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Venesti was only 11 years old when he realized he loved music — after writing love letters to his school crush and discovering Don Omar for the first time.
“I thought to myself, ‘Why not sing about the things I write about?’” he tells Billboard. “I had already become a poet trying to win over this girl. That was when I got the curiosity to turn those poems into melody and want to make songs. That’s how I discovered that this was my passion and that I vibe with music.”
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At 14, the artist born Faiber Stiven Caicedo Castro (his artistic name is a play on words of his middle name) made the brave decision to move from his native Guapi, Cauca (located in the Pacific of Colombia) to Cali — a.k.a. the world capital of salsa — to learn music. There, he became the vocalist of a salsa orchestra and even tested the waters as a bachata singer, before finding his own sound in 2018, at the age of 22.
“I began to look not for what people like as such, but for what I like and that can identify me as an artist,” he explains. “I started to explore the music of my roots, African and Pacific, and found a nice middle point that’s a fresh Caribbean sound with Colombian fusions and African flow.”
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Venesti recalls working on about 20 songs at home before deciding to knock on doors. Once he felt confident enough in his project — and backed by the support of his mother and older brother — he traveled to Medellīn, where the music industry has a strong presence. Along the way, he came across producers and artists who gave him his first opportunities, but also music executives who turned out to be scammers. He admits that although he invested more than $15,000 and had many debts, he refused to give up on his dream.
And it was then, in a leap of faith in 2022, that his feel-good Afro-Colombian tunes got to the ears of music business mogul Pablo Casal. In 2023, he signed his first record label deal with AP Global Music.
“He’s one of the people who has helped my music reach another level. He has a very nice way of teaching,” Venesti says of Casal. “I’ve perfected my art, partially, thanks to him. Because he has put a lot of effort into it, and we’ve had a very cool connection from the beginning.”
The Colombian newcomer has since charted with four songs across the Billboard charts, including “Umaye,” his first No. 1 ever on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, and most recently with “No Es Normal” (in collaboration with Nacho and Maffio), which topped the Latin Pop Airplay for seven weeks.
“That has been my greatest achievement…to find a team that is a family,” he notes. “I am very lucky. I feel that with them, I’m going to go very far and achieve all the goals I set myself.”
Below, learn more about February’s Latin Artist on the Rise:
Name: Faiber Stiven Caicedo Castro
Age: 28
Recommended Song: “No Es Normal” (Venesti, Nacho & Maffio)
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Major Accomplishment: Up to now, Venesti says that his three career highlights are being nominated at the 2024 Premio Lo Nuestro for best urban song (the award went to Feid and Young Miko’s “Classy 101”), having multiple Billboard chart entries and finding a solid work team who is honest and believes in his vision.
What’s Next: “[I’m going to] continue working on the album,” he assures. “I feel that it’s very fresh and has everything for people to identify with, wonderful songs and stories. Continue sharing all my music on stage — and you can expect a lot of music from Venesti, because I’m working for that every day.”
When Mau and Ricky Montaner returned to Venezuela last year after an almost-10-year absence, they both admit they were a little worried.
“Ricky and I were really anxious,” says Mau, before Ricky chimes in, “When we left [Venezuela], our cousins and our best friends stayed behind. They always told us, ‘Oh, you’re no longer Venezuelans. You’re gringos.’ And that was really our identity. So we felt a lot of those nerves. When they opened the doors to the plane and I stuck my head out, and I saw the girls who came with the wheelchairs get all excited, I thought, ‘OK. We’re good.’”
The three-month stay was an essential part of the adventure of creating Hotel Caracas, the brothers’ new album, scheduled for release in July. Two singles, “Pasado Mañana” and “Vas a Destrozarme” have already been released. Overall, the project will feature 16 songs, along with corresponding music videos and a documentary, as it highlights the brothers in a different musical light. This time around, they’re working with entirely acoustic arrangements, leaning more pop and using a lot of horns and brass, working with producer Malay Ho, known for his work with artists like Frank Ocean. The album was created as a tribute to the brothers’ native Venezuela. Going back, they say, was a “personal purpose.”
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“We found ourselves in a country that, despite having a complicated situation, […] I can’t say enough about the love we felt from the people and the sense of belonging that one has in one’s land,” says Ricky.
“People talk a lot, but everything they say is about the negative,” adds Mau on the topic of Venezuela. “We want to help continue having the conversations that have been had, but also, we want people to remember how extraordinary the music of my country is, the cinema in my country and the culture in general. People are desperate for this to happen.”
