Prima J graces the cover of Latina Magazine

Prima J, Interscope/Geffen’s new pop duo and self-proclaimed “Chilosa girls” cover Latina Magazine.
Go to Latina.com for an exclusive video and a free download of Prima J’s single “Corazon”

What is a Chilosa girl?
Prima J describe a Chilosa girl as the fun and fearless girl next door, with lots of spirit and a deep sense of inner self confidence.

Official lead single:
Prima J – “Corazon (You’re Not Alone)” – (audio)
Windows media:
http://geffen.edgeboss.net

Prima J
Self Titled Debut Album – In Stores June 17th
Geffen Records
www.myspace.com/primaj
Corazon on iTunes:
http://click.linksynergy.com

Check out the first two episodes of Prima J’s online video diaries at HolaMun2.com

http://holamun2.com/

Embed code:

About Prima J

The name of their debut single may be “Rock Star,” but the two cousins that make up Prima J are everything but. In fact, Jessica and Janelle Martinez are so down-to-earth, it seems just as odd that their song is the lead track from the Bratz™ Motion Picture Soundtrack (released by Geffen Records July 31st, with the movie following August 3). Far from precocious and everything but bratty, the pair are actually a real-life version of the comradery and competitive edge captured in the movie.

Their recent discovery and success aside, Jessica and Janelle still can’t believe that they’ve not only signed a record deal and are currently finishing their debut album for release later this year, but are also appearing in what is expected to be one of the summer’s cinema hits and have recorded an infectious single destined to help make the soundtrack a smash. “None of this has hit either of us yet,” says Janelle, 18. “I feel like I’m dreaming and someone needs to wake me up. It’s one thing to record a song and a video, but it’s another thing to hear it on the radio or see it on TV. That’s where it’ll really hit me…”

Forgive the girls for not having teen-idol egos, but they’re just too happy and excited to be doing the same thing they’ve been doing for most of their lives—singing and dancing. “We just did the video for ‘Rock Star,’ and it was the greatest experience ever,” says Jessica, 19, with an excited laugh. “We love dancing, and we were dancing all day. It’s so great to get this opportunity to do it in front of a camera, and show people that we do belong here!”

Jessica and Janelle Martinez got their start as a duo when they were barely old enough to talk, performing choreographed cheerleading and dance routines for their family each week during halftime of Dallas Cowboys football games. With five uncles, two aunts, and at least three cousins with each, those family gatherings were large, which explains why the girls, then four, have no problem strutting their stuff in front of audiences now. Says Jessica, “We were always more into music than the rest of our family, and as we got older took every chance we’d get to perform, whether it was cheerleading, dancing, school plays, choir…”

“She did all of the clubs, student government, and had straight-A’s,” says Janelle with a grin. “I was more the class clown, tom-boy type. I like to get my nails and hair done, but at the same time, like to kick it with my guy friends and do sports… She’s the girly one that likes to be chill. I’m the bungee jumper and sky diver that likes roller coasters!” Together, they’re a high-energy pair of real-life girls next door that blend the energy of Janet Jackson and the spunk of Gwen Stefani with the urban pop of TLC and the hip-hip bop of trailblazing duo Salt-N-Pepa.

Living in Rosemead, CA, a predominantly Latin American suburb of Los Angeles, the girls were active in choreography and dancing when they were introduced to Stefanie Ridel, a former bandmate of Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson in the pop act Wild Orchid. Ridel took the pair under her creative wing, and quickly realized that while trios are a lot more common in pop music than duos, this was one pair that would survive just fine on their own.

“We’ve always stuck together, and we’ve always had that fire and known that we really wanted to do this,” says Jessica. “If one of us was good at something, the other was just as good, because we always did everything together.” “And, if one of us ever thought we couldn’t do something, we’ve always been there to support each other,” says Janelle. “We’re so close, we’re like sisters, we’re best friends and we’re never apart. This is just a dream come true.”

“Now that we’ve gotten this far, we’ve realized that it doesn’t matter if you’re the average, girl-next-door type,” says Jessica. “It doesn’t matter what you look like or where you’re from, you should never think that you can’t accomplish something.”

As Mexican-Americans, they hope to be role models to both American and Latin girls, as they consider themselves the face of the new Hispanic in America, part of an emerging generation that “speaks English and lives Latin.” They even go so far as to affectionately refer to each other as “chilosa,” a made-up word that they feel defines Prima-J: two sassy, classy, spicy and feisty girls. They may be the girls next door, but they’re also fun and fearless, with an independent spirit and deep sense of inner confidence.

“We want to have a good time, but we also want to send a message to younger people and be idols for American and the Latin community,” sums Janelle. “Too many people don’t know that if they set their mind to it, they can accomplish anything, just like we have.”

That’s chilosa!

• NFL Latino has great news for all Hispanic and Latino fans of the NFL: The launch of the contest, Tu Pasion!
• AP Launches Mobile News Network, “AP Mobile América Latina”
• Only in CATALINA Magazine – Mario Lopez on the Job and at Home
• APA Poll Finds Stress Having an Impact on Families, Hispanics
• Latin American Businesses look to past in adapting to Current Economic Downturn.
• @ Ad-Tech New York: WPP’s Latin American Interest, Hispanic Digital Panel
• The Prevention Research Center (PRC) in St. Louis is launching a multinational research project focused on preventing the leading causes of death in Hispanics in the United States and Latin America. – will conduct a four-year, $2.8 million effort to apply and adapt evidence-based strategies for preventing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity in the United States, Mexico and Brazil
• Hispanic students face language barrier challenges in Maryland
• FIU to develop model programs to keep Hispanics in college – Although 57% of non-Hispanic white students nationwide graduate within six years; only 46 % of Hispanics do so.
• Calle 13: With the people, without a map – Calle 13 hit it big in a hurry. Unsettled by fame, MC Rene Perez set out to connect on a personal level with Latin America.
• ALMAS program provides Henry Sibley’s Latino students with bridge to a brighter future – Minnesota
• Iberoamerica:Our Way(s) lasts from November 5-13 and will feature Latin American films at MoMA in NYC
• Study finds Lehigh Valley’s Hispanic students are progressing – But struggles persist in areas such as reading. Valley area review is called ‘eye-opening’ – Pennsylvania
• Lehigh Valley public schools have experienced growth in population of Latino students over past decade – Pennsylvania
• NFL seeks to score with Hispanic Fans – Can Latino celebrities change the face of NFL team ownership?
• Latinos need more than lip service – Families are being torn apart by America’s broken immigration system. President Obama needs to show leadership and fix it – (the view from England)
• Mexican President Felipe Calderon honored at gala in Miami by Latin Trade magazine,
• Palm Beach Community College officials want every one of their students with Latino roots to update their academic records and document their ethnicity.
• In Latin America, weapons buying spreads mistrust – Weapons purchases in Latin America are soaring as nations cast a wary eye on their neighbors.
• For Tomorrow’s Latino Students: No Typewriter Ribbons Needed