The New York school of Bachata Music

In New York, the influences on Bachata have largely been carried by some of the more influential Spanish rock bands of the day. Groups like Aventura
play incredibly diverse music, based on the original bachata form, using more advanced sound effects than traditional bachata. With the influence of
classical and newer R&B forms into the lyrics and vocals and the unheard of use of female singers. The combination of a male and female singer was
made famous and popular by Aventura and the effect on bachata has been substantial.

Although they’ve been at the forefront of changing what bachata is, Aventura’s music is still very much bachata. The dance aspect is still strongly
supported, using strong bass and percussion lines. The major change in bachata music in the 1990s and with Aventura and the New York School of
bachata is to who the music appealed. Originally, bachata was a symbol of destitution, played by and for the lower class. After Blas Duran, the form
became a romantic genre for all classes, from the middle class to the traditional folks who have always listened to it. It wasn’t until the 1990s though that
the genre began to breach beyond the strictly Dominican audience that it has always held. It was Monchy y Alexandra who were able to spread the form
to other Spanish speaking fans of the form.

Bachata changed altogether with the growth of Aventura. Rather than the small venues of past bachateros, those who sang in strictly reduced venues
with reduced pay, Aventura demanded rock star status by inhabiting arenas and playing to massive crowds. They dress in the manner of the bands and
lifestyle they emulate and craft an image of superstar status that has allowed them to reach such a status. Somehow, Aventura has been able to
overcome the previous barriers of bachateros such as Marino Perez and Victor Estevez to reach the massive North American market and become
superstars. They have surpassed those economic barriers that past bachateros never could.

Aventura’s impact is still up in the air. Though songs like “Obsesion” were universally successful and looked to revolutionize the genre as much as Blas
Duran did with an electric guitar, the genre has seen the rise of many traditional stars of late as well. Aventura has managed to create a lot of interest
across numerous markets, however they have yet to actually innovate on the level they were expected to in the early days of their music. What they did
do though is to create a field of copy cats and free expression of new ideas in young bachateros as well as drumming up interest in bachata in America.
The New York School of bachata music may be a new genre with a new audience all its own, or it could go as far as to change the face of the genre
forever; it’s yet to be seen.