Mau and Ricky Montaner have been musical adventurers for as long as they can remember. Born three years apart (Mau is 30, Ricky is 33), the brothers have been making music together since they were children and have experimented a lot along the way, trying out sounds ranging from urban pop songwriting to many cross-genre mashups of their songs – from reggaeton to tropical.
Dressed in their own version of gray suits (shorts instead of pants and Converse high tops), the brothers spoke with Billboard about Hotel Caracas, their trip to Venezuela and, of course, the series Los Montaner.
Watch the full interview above.
Bad Bunny riding a horse at his Most Wanted Tour shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the vibe is cowboy aesthetic, with fans adopting Western wear, cowboy boots and hats as outfit inspiration for the trek. For the full cowboy effect, the Puerto Rican superstar — wearing a royal blue suit with fringes — […]
Ramón Ayala, affectionately known as the King of the Accordion, announced the curtain call on his remarkable 60-year career with the El Principio De Un Final (The Beginning of an End) tour on Tuesday (Feb. 27).
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With more than 50 concerts across arenas and auditoriums on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, the tour is set to launch at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on March 9, and will wrap up at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Nov. 30, according to a press release. The Monterrey musician will also perform in U.S. cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Las Vegas.
In tandem with his final tour, he is poised to release a new single titled “El Retén” on March 8.
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Ayala’s trajectory from his early days with Los Relámpagos del Norte to the zenith of his career with Ramón Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte helped reshape the norteño music landscape, propelled by his riveting and virtuosic accordion skills. He’s widely recognized for crafting timeless norteño classics such as “Mi Piquito De Oro,” “Que Casualidad” and “Tragos Amargos.”
Throughout his career, Ayala has influenced great artists such as Grupo Frontera and Intocable. “The first song I fell in love with the accordion was ‘Mi Piquito de Oro’ by Ramón Ayala. I was sold,” Ricky Muñoz, Intocable’s leader and accordionist, told Billboard Español earlier in February.
His albums Antología De Un Rey (2004) and Arriba El Norte (1991) have reached No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, and 12 of his songs have entered the Hot Latin Songs tally, including “Del Otro Lado Del Portón” at No. 12 and “Quémame Los Ojos” at No. 19.
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As the four-time Grammy-winning artist prepares for his swan song, his partnership with Fundación Hermes Music through the Guitarras Por La Paz (Guitars for Peace) campaign will continue to underline the Monterrey artist’s dedication to harnessing music as a vehicle for peace. This initiative sees the distribution of guitars and educational materials to various charitable organizations, ensuring his impact extends beyond the stage.
See his Instagram announcement below:
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered by scrolling on social media, networking, or coming across their music at a showcase, for example. See our February 2024 recommendations below.
Artist: Alessandra Aguirre
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Country: Peru
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Ever since she was a little girl, Alessandra Aguirre has been honing her vocal and songwriting skills by being part of competition shows like Perú Tiene Talento and American Idol. Most recently, she graduated from the Berklee College of Music. Her had work has paid off: The pop artist, who has an impressive vocal range, signed with indie label PJ Records (founded by duo Periko & Jessi León) last year. With synth-pop as her canvas, Aguirre’s mature and deep vocals take centerstage expressing a sense of urgency to get a message across in each of her songs. Her latest single “Contravía” is no exception: In it, the Miami-based singer-songwriter sings about giving it all in a relationship where the other person was not reciprocal. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Contravía”
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Artist: La Mau
Country: Venezuela
Venezuelan indie artist La Mau brings a sweet take to urban pop, with clean, romantic lyrics that nevertheless have personality. Signed to Swag Records and distributed by Glad Empire, La Mau sometimes is reminiscent of Karol G in sound and charm, but veers more romantic. With her girl-next door looks and disarming, down to earth videos, she is immediately relatable. — L.C.
