HE KICKS OFF HIS LA MARCHA DE LA VIDA TOUR AT AUDITORIO NACIONAL APRIL 14.

Songwriter/producer/performer Benny Ibarra will be the voice of the Easter Bunny in the worldwide, Spanish language version of the animated film HOP.  What made it especially fun for Ibarra was that his father, Benny Ibarra Jr., voices the part of the Easter Bunny’s father.   In the English version, Russell Brand is the Easter Bunny and Hugh Laurie is his dad. The film opens in Mexico on April l5, one day after Ibarra kicks off his La Marcha De La Vida Tour at Auditorio nacional; it will be his sixth solo performance at the prestigious venue.

Ibarra has also recorded and produced the end title song for the film, “I Want Candy”.  The .legendary track has been recorded by everyone from a Spice girl to Bow Wow Wow.  “I felt it was important to channel both E. B. and my own singing voice,” said Ibarra. “I was born to two rock stars so I guess that’s also present. I loved layering my background vocals and flowing with fun of the song.”

Ibarra is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter.  He has recorded, written and produced duets with a wide variety of artists including  Armando Manzanero, Miguel Bosé, Aleks Syntek, Paty Cantú, Celso Piña and Lila Downs.  His most recent release, La Marcha De La Vida, was recorded in San Miguel De Allende, Jalcomulco, Valle De Bravo, Oaxaca and Los Angeles and produced the hit track “Calaveras”, a duet with the acclaimed Lila Downs.  He will be filming a video for the next single, “Siento”, in Acapulco later this month.  His Auditorio nacional show on April l4 is the first of his Latin American tour on behalf of the album.

Ibarra is no stranger to animation work, and voiced the part Despereaux in the Spanish version of The Tale of Despereaux.  “The process of doing Despereaux was so enjoyable and going to the cinema with my friends and family and seeing it on the screen was such a cool experience.  When I auditioned and got the part of E. B. for the Movie “HOP”, I knew I was in for an incredible ride.

“Overdubbing is quite a lonely work,” he explained.  “It’s the engineer, the director, a tv screen and you, recording phrase by phrase until it’s just right. I would hear Russell’s original track for rhythm, look at the animation for emotion, close my eyes and let my own version of E. B. come out.”

Blending state-of-the-art animation with live action, HOP tells the comic tale of Fred, an out-of-work slacker who accidentally injures the Easter Bunny and must take him in as he recovers. As Fred struggles with the world’s worst house guest, both will learn what it takes to finally grow up.

“To begin with, the English version has Russell Brand as E. B. (the Easter bunny) and Hugh Lauire as his dad, who are both cool and edgy performers.  When they cast my own father, Benny Ibarra Sr. as E. B.s dad, the whole adventure turned into a personal affair,” says Ibarra.”HOP is a movie for the entire family.  The moral of the story is of love and the importance of following your dreams.”