LET THE MUSIC PLAY | RAWAYANA'S BETO MONTENEGRO

We're always about good vibes and keeping them going. As we think to warmer days ahead, we caught up with lead singer Beto Montenegro of RAWAYANA who has released 4 studio albums, and received a nomination for Best New Artist of at the 18th Latin Grammy Awards in 2017. They're currently taking a break from their World Tour which will continue next month. As we're always on the hunt for great music, we took some time in the midst of the band's busy schedule to find out more about who they are, how they came together, their sound, those they've collaborated with, and their partnership with Old Parr scotch.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with music?

BETO MONTENEGRO: It's because music makes me happy, it makes me smile. I feel it is the best tool to express my point of view about life.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to do this professionally?

BM: After I realized that we had a big community waiting and asking for new music from us.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to come together to create RAWAYANA?

BM: We really just did it for fun. There was no real plan to “create” it.

AM: How would you define the RAWAYANA sound?

BM: I think it’s an eclectic mixture of Caribbean sounds influenced by pop music.

AM: You were nominated as Best New Artist at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards back in 2017, what did it mean to you to have that distinction?

BM: I don’t like to pay attention to awards. I feel that art or music is not a competition, but in a way it felt cool to be recognized by the industry so we had such a good time spending time with a lot of friends in the business.

AM: What have been some of your favorite collaborations that you've had musically?

BM: Danny Ocean, Elena Rose, Natalia Lafourcade, Micro TDH, Mr Eazi… all our collaborations are amazing.

AM: You've released 5 studio albums and most recently '¿Quién trae las Cornetas?' (Who Brings the speakers?) tell me about this and what we can expect from it.

BM: It’s an album about cycles and new journeys. For us the music and RAWAYANA is about a journey, so the music is a very important part in our journey. It’s a very personal album but also the union of like-minded people making music and having fun in the studio.

AM: You just finished a tour here in the US and you already have dates lined up for next year, do you have any routines that you do right before a show to get ready to hit the stage?

BM: I warm up my voice in the shower.

AM: Do you have routines that you do after the show so that you can come down from all that energy?

BM: I really don’t have one. It always changes on nightly basis.

AM: You have a nice breather now with it being the holidays. You created a cocktail in collaboration with Old Parr known as Old Parr Rawy. How did your partnership come about and tell us about this drink?

BM: We’re thrilled with this partnership with Old Parr to bring even more golden moments to our music. The brand is an icon in Latin America, and just like the whisky, our music is a fusion of different sounds, flavors, and rhythms, so we know our fans will be just as excited to raise a glass of Old Parr with us. Also, we wanted to give our fans a taste of home during the Holiday season by creating a cocktail inspired by Venezuela and the fusion of flavors we create as a band—The Old Parr Rawy.

AM: How does this drink tie into the band and your sound?

BM: The Old Parr Rawy is a delicious and easy-to-make cocktail made for everyday golden moments this Holiday season – from enjoying the energy from a concert to toasting with our closest friends. This cocktail is a fusion of different flavors, sounds, and rhythms, like our music.

AM: How will you spend the holiday season?

BM: With my childhood friends and family!

OLD PARR RAWY

INGREDIENTS

· 1.5 oz Old Parr Aged 12 Years

· 1 oz Grapefruit juice

· .5 oz Maple syrup

· .25 Lemon juice

· 3 Dashes of angostura bitters

PREPARATION

Fill a cocktail shaker with Old Parr Aged 12 Years, grapefruit juice, maple syrup, lemon

juice and ice. Shake the mixture thoroughly, then pour into a serving glass. Top with 3

dashes of angostura bitters.

IG @rawayana

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 52 RAWAYANA/Facebook | PG 54 Team Diageo

Read the JAN ISSUE #97 of Athleisure Mag and see LET THE MUSIC PLAY | RAWAYANA’S Beto Montenegro in mag.

STAYING CONNECTED WITH TYLER RICH

For many of us, this summer has been one that we have enjoyed adding events to our schedule, being out and about with friends and family! We caught up with country music's singer/songwriter Tyler Rich who stayed connected with his fans during quarantine with his virtual shows and who is in prep to hit the road with his Two Thousand Miles headline tour as well as touring with Chris Lane's Fill Them Boots Tour this fall!

We talk about how he got into the industry, how he navigated quarantine as an artist, we chat about songs that he created we're fans of, being a sports fan, how he stays fit and other projects that he is working on.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you fell in love with music?

