe.”