Song For Your Playlist: “Solo Tú”
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Artist: Marcelo Rubio
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Venezuelan singer-songwriter Marcelo Rubio brings back that Latin singer-songwriter vibe of the likes of Ricardo Arjona and Alejandro Sanz, but with a contemporary lexicón that is delightful to listen to. In breakout track “Conversación Con Mi Ex,” a brooding, mid-tempo pop jam set over synth and keyboards, he chats with an ex girlfriend with earnest, beautiful language that also incorporates pop culture references seamlessly, and makes you sit up and listen. This is very impressive stuff for a 20-year-old — and labels agree; Rubio just inked a deal with Sony Music Latin. — LEILA COBO
Song For Your Playlist: “Conversación Con Mi Ex”
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Artist: Noreh
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: This 26-year-old singer and songwriter is already a rising star in his native Venezuela, but he’s an emerging artist beyond his hometown. In the albums he’s relesaed so far — including his debut LP Asocial (2020), the live album Nada Íntimo (2021)and Mucho TXT (2023) — he offers an eclectic taste that ranges from urbano music and ballads to bolero, salsa and bossa nova. Noreh has collaborated with established names such as Jay Wheeler, Nacho, CNCO, and Servando & Florentino, and is now starting his path to an international career. In mid-February he gave his first U.S. concert, in Miami, with fellow Venezuelans Joaquina and Ricky Montaner (from Mau y Ricky) among the attendees. On March 7 he’ll release BALADAS TATUADAS VOL. 1, an EP with songs that combine romantic and urban music, while he plans his next shows in the U.S. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song for Your Playlist: “El Día Que Me Odies”
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Artist: Reyna Tropical
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Dripping with succulent electronic textures, carefully plucked guitar, and hushed vocals, Reyna Tropical emerges as the project of guitarist, producer and singer-songwriter Fabi Reyna. Recent singles “Conocerla” and “Cartagena” serve as captivating harbingers of the project’s studio album debut, Malegría, out March 29 on Psychic Hotline. This title, a poignant blend of “mal” (sorrow) and “alegría” (joy), expresses the complex emotions of celebrating life amidst mourning the death of band member Nectali Díaz, known as Sumo.
Initially a collaboration between the two Mexican expats since 2018, the act has transitioned into one-woman endeavor. Rooted in the “duality between bad and good, bitter and sweet, grief and love, and death and rebirth,” like the press release says, Malegría claims a modern homage to diverse cultural legacies; weaving themes of queer identity, sensuality and love with Congolese, Peruvian, and Colombian rhythms. Drawing inspiration from Chavela Vargas and Manu Chao, Reyna’s artistry shines through her recent work. Earlier this year, the artist signed with WME for global representation in all areas. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Conocerla”
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Prince Royce is back in the top five on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart as Llamada Perdida debuts at No. 2 on the March 2-dated list.
The 23-track set makes the week’s top debut with 6,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 22, according to Luminate. Royce’s seventh studio album was released Feb. 16, the first day of the tracking week, via Smiling Prince/Sony Music Latin.
Of Llamada Perdida’s 6,000-unit week, 3,000 units derive from streaming activity, equal to 3.6 million official on-demand audio and video streams for the album’s songs. Album sales contribute 3,000 of the remaining units, with a negligible amount of activity from track-equivalent units. One unit equals to one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.
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Ahead of Royce on Tropical Albums is Aventura’s greatest hits set Todavía Me Amas: Los Mejor de Aventura (7,000 units; up 48%), which has spent 201 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1.
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With Llamada Perdida, Royce logs his seventh consecutive top five effort on Tropical Albums, six of which reached the summit. Here’s the recap of his now seven top 10s:
Peak, Peak Date, Title, Weeks at No. 1
No. 1, Sep. 18, 2010, Prince Royce, 54
No. 1, April 28, 2012, Phase II, 26
No. 1, Feb. 2, 2013, # 1’s, seven
No. 1, Oct. 26, 2013, Soy El Mismo, six
No. 1, March 18, 2017, Five, 10
No. 1, Feb. 22, 2020, Alter Ego, one
No. 2, March 2, 2024, Llamada Perdida
Notably, after a four-year break from Tropical Albums, Royce’s Llamada Perdida album joins two other sets holding strong in the top 20: Prince Royce at No. 6 in its 306th week on the list, and Soy El Mismo at No. 20 in its 412th. The latter marks the fourth-longest run since the ranking launched in 1985.
Llamada Perdida was preceded by two of its songs reaching the multimetric Hot Latin Songs list: “Lao a Lao,” which peaked at No. 23 in 2021, and the No. 31 peaking “Si Te Preguntan,” with Nicky Jam and Jay Wheeler, in 2022.
In addition to “Lao a Lao,” three other songs from the album reached the penthouse on the Tropical Airplay chart: “Te Espero” with Maria Becerra (May 2022), which samples “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” by English pop rock band Cutting Crew (1986); “Me EnRD” (July 2023) and “Cosas De La Peda” with Gabito Ballesteros, which holds at No. 1 for a second week on the current list.