TYLER RICH: When I was 8 years old, my cousin took me to see George Strait in concert in Sacramento. I always loved music as a kid, but it was seeing it performed live, that sparked the fire that it was what I needed to do with my life! Also, it doesn’t hurt when your first concert was the King of Country Music himself.

AM: Where do you get inspiration as a songwriter for your songs and what’s your process like?

TR: It comes from all around me really. My wife is my forever muse, and she makes it easy for me. But, a lot of the time I pick up ideas from conversations my friend’s and I are having, digging into their lives for some content. I joke with my wife that I wish we fought more -- strictly for the writing content that would come out of it. I can only write so many happy love songs about her ha ha!

AM: How do you define your sound?

TR: My music is energetic, fun, upbeat, and hopefully uplifting for those that listen. My version of country embodies the sounds of California and Tennessee, all at the same time.

AM: We have talked with a number of artists who prior to COVID-19 were focused on making music and juggling their touring schedules to adjusting to what we all experienced in 2020. How was the last year for you and how did you approach your music?

TR: I spent the year really diving in on what I wanted the next chapter of my music to sound like, how to do some recording from home and figuring out ways to connect with my fans on a deeper level. We had all the down time in the world to spend nights on IG live chatting with fans and creating lasting relationships. It was really amazing to have so much more time than a quick handshake at a meet and greet.

AM: Many artists and creatives found that during 2020, they wanted to maintain their connection with fans virtually. What did you do during that time?

TR: I created a virtual tour called “The Distance,” a play on lyrics in my song “The Difference.” This consisted of Tuesday nights “Tyler & Friends Sing Behind the Scene,” where I invited songwriter friends of mine to come on and tell the stories behind hits they wrote for other artists and then perform them online. I would also cover one of their hits, and play a song the two of us had written together. Friday nights were “Feels Like Home” where I just hung out for an hour playing new songs I’d written that week and getting fan feedback, since we didn’t have a stage to do that like usual. We wrapped up with my wife Sabina and I hosting “Leave Her Wild Sunday Brunch.” Since we couldn’t be drinking mimosas on rooftops, I had to do something to make her happy ha ha. We treated this like a variety show, opening with good news in the world, playing drinking trivia with surprise celebrity guests, and closing each show with an artist performing their current single. It was so much fun! And, as I think about all these now, I'm realizing how much I miss it all.

AM: In terms of how you connected with your fans over the past few months, with all of us re-entering the world again, how important is it to you to still embrace levels of the connections that you were able to have with your fans virtually while going back to in-person interactions?

TR: I would say my inbox for direct messages was at an all-time high during quarantine, and I did my best to respond to all of them. I still try to be as reachable as possible for fans that want to chat, whether it’s about music or just life in general. I have no career without these amazing people, so building relationships with them is special for me as well.

AM: On Two Thousand Miles, we really enjoyed 11:11 what is the inspiration behind this song?

TR: Thank you! “11:11” is one of the few songs on the album I didn’t write, but it’s from some of my favorite writers in Nashville, including the late Andrew Dorff. The first time I heard it when it was pitched to me, I was floored. The emotion behind it, the desperation and heartbreak in the lyric, and melody all drew me in. I knew I needed to cut it right away.

AM: Also on that album is Billie Jean, for the longest time my favorite cover version has been Chris Cornell’s but I truly enjoyed your take on the song. With it being such an iconic song, how do you approach making it your own while still paying homage to Michael Jackson's original?

TR: That’s a massive compliment thank you! His version is incredible. It’s terrifying to do a cover of the “King” of pop, when the brutal Wild West of the internet is ready to rip you apart, but I tried my hardest to make it “me,” yet true to the song as much as possible. I think the most important part of covering something and making it your own, is keeping the vocal melody the same. The music and production can change, but if the melody and lyric change, then you're altering the recognizable part of othe song to fans. I always felt it was such a dark, dirty, blues bar kind of story, that was in a pop song’s body, so I brought a little grit to it.

AM: "Better Than You’re Used To" is such a beautiful song and really makes me think of past relationships as well as my current one. What is the inspiration behind it?

TR: I love that it connects with you that way! My little sister was going through the heartbreak of the century. In a conversation we were having she said “I feel like I’m putting so much in, and getting nothing back.” I told her she needed someone to love her better than she was used to, it rang right when I said it. So, I wrote it down to revisit in the studio one day. The day we wrote the song, I took the inspiration from that, and mixed it with the state I met my wife in. She was sad, feeling defeated, and had given up on love. She just needed someone to love her the way she needed. The song really came out pretty quick, the most honest ones do!

