Optimo

Óptimo formed in New York City as a bachata trio whose sound merges that genre with contemporary strains of pop and rap. The Dominican-American outfit includes Romántico on lead vocals, born Roberto Sánchez, Neit on guitar, born Starling López, and EMJ on bass guitar, born Emmanuel Jiménez; every member arrived in the Dominican Republic before being raised in the United States. Their first full-length album, Óptimo FDL, arrived in 2007 on Sony Norte. The record, titled as shorthand for “Óptimo Foe da Ladies,” showcases the hit single “Conéctate” together with Spanish- and English-language versions of the Bee Gees’ disco classic “How Deep Is Your Love?” One year afterward the trio issued the follow-up A World Tour.