New Jersey-born artist and educator Marla Lewis has done it again with a fantastic new single, “Te Quiero a Ti”.
This latest song is available in both Spanish and English. It is full of bossa nova charm and smooth jazz elegance while Marla’s mesmerizing vocals float over a lush arrangement that features flute, piano, acoustic bass, electric guitar, drums, and backing vocals.
Originally crafted with a beautiful melody by Marla and heartfelt lyrics by her friend Dave Kinnoin, the song found new life when translated into Spanish by the gifted Melissa Sanley. Sanley’s translation, coaching, and creative input transformed the song into a bilingual creation. Marla’s description of their collaboration as “divine intervention” perfectly captures the magic behind this project.
“Te Quiero a Ti” brings warmth, romance, and a touch of vulnerability, delivering a universal message of new love. It has a catchy groove and ambience that makes this an instant favorite for listeners of all ages.
“My life was touched by a real life angel — that’s the best way to describe it! I signed up for a Peer Networking program offered by the Grammy organization (I’m a voting member), and they paired me with Melissa Sanley. Talk about Divine intervention! A superb singer, songwriter, recording artist — she speaks four languages, and now she is my voice teacher!
But I digress — I played her a song from my first Songbook album to see if she liked it enough to translate it into Spanish. It had some Spanish words in the lyrics that were written by Dave Kinnoin (I wrote the melody). She told me the title was not correct Spanish! OMG! She changed it to “Te Quiero a Ti,” translated the lyrics, coached me on every line, created the cover art, sang backup vocals, and made the lyric video!”
Marla’s diverse musical influences can be heard on this track – they range from Ella Fitzgerald and The Beatles to Carole King and Michael Franks.
Watch the accompanying lyric video here:
With a background as an elementary school teacher, Marla’s dedication to children’s music has earned her many accolades, including Grammy recognition and multiple prestigious awards. Her transition to smooth jazz and American standards with her “Songbook” albums, produced by the renowned Bob Stander, marked her artistic growth.
Her song “Leap of Faith,” co-written with Nancy Schimmel, was featured on the Grammy-winning children’s album “All About Bullies…Big and Small” in 2011. Marla’s smooth jazz and American Standards work has also garnered acclaim, particularly with her albums “Songbook” and “Songbook Volume 2 (SBV2),” both produced by two-time Grammy-winning producer/engineer Bob Stander. The first single from SBV2, “Enchantée,” achieved impressive chart success, reaching #1 on the World Indie Charts and #2 on the Euro Indie Charts. Marla’s debut smooth jazz album, “Songbook,” was praised for its “pure bliss” and includes notable singles such as “Blue Horizon” and “Kill the Lights.”
In the realm of children’s music, Marla’s albums “I Love to Talk to Plants” (2009) and “We All Laugh in the Same Language” (2007), both produced by Bob Stander, earned prestigious Parent’s Choice Gold and NAPPA Gold awards. Additionally, her children’s songs have won multiple First Prize and Finalist awards in national and international competitions.
“Te Quiero a Ti” is a vibrant addition to Marla’s impressive discography.
Enjoy its relaxing melodies on Spotify now!
Find out more about Marla Lewis on her Website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Stream music on Spotify, Soundcloud, and YouTube Music.