AM: With the vaccines and things opening up again, I see that you have quite the schedule coming up. You’re headlining a tour with Shy Carter and you will also be on Chris Lane’s tour this fall, what are you looking forward to as you get back on the road?

TR: I’m really looking forward to seeing all the fans that we’ve only virtually been able to connect with, but in person! Meet and greets will be so much sweeter, and it’s gonna feel like seeing old friends I bet. I’ve released a lot of new music since the pandemic, and seeing everyone singing new songs, is always the best.

AM: When it comes to performing, do you have pre and post rituals/routines that you do to prepare pre-show or to come down from the energy post-show?

TR: Pre-show is all about connecting with my band. Spending time together, some shots, and building that bond we have all the way up until we are on stage. We always play the best shows when we are having a great time right before running up there to start. After show is all about solo time. Spending 5-10 minutes alone. Cooling down my voice, and taking some mental health time to appreciate what I just got to do, make some notes of what to work on, and then disconnect myself from that so I don’t think about it for the rest of the night.

AM: Looking at your IG, we love seeing you and your wife Sabina. How did you guys meet?

TR: We met at Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, CA in 2016. Just a traditional “hey what’s your name” meeting, nothing involving any dating apps or social media ha. We were all in from that first hello pretty quickly.

AM: My boyfriend and I have been dating for 11 years and we are also co-founders of Athleisure Media as well as other ventures. What is your advice to power house couples in terms of supporting one another in their separate and/or join endeavors and balancing the hectic schedules that exist?

TR: That’s amazing! Congrats, I love that. I can just say from personal experience, the more you try and compete with someone’s passion, or life outside of you, the more people pull away from each other. Lift your partner up, celebrate their wins, push them hard toward their goals, and be their rock. You have to love all of the person you are with, not just part of them, and their careers and passions make up most of who they are, so love that side of them, and I promise your relationship will be so healthy!

AM: What are you working on currently and will you be collaborating with anyone that you’re able to share?

TR: I’m working on what will be following up "Better Than You’re Used To” so heading into the studio to cut a couple new songs this month and have a couple collaboration ideas coming up that I’m hoping come to fruition this fall!

AM: With a full summer ahead are there any projects whether musically or outside of it that you can talk about?

TR: I’m taking a trip to Sweden in mid-September for a media tour and possibly some shows. I’m ecstatic for this trip, and hoping Covid doesn’t halt the plans! Other exciting stuff in the works that involves TV, but I can’t quite talk about it yet, soon though!

AM: When you’re not performing on stage, how do you take time for yourself?

TR: I’m such an introvert when I’m at home. I’m the definition of an extrovert as soon as we are traveling, but other than that, I’m quiet, at home, doing anything but music. I love going to movies, the zoo or a museum alone to walk around and take everything in at my own pace, just disconnect for a couple hours. Alone time is so important, and really sets me up to not be so anxious when surround by so many people every weekend on the road.

AM: What are your go-to workouts to stay fit?

TR: I love my Peloton at home. It’s become part of my weekly routine for sure. Sometimes getting workouts in, can be not as frequent as we’d like on the road so I try to be as active as possible when there is time -- using my jump rope between reps to keep my heart rate up and making each workout count a little more. I also enjoy going for a few-mile run in the cities we are playing through the downtown, a city park or wherever I can.

AM: We know you’re a sports fan from your love with the 49ers and the Warriors - what are you looking forward to next season now that we can resume going to games?

TR: I’m literally counting down the minutes to go to a 49ers game! Being in the stadium is one of my happiest places in the world, surrounded by all the fans, my friends from back home, and watching the guys play. It’s just right around the corner!

AM: Tell me about Rich Rescues and why this is so important to you.

TR: My biggest passion outside of music is for animals. My rescue pup, Abby, has been with me for almost 16 years, and I wish I could rescue all the dogs and cats in the world, though my schedule just doesn’t allow it. So, on the road I visit a couple rescues a week in the cities we are in and promote the animals needing home to my fan’s in that town. Our success rate is almost 100% of finding homes for the animals we have promoted online through Rich Rescues on Instagram and the in-person visits. I wish I could do even more, but know we’re still just getting started.

IG @TylerRich

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Tyler Rich

Read the AUG ISSUE #68 of Athleisure Mag and see Staying Connected with Tyler Rich in mag.

PATTAYA, A BEACH CLOSE TO BANGKOK!

Pattaya is a beach that is a 2-hour drive from troubled Bangkok. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy a beautiful beach without having to take a plane, this is the place!

