After about three years of working behind the scenes producing for other tropical artists such as Gisselle, Vladimir Dotel talks to us about his latest project with his own group, Ilegales. The group has been incognito for a while because group leader Dotel has been busy working on various other projects and because he wanted to give his band mates, Juan Carlos and Dany <<>>, a break.

The Dominican merenguefusion trio is back with a fresh new sound and a fresh new look. Their look is harder, sexier, and more rugged with an album cover that shows these muchachos wearing dark colors, sunglasses, and serious expressions — quite the opposite of their previously cheery and colorful look.

Their newest album, La Republica was launched in early November and the first single from the album, a bachata/merenguemix featuring bachata superstars Monchy & Alexandra, topped the charts for weeks this fall. We chatted up a storm with Vladimir about the new album and the group’s new sound.

How long has it been since you released an album with new music?
It’s been several years since we’ve produced a multinational album and this is the first one we’ve released with Universal. We’re bringing a CD full of fusions, the same as Ilegales has always done. It’s a 14-track album fusing sounds from merengue, hip-hop, baladas and bachata.

Why the pause?
I took some time in the studio to produce other artists and I also wanted to give some time to Ilegales. Record labels were looking for other things. So I decided to prepare an album that’s full of fusions, but I understood that that time wasn’t exactly the right moment for it and said, “2006 will be the perfect time for it.”

What do you want to say regarding some of the criticism you have received from traditional merengueros?
You know that we’re a radical group in the Dominican Republic. We’re not a merengue group. In actuality, I say we’re a fusion group. We’ve mixed pop with tropical. We’ve had great success with club tracks, but also with songs like “Tu Recuerdo,” which was a hit in 2001. We are respected by merengue and bachataartists and we’ve had an 11-year track record of hits in Central America, South America, Mexico and the United States.

So, do you think that they’ve accepted all the fusions, the music of Ilegales?
I think our music has been proven already. If you notice there isn’t much that is pure anymore. What doesn’t work isn’t around. That’s been happening for a while now. Everything has been going well for us ever since we started with “La Morena,” where we mixed rap with our merengue music. But now, the hip-hop and rap influences are more present on this album, but with that Dominican touch. When I say that, I’m referring to the pop that you’ve heard with a base of conga drums and güira,which identify the merenguesound. We’re also featuring baladas mixed with a bit of R&B. So, with all those fusions it’ll be a very interesting album. That’s why we named it La Republica, because it identifies a lot of our bachata and merengue rhythms.

With this album can we expect similar songs to your previous ones, or new sounds?
With La Republica, Ilegales return to the street once again with their own style, thank God. We use our own style, with new colors of course. We continue with the mixes. We continue with the hyped themes for the clubs. You’ll find songs like “Mátame de Prisa” which is a ballad, a bachata called “Como Puedo,” and the single which is a track by the name of “La Otra” with Monchy & Alexandra. There’s also an interesting song that I like very much which has a rave-like electronic sound mixed with bachata.In other words, the album is very variable, but it also identifies much of what Ilegales is.

How was your collaboration with Monchy & Alexandra?
It was great. I really enjoyed it. When we decided to create a merengue and bachatamix, what better duo than Monchy & Alexandra to do it with? Alexandra really enjoyed it because that whole theme about “the other woman” is something every woman goes through. They always have that drama with men, that “I don’t want to be the other one, are you cheating on me?” thing. The video turned out really cool, very clever because of that very thing. In the video she’s going through the same situation with her partner and I’m going through it with my partner and she says “I don’t want to be the other woman, don’t play with me.” Making that song with her was very interesting.

We also did a very sensual song with Gisselle. It’s a club-like merenguecalled “Una Noche De Amor.” That too was very interesting because it’s such a sensual topic and it turned out great with Gisselle.

Do you plan on collaborating with other artists?
The album already has quite a few collaborations. There is the one with Monchy & Alexandra, the one with Gisselle, and there’s one with Magic Juan, who used to be the singer for Proyecto Uno. I don’t know what might come along in the future. Because we’ve been, like we say here in the Dominican, we’ve been quitao. (Laughs) I was quitao from recording and was producing. But now that we’ve returned to the streets, we’ll probably invent a few things with Heriberto.

What artists would you like to work with?
At this moment, no one comes to mind. But one is always trying to create new things; find an excuse to be in the recording studio, really.

Is it like an addiction?
Yes, it’s true! If you ask me “What do you really love?” I’d say, “Leave me in my recording studio.” It’s like a strong addiction.

…Supposedly, we’re going to the U.S. to promote the album, but we already have some commitments in South America, some shows in Venezuela, in Ecuador. We have to do a telethon in Chile. You know commitments that one always has.

You guys are very busy!
More or less, we’re coming back and with our pilas puestas!

After this release, do you plan on taking a break? Or will you produce projects with more continuity?
Yes of course. The idea now is to take Ilegales’ career and go forward. Go strong.