"Yenyere" means "joy" or "goodness" in the Afro-Latin Yoruba tradition. A co-write by Jonny Enright and Carlos Peña, it lives up to its name from the first bar. An up-tempo classic Latin groove inspired by the 70s salsa meets jazz recordings of Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto, with Carlos Peña delivering lead vocals with real swing and conviction, trading call-and-response with a heavy coro, Romy Taylor's voice soaring above it all. John Settle tears into a storming vibraphone solo while heavy horn lines and driving rhythms push the whole thing relentlessly forward. Pure joy, and it shows.
Lyrics
YENYERE
INTRO
VERSO
Vamos compay que ya empezó el yenyere
YENYERE, YENYERE
Vamos compay que ya empezó el yenyere
YENYERE, YENYERE
Te digo que va a estar bueno,
Para la rumba prender,
Te traigo candela pura,
Pa’ formar el yenyere.
Vamos compay que ya empezó el yenyere
YENYERE, YENYERE
(Hablado) ¡Anda!
HORNS
CORO I
YENYERE, TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
(Trombón solo) x2
YENYERE, TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
PREGONES
Rumbántela, rumbántela, ven y baila mi yenyere.
La vida es una tómbola, tom‑tom‑tómbola, disfrútala como es, nene.
Muévela, muévela, muévela, se ha formado ya el bembe.
MAMBO / VIBRÁFONO SOLO
CORO/HORNS/BREAKDOWN
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE x4
PREGONES
Tumba la cadera, máquina landera
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
La cosa se ha puesto buena.
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
Ven, ven, ven, ven, ven a gozar.
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
Con la esencia que tiene lo ronco.
MAMBO
PREGÓN
Te traigo mi yenyere, yenyere.
CORO
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
PREGONES / CORO
Se formó ya este bembe.
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
La orquesta internacional te pone a gozar como es.
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
No te lo vayas a perder.
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE
OUTRO
TE TRAIGO MI YENYERE x3
YENYERE (English translation)
INTRO
VERSE
Come on, my friend, the Yenyere* just kicked off
YENYERE, YENYERE
Come on, my friend, the Yenyere just kicked off
YENYERE, YENYERE
I’m telling you this is gonna hit,
Light the rumba** up tonight,
I’m bringing you straight‑up fire,
Just to spark this Yenyere.
Come on, my friend, the Yenyere just kicked off
YENYERE, YENYERE
(Spoken) Oh yeah!
HORNS
CHORUS I
YENYERE, I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
(Trombone solo) x2
YENYERE, I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
CALLS (PREGONES)
Roll that groove, roll that groove, come and dance my Yenyere.
Life is like a big tombola, tom‑tom‑tombola, just enjoy it how it is, my friend.
Keep it moving, keep it moving, this bembe***’s already on.
MAMBO / VIBRAPHONE SOLO
CHORUS / HORNS / BREAKDOWN
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE x4
CALLS (PREGONES)
Drop it in your hips now, máquina landera****,
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
Now it’s really getting heavy.
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come and get your joy.
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
With that rough and raw‑throat flavour in the sound.
MAMBO
CALL (PREGÓN)
I’m bringing you my Yenyere, Yenyere.
CHORUS
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
CALLS / CHORUS (PREGONES / CORO)
This bembe’s wide open now.
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
This international orchestra makes you move just right.
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
You don’t wanna miss this one.
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE
OUTRO
I’M BRINGING YOU MY YENYERE x3
Glossary
* Yenyere – title groove / chant name.
** Rumba – Afro‑Caribbean party rhythm.
*** Bembe – Afro‑Caribbean drum party / street celebration.
** Máquina landera** – reference to classic Caribbean “Máquina Landera”, i.e. a driving dance groove.
credits
from ¡Apúntalo!, track released August 5, 2026
Written by J.Enright/C.A Peña Pellicer (Loft Recordings)