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Hector Hernandez was born and raised in Cuba, a country known for its musical riches. Hernandez moved to Toronto, Canada in 2009 and soon began performing at live events.

He is currently working on his debut album but recently released an infectious Latin pop track called “Feeling Loco.” The song makes you want to dance as soon as the first beat drops. On top of solid vocals, Hernandez has respectable dance moves, and his fashion sense is a plus.

In an exclusive interview with Living Out Loud, Hernandez spoke about his passion for music, his influences, living in Canada and the lyrics of “Feeling Loco.”

Living Out Loud: Where does your passion for music come from?
Hector Hernandez: My passion for music came at an early age. It became more serious when I entered an arts school. It wasn’t until my second year that I really began to develop my skills as a vocalist. Music started out as parodies. I would sing parodies of operas and other types of music. It was all joking around then. Once I left school, I began to get more serious about it. Little by little I was enamored by the applause, and the joy.

LOL: What have been some of your musical influences throughout your career?
HH: I grew up listening to the songs that would come on the radio by people like Luis Miguel, Ricky Martin, Camilo Sesto, José José, lots of ranchera music. I could go on, but these were my more prominent influences. All those songs from those generations were very moving for me, especially the way you could use words to express yourself.

LOL: How was the move to Toronto? How are things going over there?
HH: Well, the move was due to personal necessity. Toronto is a very multicultural city, and in the beginning, just like all other newcomers, getting into music there was not easy. It’s been five years, and we keep working at it. I began singing, sometimes in nightclubs, and going to festivals here. I did get to be part of a very big festival here in 2010. As a result, I began to work with a few Italian producers, and began to get play on radio. Not Italian songs, but songs I brought with me from Cuba.

LOL: Tell us about the lyrics for “Feeling Loco.”
HH: ‘Feeling Loco’ came from a prank. The objective of the song was always a joyous one, a party where everyone is having fun and is happy. It represents feeling happy, lively and wanting to party. The song wants you to feel good when you hear it … regardless of what of you’re doing or who you are. The song wants you to feel ‘crazy’ and happy.

LOL: How was the process of making the video?
HH: This is actually the second video we made. The first one has a different concept, but it didn’t convince me 100 percent. We made other ones … it was all there, the concept for the video. We worked with a few companies and found dancers. We were very happy with the result.

For more information, visit iamhectorhernandez.com.

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