Contributing Writer
What began as a spontaneous freestyle during a recording workshop in the Dominican Republic has evolved into a cross-cultural collaboration with a purpose far beyond the dancefloor. Released today, August 14, via WAYU Records, La Bodega brings together German producer Nhii and Dominican artist J Feliz, transforming a moment captured at BeatRetreat into a vibrant, Caribbean-infused electronic record benefiting local nonprofit InspireDR. With Nhii, J Feliz, WAYU Records, and distribution partner Proton donating their shares of the master royalties, 100% of net proceeds from the recording will support InspireDR’s work with young boys in the Dominican Republic. We caught up with Nhii, J Feliz, and WAYU Records founder Julian Castañeda to discuss the unlikely origins of La Bodega, the creative process behind the record, and how music, community, and collaboration came together to create something with a lasting impact.
For readers discovering WAYU Records for the first time, what inspired this project, and why was it important for the label to turn La Bodega into a charity release?
Julian [WAYU]: WAYU was founded on the basis of helping up-and-coming artists. So, the moment DJ Neeks took us to InspireDR during BeatRetreat, which she was hosting, and we got to meet the kids and the people who make that place so special, we immediately knew we wanted to contribute somehow. As the name of the organization suggests, we not only wanted to introduce our community to this incredible cause, but also hopefully inspire the kids at InspireDR by showing them how music and creativity can be used to give back.
BeatRetreat brought together artists from different backgrounds in the Dominican Republic. At what moment did you realize this recording had the potential to become something much bigger than a workshop session?
Julian [WAYU]: To be honest, right during the workshop session at BeatRetreat. But it didn’t materialize right away. The project got the ball rolling in 2023, and for WAYU, it was important that we didn’t rush things. We wanted to make sure that if we released something, it was meaningful and made sense.
InspireDR became the heart of this project. Can you tell us about your visit there and why supporting the organization felt like the natural next step?
Julian [WAYU]: We had the pleasure of visiting InspireDR twice, first in 2023 during the inaugural BeatRetreat and then again the following year. As I previously mentioned, the moment you actually get to meet and interact with the boys of InspireDR, you’re immediately reminded that there are incredible people in this world, and that sometimes a bit of guidance and inspiration can make a huge difference.
Sometimes we all need a little nudge to remind us of the importance of giving back, especially when there’s an opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life and help them build a better future.
BeatRetreat at InspireDR: Mentors Atish, Enamour, Saeed Younan [2024]
WAYU Records has always championed community and artistic integrity. Do you see more projects like this becoming part of the label’s future?
Julian [WAYU]: For sure, you will see more projects like this becoming a core part of our label. This project has shown us firsthand how much of a difference a community can make. The moment we shared what we were trying to do, we received support from so many people in our community who not only contributed to the project, but also offered their time, skills, and services to help bring it to life and amplify the message.
When you first received J Feliz’s freestyle recordings, what immediately sparked your imagination?
Nhii: The attitude of the recording. It was alive, I really thought that’s a great starting point for a record. Furthermore it was quite rhythmical, so it was easy to groove.
Your productions are known for blending organic textures, indie dance, and melodic elements. How did you approach building a record around such a spontaneous vocal performance?
Nhii: I tried to keep the jam character of the vocal and implement it into the instrumentation. I basically jammed along his vocals and a kick drum as a click to get a feeling for it. The low end groove and bassline in the track are sampled from a 10 min jam recording in my studio.
Was there a particular moment during the production where you realized La Bodega had become something special?
Nhii: To be honest, I struggled a bit with the sound design on the final mixdown. So finalizing it was a bit of a challenging experience. However, after playing it out the first time, I had that realization. Julian from WAYU records also immediately loved it and used the word special to describe it. I hope the whole project can contribute meaningfully to the cause.
Your vocals were originally an improvised freestyle during BeatRetreat. What was going through your mind during that session, and did you ever imagine it would become an international release?
J Feliz: I wasn’t thinking that it would end up becoming an international release. I was simply enjoying the moment, connecting with the beat, and letting out what I was feeling. That’s the beautiful thing about music—sometimes you create something spontaneously, and it ends up taking on a life and dimension you never could have imagined.
J Feliz, Dominican Republic
As a Dominican artist, what does it mean to be part of a project that gives back to young people in the Dominican Republic?
J Feliz: Being from the Dominican Republic I know how important it is for a young person to have an opportunity, someone who believes in their talent, and a space where they can develop it. If, from my position as an artist, I can contribute even a little to helping other young people find their path through music, art, or creativity, I’ll do it with great pride. Representing the Dominican Republic also means giving something back to my people.
The energy in La Bodega feels deeply rooted in Dominican culture. How important is it for you to bring your identity and musical influences into your work?
J Feliz: My music comes from who I am, where I come from, my experiences, and everything I’ve heard and lived through in my country. La Bodega has that authentic, street-level, cultural energy that connects with our people, and bringing that essence into my work is a way of staying true to my identity while continuing to explore new sounds. I believe you can evolve internationally without ever losing your roots.
If each of you could describe La Bodega in just three words, what would they be and why?
Nhii:
Playful – The contrast between the cultures invited me to play and experiment
Cultural – That exactly makes it multicultural
Collaboration – Without Feliz this song would not exist. Hope it’s not gonna be our last collab!
J Feliz:
Identity – Because it represents our roots and the way we feel and experience music.
Energy – Because every artist brings something different to the table, and you can feel that in the final result.
Community – Because behind this project are people brought together by music and by a shared desire to make a positive impact.
Julian WAYU:
Inspiration – Because we hope La Bodega will inspire others.
Community – Because it shows what community and collaboration can accomplish.
Spontaneity – Because La Bodega was born from an improvised moment without knowing where it would lead.
Finally, what do you hope listeners feel when they press play, knowing every stream and purchase helps support InspireDR?
Nhii: I hope this project combines the joy of listening with the joy of giving. Two beautiful things that make any day better. I also hope it raises awareness for the project InspireDR. Local efforts are the best way to support such an undertaking.
J Feliz: I hope people not only enjoy the music, but also feel like they’re part of something bigger. I hope each song gives them a sense of our culture, our energy, and the effort behind this project, while also knowing that with a simple play or purchase, they’re helping create opportunities for young people in the Dominican Republic through InspireDR. That gives the music an even greater sense of purpose
Julian WAYU: Music can be so impactful, and I hope that when people listen to the song, even if they don’t know that every stream or purchase helps support InspireDR, it brings them joy and maybe even inspires them to be good humans. I think that’s what’s most important!
Allow music to bring joy, connect people, and hopefully inspire something positive along the way. And if through that they discover that the release helps support this beautiful organization, I hope they also understand that the support doesn’t have to end with a listen. We’d love for people to visit www.InspireDR.org, learn more about the organization and the boys, and, if they can, donate. Everything bit counts.