I don't usually think of Miami when I think of Latino music or mind-numbing over-produced hip hop, rather than a hotbed for folk-based music. Young singer/songwriter Tristan Clopet is trying to change that impression with his new EP Duende.

Clopet is a rare combination. His writing is definitely firmly rooted in folk rock traditions. Musically, he can't help but betray a deep appreciation for funky rock. The result is a collection of laid back tracks like "Your Love Is A Drug" and "The End Of An Era", which evoke thoughts of Ben Harper and G. Love respectively.

On the flip side, Clopet proves to be both wistful and gritty with "Let It Go". The songs boasts a Jack Johnson breeziness punctuated with a Lenny Kravitz-style guitar riff. Another intriguing combination comes up on the closer "Oceans". The body of the track has a gentle Jeff Buckley aura, while it rounds out into a mellow funk breakdown.

Duende definitely has a place in today's music. It will be interesting to see whether Clopet can build on the EP or whether he falls into a comfortable groove with this sound.

Best tracks: "Let It Go", "Your Love Is A Drug"

Track listing for Duende:

• Your Love Is A Drug
• The End Of An Era
• Let It Go
• Flowers In Bloom
• Concrete Dreams
• Oceans

Tristan Clopet's website

Tristan Clopet's Myspace