Latanya Alberto

Name, where are you from?
My name is Latanya Alberto, and I’m from Amsterdam with roots in Surinam and Curacao.

Describe your style in three words?
I would describe the way I’m presenting myself as; Refined, dreamy and transformative.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Erykah Badu, August 2019. I pay a lot of respect to artists who are able to unlock something in the room which moves outside musicality or quality of the talent. Erykah Badu is known to be an artist who masters the job of creating a 360 universe when she’s in the room immaculately. Live music definitely has my heart, but having to be able to be in the room witnessing things you can’t feel through a screen, nor predict are the ones that stick. My measurement tool is always the amount of ‘after talk’ I have when a performance ends. With Erykah, I had nothing left to say.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Donny Hathaway has a way of unravelling tension and compassion with the colour of his voice. Every time I hear music by him, I am reminded whose shoulders I stand on to evolve as a creative person. He really has one of those one-in-a-million sounds which couldn’t be imitated and should be honoured forever. I couldn’t begin to mention how sharing the stage with D’angelo would change me forever. The musical choices he makes in influences, progressions, the freedom in creating outside of the norms, it all inspires me to do better, and to be freer in my art.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I feel like my respect for the concentrated values in a lot of the subcultures inspire me to show how layered I have become. I think it’s beautiful how community and common ground brings people together and educates them on things only the position in the subculture they have can offer them. I however, don’t feel influenced enough by these subcultures to be able to define my purpose.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Maya Angelou, as she has influenced me a lot with her voice and sense of responsibility. It’s a heavy load to carry this responsibility, and she managed to succeed in that through her words. I know my way around words, but I would love to ask her how to keep the crowd awake with the tools I have.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I can’t wait to one day give a concert at the Sydney Opera House. My aim is to present art out of perspective and have the opportunity to change the narrative of these spaces. I do have to say that I also got a lot of love for Paradiso, Amsterdam, just because it’s my hometown and I always say I would want to see my favourite artist perform there. For me, sentiment is an important added value to a venue. In my own experience, Paradiso is filled with good memories.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Miles Davis. Being a vocalist and a writer, I try to get my inspiration from things other than vocals and words. Miles triggers my healing and my growth in an unspeakable way, with the way he uses his instrument. You can hear the madness in his greatness, you can hear the way his unmatched talent thrived him to be a leader in the music he envisioned and orchestrated. This method of work inspires me endlessly.

Latanya Alberto released her EP 'The Royal Escape' in 2021. For details on how to purchase a limited edition vinyl of the EP, plus details on all her latest releases and upcoming shows, visit linktr.ee/Latanyaalberto.