LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Singers Joy Huerta, Shaila Durcal, Gian Marco, Juanes and artist German Perez attend the XIII Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Nominations Announcement held at Belasco Theatre on September 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS – Out with the old, in with the new.
The Latin Grammys, which will be broadcast live Thursday night from the Mandalay Bay Center in Las Vegas, is once again taking over Sin City with much glamour and energy.
In an event where celebrities make their rounds promoting their new albums, rallying up support for their causes or simply showing off their fashion creativity, it was the countless number of fresh new artists who are making a statement this year during Latin music's most important evening.
Such is the case with Argentine singer Deborah Del Corral, who made the transition from the runway to the recording studio and was ecstatic when she learned she was nominated for best new artist.
"I started as a model many, many years ago," she told Fox News Latino the night before the awards show. "I didn't know what I wanted to do in particular, but I knew it had something to do with music. I hosted TV in the late 90's [and] then I started learning instruments and studied sound engineering."
Del Corral says she has had the opportunity "to expand" to different audiences after opening for music giants such as Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5.
"To be able to open for such huge artists, it's huge," she said. "It's not people who came to see you, so they are relaxed and happy and they either love you or hate you. Fortunately some of them love me."
Like Del Corral, Uruguayan electronica music duet Campo, was raising eyebrows for their distinct sound as they DJ'ed at the Mandalay Bay hotel after the Person of the Year ceremony.
It was what they call their "subtropical" beats, which landed them a nomination in the best alternative song category.
"It really was a big surprise," said co-founder of Campo Juan Campodonico. "Campo is relatively a new project. It is not even one-year-old."
"Our music is very open platform to experiment," he said, adding that audiences will get to learn about "cumbia from the south" referring to Uruguay and neighboring cities in Argentina.
Costa Rica was another country represented during the pre-Latin Grammys festivities with Tamela Hedstrom, a native from the "Pura Vida" country, nominated for best tropical song.
"This is the first time a Costa Rican is nominated in the Latin Grammys," Hedstrom, who has worked with Calle 13 and Chayanne, told Fox News Latino with a smile.
"I want to continue touring and putting myself out there because right now only people in Costa Rica and in Sweden know me since my father is from Sweden."
Last, but certainly not least, Venezuela was in the house with the all male band ViniloVersus, who said they were were happy to be able to rub shoulders with the likes of Caetano Veloso, who won Person of the Year on Wednesday.
"I learned about Caetano later on in my life," said one of the members. "He really has done it all in music."
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