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The riveting sound of Xavi‘s tumbados románticos and the hypnotic rhythms of 8onthebeat’s dance floor creations collide the pair’s insatiable electro-bélicos single, “La Diabla (Electro Remix)”. Last December, Xavi dropped the Billboard chart-smashing original, a crispy guitar-laden tale about a bad boy’s romance with a bad girl, or “she devil.” Today — nearly two months and hundreds […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Enrique Iglesias & Yotuel, “Fría” (Sony Music Latin)
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After delving into bachata with the sweet, bouncy “Así es la vida” with María Becerra, Iglesias goes back to party mode with “Fría,” the second single off his upcoming Final, Vol. 2. Here, he pairs up for the first time with Yotuel in a catchy, mid-tempo calypso that celebrates carnival in its colorful video. “Fría” taps into the lighter side of both Yotuel and Iglesias; it’s light and airy and unpretentious, built on the play of words around “fría” (used here as “cold one” as in cold brew) and “confía” (trust), in three-repetition intervals for maximum catchiness. That catchiness is sure to inspire signature dance moves and more than a little sing along. — LEILA COBO
Tiago PZK & Ke Personajes, “Piel” (Grand Move Records/Warner Music Latina)
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Urban and cumbia music combine here for the new love anthem “Piel,” perfect for celebrating this Valentine’s month. Argentine urban-pop artist Tiago PZK teams up with Emanuel Noir, frontman of Ke Personajes (one of Billboard’s 2024 Latin Artists to Watch), to gift fans with a powerful urban-infused cumbia villera track that opens with the beautiful piano melody and then transitions into a catchy and sensual cumbia beat. Penned by Tiago and Colombian hitmaker Keityn, the lyrics describe the feelings only the person you love can bring out in you: “Just let me be the one who passionately kisses your skin/ But also the one who shares with you, my love/ Telling you how you slept and how you woke up.” — INGRID FAJARDO
Ángela Aguilar, Bolero (Machin Records)
Ángela Aguilar revives the timeless allure of the Great Latin American Songbook through her new album, aptly named Bolero. Dripping with elegance and nostalgia, the Mexican American chanteuse forges a deeper connection with her heritage that not only pays homage to the past but also paves the way for future generations to cherish and appreciate the beauty of boleros. Her renditions pay tribute to revered songwriters like Armando Manzanero, César Portillo de la Luz, Pedro Flores, Agustín Lara, and his sister María Teresa Lara Aguirre.
The album gains an additional layer of authenticity with the accompaniment of the legendary Trio Los Panchos, whose nylon guitar-driven arrangements add a timeless brilliance to hits like “Luna Lunera” (also featuring the Cuban musician Amadito Valdés), “Toda Una Vida,” and the iconic “Piel Canela” and “Quizás Quizás Quizás.” Furthermore, “Piensa en Mí” is adorned with golden piano keys that evoke a bygone era, enveloping the listener in a spellbinding embrace. It’s a heartfelt journey through the soul of Latin America that bridges generations. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Marca MP, LEALTAD (Sun Meadow/Sony Music Latin)
Marca MP kicks off 2024 with the release of their fifth studio album, LEALTAD (loyalty). An ode to their faithful fans and the sound that made them a household name back in 2019, the California-based música Mexicana group deliver a 10-track set with their traditional sierreño melodies. Seven of the songs were composed by lead singer Chato (real name: Pedro Vargas Vaca Jr.), including the focus title track — a captivating corrido about hustling, achieving success, and being loyal to his day ones. “I’ve dedicated many months to this project,” Chato expressed on his Instagram. “I want to thank my team and everyone who added a grain of salt so that it would be possible but above all, my group members for always being loyal.” Produced by Chato outside his parent’s house in Northern California, other notable tracks on LEALTAD include “Tenis Balenciaga,” “Mi Universo Entero” and “Para Mí.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Quevedo, “La Última” (Taste the Floor Records)
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At just 22 years old, Spanish rapper Quevedo recently surprised his fans on social media with the announcement of his temporary retirement from music. Leaving with a bang, the Canarian artist left behind “La Última” (“The last one”), a single that would explain some of the reasons for his decision. With raw and honest lyrics, Quevedo implies that he has lost his first love for his occupation: “Sometimes I can’t stop crying when I remember all the nights that I cried,” he chants. “Remembering why I cried and wrote and recorded/ Every night I stayed up late/ Everything was so pure that/ Where I wanted to be was where I was.” Throughout the ultra-emotional song, the also trapper vents by expressing that he needs to lose everything to go back to what he felt at the beginning and fall in love all over again, resonating with many who have felt this way regardless of occupation. More than a dozen artists make cameos in the emotional music video, including Yandel, Omar Montes, Mora, and Ovy on the Drums. —LUISA CALLE
Zoe Gotusso, “Pensando en Ti” (Sony Music Argentina)
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Zoe Gotusso presents the second advance song from her upcoming sophomore studio album: a version of the classic “Pensando em Você” by Brazilian artist Paulinho Moska. Produced by Cachorro López and Diego Mema, with lyrics in Spanish sung by the Argentine singer-songwriter, the sweet pop ballad includes verses like “Hey, I’m thinking about you/ Thinking about never again thinking about forgetting you/ Because when I think of you is when I feel myself.”
