Santo Domingo, RD.- During a conversation with De Último Minuto, prior to her participation in the second performance of the musical “Rent”, the Dominican singer-songwriter Techy Fatule, assured that collaborating with Fefita La Grande on her most recent musical theme “Él sabe”, represents a significant step in her artistic career, as she is a figure she considers fundamental in the history of Dominican typical merengue.
In that order, Fatule maintained that on occasion she perceives that in the Dominican Republic the greatness of Fefita La Grande is not always appreciated, whom she described as one of the women who paved the way in a genre historically dominated by men, breaking barriers, establishing her own style and directly influencing the opening of spaces for other women within Dominican popular music. “I feel that people still don’t understand the magnitude of what Fefita is for us as women in the industry.
“Fefita broke and continues to break taboos, continues to break parameters, continues to be a legend,” expressed Techy Fatule in conversation with De Último Minuto. The artist explained that this perception is part of a constant reflection on the cultural and historical value of the typical interpreter, whom she considers an essential figure within Dominican music.
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In that sense, she highlighted that the recognition towards Fefita should not only be understood from an artistic point of view, but also from her impact as a woman in a traditionally male industry.
Fatule also detailed in this conversation the creative process behind his collaboration with the veteran merengue singer, explaining that in order to delve into the typical merengue he had to deeply study the genre and its structure. According to what he recounted, his initial approach was completely natural, even listening to complete albums by Fefita La Grande as part of his preparation while training in the gym.
I always tell the story that when I was going to write and wanted to do typical, that was in 2024, I started studying Fefita La Grande’s music to be able to know how typical is written, because it has its science, its metrics, its way of speaking, and who I was inspired by was Fefita.
I listened to two Fefita albums, I remember walking in the gym listening to Fefita to be able to have that vibe,” he explained.
The singer-songwriter added that this study process was key to respecting the essence of the genre and being able to integrate organically into her musical language, without losing her identity as a composer within other tropical rhythms.
Likewise, she recounted the moment when the collaboration came to fruition, highlighting the emotional reaction she had upon learning that Fefita had listened to the song in the studio and expressed her interest in participating.
“When Jochy Sánchez called me to say that Fefita had heard the song in the studio and wanted to be part of it, I felt bad. Imagine, for me Fefita is our living legend, an icon,” said Fatule.
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The artist reiterated that working with Fefita represents not only a professional achievement, but also a before and after in her career, by sharing a song with a legendary figure for Dominican music.
Fefita La Grande, known as Manuela Josefa Cabrera Taveras, is a legendary Dominican merengue típico artist, recognized for her pioneering role in the genre, her irreverent style, and her decisive influence in opening spaces for women within the typical music or Dominican merengue típico, becoming an emblematic figure of Dominican culture.