From Bangkok you can take a bus or a van (faster) towards Pattaya. You can use the same way from Pattaya to Bangkok. This trip costs about 90 baht! Both modes of transport leave from Mo Chit Bus Station, Bangkok's bus terminal.

Before I talk about Pattaya, I want to talk about one very important thing: travel insurance! Anyone who accompanies me knows that in international travel, I never stop using insurance because unforeseen events happen and it is always good to have a backup in any emergency that happens, whether in health or safety.

What to do in Pattaya

Pattaya is not a beach very well-liked by Thai people, as it is a region famous for prostitution and lady boy shows. But despite this fame, Pattaya also has other types of youth clubs, good beachside restaurants and other quieter options for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle. The city beach itself is very beautiful, full of coconut palms and little shops and is a place full of beach houses of the richest people in Bangkok. The large buildings and chic hotels are part of the landscape and somewhat resemble some American beaches, such as Miami's.

How to get around Pattaya?

Just like any Thai city, there are several modes of transportation: mototaxis, buses, vans, taxis and the famous Songthaew or Baht Bus (tailored pickup trucks). This last option is the cheapest and most efficient. You will spend around 30 baht per person, depending of course on the goodwill of the driver. As I said in the post: Transportation in Bangkok, what is the best way to get around?

Night in Pattaya

Along with the beaches, nightlife is one of the factors of greatest interest in the Thai city. Pattaya is full of bars, nightclubs and restaurants, but the county is internationally renowned for its strong sex tourism. Known as the Disneyland Adult, the city has in its DNA a strong inclination to prostitution, which can be seen through middle-aged foreigners who negotiate pleasure and company on the streets. In these cases, prostitution is not just for women, but for men and ladyboys as well (the transgender people who are so present in the country). Even if the government has been trying to change Pattaya's stereotype, this is still a determining factor for the location.

Much of where the fun happens (whether or not related to sex tourism) is Pattaya Walking Street, a mile-long street full of bars, breweries, nightclubs and restaurants. This is where the city buzzes, especially as night falls. The place is also open in the mornings, but many establishments are not yet open at this time. If the idea is to start drinking in the afternoon, just walk around the town. The concentration of bars is so great that you will have no difficulty "accomplishing the task".

Another local classic is the Tiffany`s Show, a cabaret-style attraction performed by ladyboys only. The show is quite traditional in the city (including, it has been playing for over 40 years!). It's a good choice for those who want to do something very characteristic with Pattaya's face!

The Thai city is also known for its Go-Go and Ping Pong Shows. In the first case, women and ladyboys dance on a stage wearing bikinis or costumes with an ID number. At each pass of time, the dancers change and customers can give their favorites with cash. Ping Pong Show is an attraction where women do seemingly impossible things with their vaginas like throwing ping pong balls, cutting bananas, blowing candles, throwing dice, etc.

Koh Larn, a paradise island

Koh Larn is an island which is about a 3-minute boat ride from Pattaya. To get there just go to the city pier, Bali Hai Pier. There you will find several agencies that make the tour, but if you prefer, you can walk to the boats and find out the departure times of each. So, you do the tour on your own. Koh Larn is an island that has 6 beaches. They are not next to each other, so you cannot do the walking route or drip drips. It is best to choose one and enjoy your day there.

The six beaches are:
Tawaen Beach
Samae beach
Tien beach
Nual beach
Tonglang Beach and
Tayaiy Beach.

All are very beautiful, but the first is LOT of Asians and has no space to put your things in the sand and sit, the only option is to pay for the tent and chair (200 baht). It's worth a stop over to enjoy the scenery, but I don't recommend staying at this beach, you will definitely have no peace.

The beach of choice was Tien. Super calm, incredible waters, few tourists and several restaurants. And from there you can walk to Samae, which is a bit crowded and has a beautiful view point.

Here's the tip!

To get around the island you have 3 options, almost the same as Pattaya: the famous scooters, which you can rent for 250 to 300 baht with gasoline included; motorcycle taxi or Songthaew, which is the most affordable.

Note that the last boat back to town is at 18h. You must be back at the pier no later than 5:30 pm.

Don't worry, the ticket can be bought on the boat as well as the one-way ticket.

This tour of Pattaya and Koh Larn Island can be done on a weekend! It beats back and forth from Bangkok full of hectic options but at the same time with tranquil and calm paradisiacal beaches. All this 2 hours from the big capital! So, what do you think? Interested? Enjoy your trip and get an amazing experience in Pattaya! Thank you for reading!

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