“‘Pensando en Ti’ is a song that I feel is so mine and so my own that I took the courage to translate it so that it reaches another generation,” Gotusso says in a press release about the follow-up to her 2023 single “Entrégate.” “I had some of Paulinho Moska’s albums in my house and recently I had the pleasure of meeting him to tell him that I wanted to sing his song. I always felt very connected to the music of Brazil and continuing to build the bridge between our two countries is a pleasure.”
Her beautiful take comes with a music video directed by Rafael Kogan, which shows the artist spending a day alone, enjoying her own company while thinking about her love. It’s a perfect song for this Valentine’s Day. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Los Aptos, “Botellas” (Warner Music Latina)
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The emerging Mexican-American trio is in their experimental era. Los Aptos have unleashed their EDM-inspired electro-corrido “Botellas,” which effortlessly fuses elements of pop, house and regional Mexican. Composed of Juan Ortega, Jonathan Rivera, and Daniel Vaides, hailing from the Midwest state of Indiana, Los Aptos is among a new generation of Mexican-American artists who’ve modernized música mexicana. Placing all bets on heartbreak, a theme that’s worked well for Gen Z artists and fans, “Botellas” explores the complex emotions that bubble up after a breakup. Los Aptos are set to drop a new album this year. — GRISELDA FLORES
Mariángela, Sensible (Sony Music Latin)
In her debut album, Sensible, Mexican American singer/songwriter Mariángela takes a page from the synth pop style of early 2000 groups like Belanova and Miranda! and the dreamy quality of Lana del Rey to inform dance-pop beats that finally are all her own. Mariángela first gained traction with her beautiful, breathy cover of Roberto Carlos’ classic “Cama y Mesa.” With Sensible, she expands with original material that’s not just romantic; songs like the uptempo “Soñarte” and current single “Acto final” can also work perfectly well on the dance floor, while the title track is experimental and edgier, but still pop. It’s different from what other female voices are doing in Latin, and the unique sound stands out. — L. COBO
Listen to more editors’ picks in the New Music Latin playlist below:
Happy birthday, Shakira! Billboard is celebrating the Colombian artist’s 47th birthday on Friday (Feb. 2) with her biggest hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Last year, Shak made a triumphant comeback to music with her first single of 2023, “BZRP Music […]
Few songs evoke Colombian pride like Grupo Niche’s salsa classic “Cali Pachanguero.” The moment the song’s opening trombone intro plays in a room full of Colombians, chairs and tables get pushed to the side, the space turns into a makeshift dance floor and a sing-along breaks out. So what if the song is a love […]
Marc Anthony’s remarkable dominance on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart adds yet another chapter this week as his latest single, “Punta Cana,” debuts at No. 1 on the ranking dated Feb. 3. The arrival extends his record for the most No. 1s in the chart’s history.
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“Punta Cana” storms in atop Tropical Airplay with 4.6 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the Jan. 19-25 tracking week, according to Luminate.
“Punta Cana’s” arrival at the summit secures Marc Anthony his unprecedented 36th No. 1 on the list, the most among all acts; a record he’s held since 1996, one year after Tropical Airplay launched. Victor Manuelle remains in second place, with 29 No. 1s.
The bachata, coproduced by Marc Anthony alongside Sergio George, was released Jan. 26 via Sony Music Latin and unseats another labelmate from the lead: Enrique Iglesias and Maria Becerra’s “Así Es La Vida” drops to No. 2 with a 19% decrease in impressions, to 4.3 million.
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Notably, out of the 36 champs on Marc Anthony’s Tropical Airplay account, “Punta Cana” becomes the third song to premiere at No. 1, following the six-week champ “Se Me Sigue Olvidando” (1995) and nine-week ruler “Ahora Quien” (2004). (Only 16 songs overall have debuted on at No. 1 on the chart.) Plus, “Punta Cana” is Marc Anthony’s first No. 1 in two years (since “Mala Santa” ruled for one week in March 2022) and his 27th No. 1 without any accompanying acts.
