When he is not touring the world with the legendary Carlos Santana, Paoli Mejías is crafting his own musical legacy. The acclaimed Puerto Rican percussionist, known for his electrifying performances as part of Santana’s band for over a decade, is now stepping into the spotlight with his latest releases, “Acelera” and “La Familia”. These dynamic tracks fuse deep-rooted Afro-Caribbean rhythms, contemporary Latin jazz influences and elevate the musical culture of Puerto Rico.
At the heart of Acelera lies a powerful collaboration: Marc Quiñones, a fellow master percussionist, joins Paoli in an electrifying duel of quintos, bringing an unmatched synergy and energy to the track. Composed by Mejías himself, the song is a testament to his deep musical knowledge and commitment to pushing the boundaries of percussion-driven music. With La Familia, Mejías pays a tribute to Puerto Rico in an eight-minute song that celebrates the island’s vibrant musical heritage and elevates the voices of the artists who bring this composition to life.
In an era where the island faces ongoing challenges, Mejías creates powerful tracks that remind listeners of the unbreakable spirit of Puerto Rico and its people, carried forward through rhythm, melody, and unity.
Who were the musicians that inspired you to begin your journey as a percussionist?
I don’t come from musicians but my family in Puerto Rico was always listening to Salsa, Congo, and bands like La Sonora Ponceña, Hector Lavoe, and Fania. I grew up dancing and listening to that music.
When I was 7 or 8, a kid in the neighborhood was playing conga and I remember falling in love with the sound, and thinking that the drums sounded so chévere. I then started selling newspapers in order to buy this instrument, and that’s how my story started, filled with my own passion and love for these drums.
Then I started listening to Mongo Santamaría, Carlos “Patato” Valdés and Barreto while getting deeper and deeper into perfecting my art. To this day, I still have that first conga that accompanied me back then.
How did your musical career start?
In the neighborhood I lived in there was a band that was looking for a steel-drum player for Calypso music. They heard that there was a teenager in the barrio who played really well, and that’s how it all started.
With money from that band I bought better congas and started getting tour offerings from professional musicians in Puerto Rico, such as Glenn Monroig, José Nogueras, even Rafú Warner called me to join his orchestra. Then other calibre players called me, like Luis Enrique and Marc Anthony, who I played with for some time.
Tell us about the two versions of ACELERA, which the public can now listen to on Spotify. What was your inspiration when creating this melody?
I love creating music with friends. Marc Quiñones, the percussionist for The Doobie Brothers recently stopped by and we jammed and recorded a song together.
We only had a few hours to complete it and I already had a chorus but needed to work on the lyrics. The song talks about being late for a gig, getting multiple stops on the way, and driving faster and faster. It was such a difficult process, creating a conversation with drums while accelerating the beat, but I loved it! It’s my way of enjoying the gift of music with friends.
Are we expecting more collaborations with friends in the near future?
Yes, I have another song that’s almost done. I can’t say more because it is such a unique idea, it’s a collaboration with an artist who is out-of-state, and I’m hoping to make a music video before releasing the song.
What is a piece of feedback from students at your percussion clinics that has truly fed your soul?
I never saw myself as a person who would influence young adults to play, but when they attend these clinics and verbalize their enthusiasm of playing conga because they heard you play or listened to your records, that’s impactful.
There are two people, one portorican and the second one from Indonesia, who have my logo of “Jazzambia” tattooed on their arms, and one who named his son after me. These are impressive moments that you keep as a musician.
You never know how much you can influence people with music. You just want to communicate what you feel through the instruments you play. That’s your own language that helps you reach an audience with music.
Are you joining Santana for another US tour this year?
We have a lot of work with Santana starting in April. We are going to be in Arizona and New Mexico. It’s an honor to play with him as he is one of the most iconic bands in American music and the world.
How do you describe the fusions we find in your music and in songs like “La Familia”?
I have a lot of friends, who are mostly musical brothers that have dedicated their lives to Rumba, Salsa and Conga. I invited them to play in this song with their kids. People like Tony Escapa who plays with Ricky Martin, the legendary timbale player Pete Perignon, cuatro player Christian Nieves, and many more who are incredible musicians.
It was an awesome project and one of the most beloved songs that I have produced. It talks about a father’s sacrifice to support his kids and see them grow into music. You hear all the rhythms from each of these master musicians, such as Afrocuban sounds like batá, Portorican rumba, mountain music from the island, bomba, salsa, and more. it is such a beautiful thing to see fathers and sons playing together and celebrating our culture!
What’s coming up in 2025 for Paoli?
I will continue to make music because I want to express something that’s mine. My songs are a type of alternative art because they are listened to by audiophiles mostly, who like to hear the sounds the artist is offering. I’m happy with what I am doing because it comes from the heart.
Paoli Mejías has built a career playing with some of the biggest names in Latin and jazz music, but his passion for independent artistry remains stronger than ever. As he continues to tour the world with Santana, he is also preparing for a wave of new music releases, set to drop in the coming months. “Acelera” is just the beginning—offering fans a taste of his rhythmic brilliance and innovative musical vision.
Listen to “Acelera” and “La Familia” now on all digital platforms and stay tuned for what’s next from this master percussionist.
