Venezuelan rock band Viniloversus heads to Miami for the 25th Latin Grammys

Venezuelan-born musician Orlando “Mango” Martinez doesn't make music for awards, but his latest achievements at the 25th Latin Grammys are something worth celebrating. 

Martinez is the drummer for the Venezuelan rock band Viniloversus. He and band members Rodrigo Gonsalves, Juan V. Belisario and Adrian Salas started the band in 2004.

Since then, they've made six albums and received a Latin Grammy nomination in 2010 and 2012 for Best Rock Album. Their album “Cambie de Nombre” won Best Recording Package in 2012.

This year's Latin Grammys marks the first time the band has been nominated in 12 years. They are up again for Best Rock Album for their LP “Mi Mejor Enemigo” and are also nominated for Best Rock Song with the track “Animal Temporal.”

The success of their latest LP marked a career high for Viniloversus.

“We're very happy,” Martinez said. “That's the first time in all of our nominations that we got double nominations, you know, Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song. So that's been very impressive and very rewarding for us.”

“Mi Mejor Enemigo” is also the first project the entire band has self-produced. The album brought the group back to their roots after the COVID-19 pandemic changed their dynamic. 

About five years ago, Martinez and his wife settled in Hillsborough after living a self-described nomadic lifestyle, touring and making music all over the world. The coronavirus pandemic forced Martinez and his family to stay in North Carolina longer than previously expected, but he said he enjoys the appreciation of art and the community in the area. 

Post-pandemic, Viniloversus came back together to perform in two Latin American tours. At that time, Martinez and the band started writing songs they could play live on guitar, bass and drums. Then, the band set out to make another rock 'n' roll album, which would eventually become the LP “Mi Mejor Enemigo.”

Martinez said he feels their album has really connected with people, and that connection reflects the work the band has put into their music. 

“We just wanted to go back to our roots and bring a rock 'n' roll album, and that's what we kind of did,” he said. “I think because it was so sincere [and] we all connected with it, that's the same thing that's happening with the people.” 

Viniloversus recorded the album with Sonark Media, a Hillsborough recording company.  This is Sonark's first time collaborating with the rock band and the first time one of their bands has received a Latin Grammy nomination.

Sonark CEO Steven Raets and Studio Manager Eli Webb are both named in the band's nomination.

In 2021, Raets met Martinez through a mutual friend of theirs. After visiting the studio, Raets said Martinez was blown away by Sonark, and they began their partnership. Eventually, Martinez brought his bandmates to work with the company and create part of the album in Hillsborough.  

On Viniloversus' last project, Raets said their job was just to facilitate the best sound possible. 

“We work mainly together with Mango on the drums for the record, and not all of the songs but most of them,” Raets said. “Then the rest, they kind of record at home, and then they mix it there. So our main role was dialing in drum songs and recording those.”

For their next album, Raets said he's been more involved in sound production. They resumed making music with Viniloversus two months ago and started working on a couple of songs with Martinez, Belisario and the guitarist for Rod Stewart.

“We're always working on something new and bigger than the last thing we did. So it keeps us sharp,” Webb said.

Sonark also featured Viniloversus on an episode of their show, “Sonark Sessions: Live From The Barn,” which re-airs regularly on PBS.

“It was really magical to see the guys really rocking out and loving to be together and play together like that,” Raets said. “It's very interesting. It looks like the next album could be really cool too.” 

The 25th Latin Grammys will be held in Miami on Nov. 14. It will be Martinez's third time attending the awards ceremony. Though he and the band have grown into the idea of being stars, Martinez said the surrealness doesn't wear off. 

“You get to be with these massive stars, which some of them you've been following for years, and you get to also be on the same level as a human being,” Martinez said. 

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