Samuel Mancini, Eric West and Kedward Avilés come together to release “Tú Eliges” and its subsequent iterations.
On Nov. 22, singer-songwriter Samuel Mancini released “Tú Eliges” featuring Eric West and Kedward Avilés, a song that serves to merge their individual senses of artistry. The single was first made available in both Spanish and English, and the EP containing both reached #3 on the iTunes Latin Chart upon release. Several remixes have been released in the days since, including a sped-up version and a slowed iteration, which will soon be followed up by variations featuring guest artists. Through soaring harmonies and lyricism with credits from Grammy Award-winning songwriting duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the song’s sentiment and smooth R&B sound showcase Mancini, West and Avilés at a collective best.
The Knockturnal spoke with Mancini, West and Avilés about the developmental process behind “Tú Eliges,” collaborative experiences and the artists’ coming musical developments
The Knockturnal: How does “Tú Eliges” define itself compared to your previous musical artistry?
Samuel Mancini: “Tú Eliges” has been a big reinforcement to my artistry. I always put my heart into my music and you will really hear it in this song. Singing in Spanish alongside Kedward and Eric was such a unique and powerful experience. The cultural connection from working in Puerto Rico together makes this record very special.
The Knockturnal: This single will be followed by several remixes featuring guest artists. What are you most looking forward to about releasing this sequence of projects?
Mancini: While creating this record, there were so many alternate ideas on what the official version of the song would be. The remixes are bringing all those other ideas to life and I’m really excited to share them. The reveal of the guest artists is going to be a huge moment I am really looking forward to!
The Knockturnal: Eric, You first collaborated with Mancini on iterations within his 2021 EP “Love… Thy Will Be Done.” How did you first become involved in his projects, and how did you get involved in this particular collaboration?
Eric West: “‘Love… Thy Will Be Done’ is a song that has always held a special place in my heart. Prince and Martika crafted what is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorites. One day, I called Samuel and suggested he cover it, and it turned out to be an incredible experience. Working in the studio with Samuel and Al Torrence was truly a memorable moment. I’m incredibly proud to have co-produced that track.
With “Tú Eliges,” one day, Samuel reached out to me, saying he thought it would be an amazing collaboration and asked if I’d be willing to record it with him. At first, I turned him down—I was really sick that week, and the thought of getting back in the studio felt overwhelming, especially since I hadn’t recorded my own music in almost a decade. But two days later, I called him back and said, “Yes, I’m in. Let’s record the song.” I then reached out to Kedward to join us, and that’s how the track came together!
The Knockturnal: Having a background predominantly in film, what did expressing your artistry look when working on this musical project?
West: A lot of people don’t realize I started my career in music when I was a kid. There is so much work that’s in a vault at various record labels that never saw the light of day. My brother used to pick me up from school and take me to the recording studio where I’d record until the early AM, and then get up and go to school in the morning. Ironically this feels like a full circle moment, because I never saw myself getting back into music outside of songwriting and producing.
The Knockturnal: Kedward, What are you most proud of regarding the production of this new single?
Kedward Avilés: I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to blend cultures through music because art knows no boundaries. Music has a unique power to touch hearts and bring people together, especially when it’s created with purpose.
The Knockturnal: How do you hope “Tú Eliges” might set the tone for your upcoming artistic endeavors?
Avilés: This song is definitely shaping my personal growth. Helped me reflect on life experiences and challenges. Excited for what’s next!
Photo Courtesy: Eric West
