Sensible, intelligent lyrics; a riveting stage presence; and a down-to-earth demeanor: Kany García brought this and much more to Spanish-language music in 2007 with her debut album Cualquier Día. After being acclaimed by critics, embraced by audiences and hailed as a fresh and, above all, very welcome voice in pop and rock en español, Kany is back. Scheduled for release on September 22 is the singer/songwriter’s second album, Boleto de entrada. Cualquier Día introduced Kany to the world, and this latest offering builds on that successful beginning. Audiences first enjoyed her talents as a vocalist, composer and musician. She was romantic but also aggressive; now, Kany shares another side of herself, one unbeknownst to many: her joyful sense of humor. But that’s not all. More surprises await. In Boleto de entrada, Kany returns with 12 songs, all written by her, in an album in which she immersed herself fully, coproducing with renowned Colombian music veteran Andrés Castro (who has previously worked with Colombian vallenato, pop and rock star Carlos Vives and Mexican singer/songwriter Reyli). For her second album, Kany decided to expand her musical repertoire. She collaborates, for example, with urban music star Tego Calderón in the humorous song El Feo (she also recorded a duet with him for his new and upcoming CD), and explores a more folkloric sound in the track Feliz, which will be released as Boleto de entrada’s first single. Feliz is particularly important to Kany, since it points in the direction that Boleto de entrada follows: an evolution of sounds that incorporate like never before her Latin roots. “Because this song is different from the rest of the album, it takes my music in a new direction,” says Kany. “There’s a Latin American influence in it. It’s a celebration, a party and, in some way, it reflects the mood of the album.” As well as the mood of its creator: of happiness and confidence. “The success of the previous record gave me the strength to try something new, and Andrés was very important in that decision,” explains Kany. “When you feel comfortable and supported, you can explore new territories, without abandoning the essence of who you are.” Other firsts for Kany: the 50s rock-inspired Eres Tú; Esta vida tuya y mía, in which Kany is in charge of the strings section; and Mi Dueña, which salutes her Puerto Rican background. Kany’s artistic richness stems in part from having been born and raised on an island with such a rich musical heritage as Puerto Rico. The daughter of Shela, a native Puerto Rican, and Antonio, a former Spanish priest who left the priesthood to marry Shela, Encarnita García de Jesús, or simply Kany, began studying classical music at a very early age. At 13, she initiated studies in guitar at the Escuela Libre de Música in Puerto Rico, and from that moment on, she knew that what she wanted to do with her life was to sing, play guitar and write songs. Songs like the ones from Cualquier Día, that connected with audiences everywhere: Hoy ya me voy, Qué nos pasó and the controversial Amigo en el baño. The album’s success brought her two Latin Grammys and two Billboard Latin Music Awards. She also earned the title of Latin Breakthrough Artist of the Year in Billboard magazine and Best New Artist on iTunes Latino. She toured with one of Latin America’s most beloved artists, Venezuelan singer and composer Franco de Vita and, in 2008, her song Bajo el mismo cielo became the theme song for the HBO Latino TV series Capadocia. There is no doubt that Kany García is not just any artist: “I am a female, Latina songwriter in a field dominated by men. But at the same time, this gives me an advantage, because since we are so few, whenever they see me, people pay attention.” And with her new album Boleto de entrada, they will be paying a lot more attention this time.