Gotay "El Autentiko" and the Dembow pedigree of his new album "C.A.N.T."

Alexis Alejandro Gotay Pérez, better known as Gotay “El Autentiko” Is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in Latin music today. His extensive recording, production, songwriting, and sound engineering resumé have been essential in shaping Reguetón into the international pop music institution it is today. If you've heard the likes of Daddy Yankee, Ñengo Flow or Ozuna, you can be certain that Gotay's Midas touch has been involved in some capacity.

Gotay will be the first to admit that he stands on the shoulders of giants, he's of the early 2010's school of reguetón artists and he's more than happy to pay respects to those who innovated the sound before and alongside him, his newest album, "C.A.N.T." is named for an abbreviation of the words "Como Antes" (Like Before) and it truly harkens back to the very roots of Reguetón without losing any of the refinement and sensibilities achieved in the past decade, something only a true veteran with a true love and understanding of the genre would have been able to produce.

We had the opportunity to ask him about this new album, his many collaborations, and even the past, present and future of Reguetón:

Congratulations on releasing C.A.N.T.! For a while now I think I've been hearing a "return to essence" in reguetón, the Dembow in songs like  "Ánimo" and "Bellaqueo" seems to confirm that. Was this something you were considering when producing this album or did it just come naturally to you?

Each project has to go back to the roots, the essence of reggaeton, dembow, “Playero” from the beginning of the genre. What was started by Vico C, Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón and many others who were the trailblazers of the genre. 

Seems you had a lot of fun filming "Ánimo", have any cool details to share from that shoot? 

It was a lot of fun. I got to act and drive a very cool car. It was funny because when they brought the car to the shoot, the person in charge of the car was nervous and had doubts about my driving skills. I know how to drive a stick, so even if it was rocky at first I got the hang of it and had a blast driving the car. 

You had your hand in three winning songs in this year's  ASCAP Latin Music Awards (Congratulations again!). Did you expect it at all or does it still surprise you when you're given such recognition and validation for your work?

I see it as a blessing and I thank God for it. I was not expecting it. When you start making music you are not thinking about awards.  I am in the moment, feeling the muse, you don’t want to lose the vibe and the feeling as you are recording and creating. For me it’s a blessing, the hard work every day. These are the blessings that God give us in life. 

In reguetón History, your name appears everywhere both next to and behind many great figures and smash hits, but how'd you get started with music? What were you listening to in that time between Brooklyn and Bayamón growing up?

God’s time is perfect. He has put in my path people with whom big things happened. It is hard to explain, but when I get together with these amazing people, for example, Ozuna and Wisin, there is a chemistry in the studio that is incredible and this is why big things happen. I started my career in 2010, so I am like in the middle of the timeline for the genre. Staying relevant in music is a blessing and do what i love. When you do what you love big things happen and this is  why I do everything with love and care, I am very detailed in all I do. I listened to everything growing up and this has served me to be able to create music and do fusions of rhythms. 

Writer, composer, engineer, Singer... when it comes to creating hit songs you've been in every role on more than one occasion, sometimes simultaneously. What's different when you're making a song for someone else than when you're making it for yourself?

To make a song for someone else it’s easier. When I make a song for someone else it is easier to recognize where to go. When it’s for myself I need a team around me to guide me. 

Again, your list of collaborations is long and very significant but is there an artist you want to collab with that hasn't happened yet?

I am blessed to have collaborated from the beginning of my career with Arcangel, Ñengo, Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, Wisin y Ñejo, among other great colleagues. I would love to do a collaboration with Romeo Santos, Rosalía and Karol G. 

With every generation of music comes harsh criticism, and reguetón being so relatively young and "urban" has gotten quite a backlash over the years. Do you feel like that's still the case or has prejudice and vitriol diminished?

When I started it was other times, I started giving away my music. The music industry was in shambles, piracy was everywhere, record stores where not selling anymore like they used to. Today it is more organized, digital platforms are amazing, record labels have adapted, artists have more options to distribute their music. Today, I feel urban music is what Pop used to be, it is pop urban, it is part of the mainstream. 

Do you have anything lined up to take C.A.N.T up on a live stage? I know things are still a bit tough and unpredictable with Covid.

The first step was to release the new album “C.A.N.T.” and seeing the positive feedback makes me very happy. We are working on the live show, and getting offers from countries for shows and organizing the tour. So hopefully soon we will have news on touring. 

If someone has their hand on the pulse of the genre as a whole, that's got to be you. Where's reguetón goin as a genre? where are the production, lyrical, and studio sound trends going? 

I think that the artists and songwriters are aware that the eyes of the world are upon us. The lyrics have come a long way, it is a more mature genre that has credibility. We have over 20 years as a genre, I see it has a bright future. 

AUTHOR * Samuel Aponte

PHOTOS * Reggie La Visión