Aventura is made up of Anthony Santos, Lenny Santos, Max Santos, and Henry Santos Jeter. Their aim when they formed Aventura was to fuse traditional Dominican bachata music with more popular styles like RnB and hip-hop. They wanted to create a different sound. They got their big break in 1999, when BMG records signed them on and they released their first album, Generation next, with an outside producer. However, amidst all the Latin, pop and RnB music doing the rounds at the time, Aventura’s album sank without a trace. They achieved fame with songs like “Obsession” from their album We Broke the Rules.
God’s Project is a reaffirmation of their popularity and how Latin youth found their way to cross over to hip-hop. It is regarded as their most mature and most diverse album. The bachata element in “Ciego de Amor” still remains strong. It features a cameo by leading Dominican bachata singer Antony Santos (not the same as the Aventura band member). With “Ella y Yo,” they also explore the reggaeton territory with Don Omar. With this album, they explore a variety of international music, especially Asian sounds.
Love & Hate, released in 2003, had elements of merengue, hip-hop, pop and RnB in addition to their traditional bachata sound. They sang in Spanish, English, and Spanglish. The magic of this album was revived at their concert in New York in 2005, along with other bonus tracks. The tortured “Hermanita,” which is about domestic violence, or the more confident “Déjà vu” are unusual songs. There is also some convincing rapping on “Don’t Waste My Time.” Love & Hate, (live at United Palace Theatre), released in January 2005, features a sold-out performance together with backstage interviews and plenty of behind-the-scenes footage.
Aventura made a pioneering effort in creating a new genre of music. As a boy band, they fought hard not to get bracketed into the usual Backstreet Boys or *N’Sync pop category. They continue to experiment with various styles of music from hip-hop to reggaeton, but at the end of it, they ensure that the bachata element remains dominant. Making music as interesting as they do, Aventura’s next album is eagerly awaited by fans.