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Maná‘s highly anticipated performance at Viña del Mar on Tuesday (Feb. 27) — their fifth time overall at the Quinta Vergara — didn’t disappoint. The iconic rock en español band performed all of its hits, from “Oye Mi Amor” to “De Pies a Cabeza” and “Labios Compartidos,” inspiring a massive sing-along with the 15,000 people […]
On March 6, Brazilian powerhouse Luísa Sonza will be celebrated as a Global Force at this year’s Billboard Women In Music Awards.
As the only Brazilian being honored at the prestigious ceremony, Sonza told Billboard Brasil, “It’s very surreal. I would never have expected it, but I’m very happy to represent Brazil and that they look to Brazilian artists.”
This accolade comes on the heels of her Billboard Brasil Hot 100-topping success. Sonza first captured hearts in 2014 with her covers on YouTube and beguilingly earned the title as the Queen of Covers. In 2020, she made her debut on the Billboard charts and quickly became a global force, if you will.
With seven tracks on the Global Excl. US chart, including pop hits like “Modo Turbo” with Pablo Vittar, featuring Anitta (2020), “Cachorrinhas” (2022), and “Chico” (2023), her music continues to resonate worldwide. These tracks not only made waves internationally but also secured her spots on the coveted Billboard Global 200.
Furthermore, her impressive track record in her country, featuring 12 charted songs including three top 10s, is a testament to her homegrown appeal and artistry.
The singer also celebrated the fact that the industry is honoring Latin musicians. Colombian superstar Karol G is Billboard’s 2024 Woman of the Year, and Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko will receive the Impact Award at Billboard Women in Music 2024. “I like this selection. In general, the [industry] was Americanized for a long time, and today I see the recipients — I have Latin friends who sing in Spanish, just as I mostly sing in Portuguese,” she reflected.
Her collaborations with international artists such as Demi Lovato, Marshmello and Katy Perry further highlight her global reach and influence in the music industry.
“I’m happy to be there [at this year’s ceremony] and what [my third studio album] Escândalo Íntimo has brought me. It was very special to have Demi Lovato sing in Portuguese (‘Penhasco2’) and to create a song with Marshmello (‘Sou Musa Do Verão’),” added Luísa Sonza.
Tickets to attend the Billboard Women in Music Awards presented by Marriott Bonvoy are available to the public. Fans can watch the show on Thurs, March 7 at 5pm PT/8pm ET on billboardwomeninmusic.com.
Andrea Bocelli‘s Viña del Mar debut was a grand affair, and the Italian tenor was awarded not only with the Silver Gaviota but also with the Golden one on Monday (Feb. 26). With more than 110 musicians on stage, Bocelli opened the second night of the week-long event, the 63rd edition of Viña’s International Song […]
Romeo Santos and Aventura are reuniting once again for their 2024 Cerrando Ciclos tour the pair revealed on Tuesday morning (Feb. 27).
Produced by CMN Events, the 20-date trek will kick off May 1 in Sacramento and wrap in Dallas on June 11, with two additional dates in Canada. The timeless bachata group — known for hits such as “Obsesion,” “Dile al Amor,” and “Un Beso” — will also make pit stops in key U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.
“This year there is something I must accomplish and conclude,” Santos said in a press statement. “I want you to join me on a journey where I will be definitively closing cycles. Because it is not the same to remember beautiful times as it is to be a prisoner of the past. We cannot stagnate in the nostalgia of yesterday, but rather move forward, discover new horizons, and show other facets.”
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Santos and Aventura last joined forces just months before the Coronavirus pandemic for their 2020 Inmortal Tour, which grossed $25.8 million and sold 189,000 tickets among 15 shows between Feb. 5 and March 10, 2020, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore.
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Tickets for Cerrando Ciclos go on sale at noon ET on Friday (March 1) via ticketmaster.com and axs.com.
See Cerrando Ciclos U.S. tour dates below:
May 1 — Sacramento, CAMay 2 — San Jose, CAMay 5 — Los Angeles, CAMay 8 — Ontario, CAMay 9 — Glendale, AZMay 11 — Houston, TXMay 16 — Charlotte, NCMay 20 — Chicago, ILMay 22 — New York, NYMay 26 — Washington, DCMay 27 — Hartford, CTMay 31 — Boston, MAJune 2 — Newark, NJJune 7 — Toronto, CanadaJune 8 — Montreal, CanadaJune 11 — Miami, FLJune 14 — Orlando, FLJune 17 — Atlanta, GAJune 19 — San Antonio, TXJune 21 — Dallas, TX