Yendry’s Trilingual Music Influenced By Her Dominican and Italian Roots

Yendry’s music cannot be boxed into any one genre, her sound is a collection of the long road she’s traveled. With roots in the Dominican Republic and Italy, her music is influenced by the Latin rhythms of merengue, bachata, salsa and the electronic edge of music in Europe. Bridging the gap between both sides, she’s drawing on her unique upbringing to carve out a space for herself in pop.

“I had the chance to see two different cultures, I was extremely lucky. I had all Latin influences, like Caribbean but I also have the Italian side. What we call neo-melodic music.” –said Yendery in a billboard interview.

Yendry’s first single with her new label was “El Diablo,” which showcased her trilingual prowess and musical range, mixing trap beats with a pop and flamenco edge. For “Se Acabó,” a reggaeton banger with an electronic glow, she teamed up with Dominican rapper Mozart La Para.

“I’m trying to mix different cultures, so I always believed that doesn’t really have any genre,” she says.

In under a year since signing with RCA Records, her global-minded pop — sung in English, Spanish and Italian — has amassed over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Damian Marley, who teamed up with Yendry for her new single “You,” is among her growing fanbase.

Though her success may seem like an overnight story, Yendry’s road to musical freedom hasn’t been an easy one.

When Yendry Fiorentino was a child in the Dominican Republic, she was left in her grandmother’s care after her mother moved to Italy to support their family. Yendry later moved with her mom to Turin when she was four years old. Not only did Yendry have to adjust to life on another continent, but she also dealt with discrimination. As an Afro-Latina, Yendry faced racism growing up in Europe. She was looked down upon and called anti-Black slurs by locals.

“The situation is still fucked up,” she says. “The younger generation is trying to fight to change that. It’s something that we’re still working on and kind of improving.”

Her genre-agnostic music, which dabbles in afrobeats, reggaetón, R&B and more, is a celebration of both her Caribbean and European influences. It’s what’s made her stand out, and even scored her “Ya” song a mention on President Barack Obama’s favorite music of 2021 year-end list.