As Marc Anthony continues to beat the competition, here’s the recap of the artists with the most No. 1s on the 28-year-old chart:
36, Marc Anthony29, Victor Manuelle23, Prince Royce18, Romeo Santos14, Elvis Crespo14, Gilberto Santa Rosa13, Jerry Rivera12, Juan Luis Guerra 440
Beyond its Tropical Airplay coronation, “Punta Cana” gives Marc Anthony his 59th career entry on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, as the song debuts at No. 19. With the new entry, he continues to hold the record for the most chart appearances among tropical acts, and the sixth-most among all artists. Here’s the leaderboard:
85, Daddy Yankee68, Ozuna64, Intocable63, Los Tigres del Norte60, J Balvin59, Marc Anthony58, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga
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 January 2024 recommendations below.
Artist: Jimmy Rodriguez
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: I first heard Rodriguez when he auditioned for Telemundo’s La Voz second season. Like all the participants, he presented himself with great emotion and was full of dreams. But something that made him stand out, besides his impeccable voice, was that he arrived wearing a Carlos Vives shirt as a gesture of manifestation (Vives indeed becomes his coach). The Mexican-born, Miami-based artist, also known as “El Mexicano Salsero,” is a combination of cheerful energy, creativity and distinctive vocals. Forming part of a new generation of salsa stars, Rodriguez brings his Mexican roots and tropical fusions together when he’s performing live, where often times you’ll see him rocking his handlebar mustache, traditional “pantalones de charro” pants, and the Mexican flag proudly hanging around his microphone. Along with his live band, it becomes an experience, not just a typical show. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “El Rumbón” feat. Motiff & Tony Succar
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Artist: Lara Project
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Composed by Venezuelan-born brothers Manuel and Félix Lara, the Lara Project duo brings retro dance sounds from the ’70s and ’80s to the forefront. Using synths, pulsing beats and live instrumentation, the siblings effortlessly navigate and intertwine diverse musical genres, casting a wide net for potential listeners. The head-bobbing “Comme des Garçons,” released earlier this month, thrives on an irresistible funk rhythm and a captivating mid-tempo beat. The duo is set to drop their upcoming new album, Sobrenatural, in March via Interscope. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Comme des Garçons”
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Artist: Maura Nava
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Nava is a rare hidden gem, one who has a story of admiration and resilience and who’s captivating vocals live to tell it. The Mexican-born, Miami-based rising act first gained exposure thanks to her cat — yes, her cat — via a TikTok video where she was flaunting her opera-singing skills and her furry pet crashed the video, only to perform with her. The video, which was blessed as “opera cat,” has garnered nearly 10 million views. But beyond her viral stint, it’s Nava’s enchanting aura and effortless soprano vocal range that ultimately got her into award-winning producer’s Julio Reyes Copello’s ArtHouse Academy, a deal with Universal Music Latin, and her own track on the soundtrack to Prime Video’s Zorro series. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Encontrarme” (Carla Morrison cover)
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Artist: RENEE
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: There are few times when a streaming platform gets its recommendations right, but in this case, it led me to a musical treasure with RENEE. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the singer-songwriter (whose full name is Sofía Renee Jiménez Alvarado) gives a new air to pop with her soulful voice, introspective lyrics, and sonic mix of jazz, soul, bossa nova and folk. Her lyrics address topics from the complexity of romantic relationships to her emotional state, while in her musical career she has reinvented herself on several occasions — both in her music and in her hair style.
She debuted in 2019 on Universal Music Mexico with RENEE, a three-song EP that goes from pop-soul and bossa-nova (and includes the single “Esperándote”), followed by the EP Viaje al Amanecer the same year, where she also showed her folk side. In 2020, she released her debut LP Breve Espacio. Highlights from her discography since include the bright funk “Quiero quedarme para siempre” with La La Love You, released in 2022, as well as the moving ballad “Extraños de nuevo,” and her 2023 album NMDQH, which includes her hit song “Nunca Tristes (Me Vale Madre).” RENEE started 2024 with the song “El Disfraz,” also showing her acting skills in the music video. With such an eclectic and captivating musical persona, it is certain that none of her songs will go unnoticed. — LUISA CALLE
Song For Your Playlist: “El Disfraz”
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Artist: Ximena Guzmán
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: A natural born singer and songwriter, Ximena Guzmán began her formal music training at the age of 11 at the Conservatorio del Tolima, before studying lyrical singing at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá. After collaborating and performing with national orchestras, mariachi ensembles and llanero groups, both nationally and internationally, she made her solo debut in October with the single “Duele,” showing a powerful, melodic voice with a contemporary style. She followed that in December with the infectious mariachi trap fusion “A Solas,” part of an upcoming EP produced by JC Karo (who has worked with stars such as Pedro Capó, Ricky Martin and Anuel AA), to be released this year by Ditto Music. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “A Solas”
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The Conga Room — the nightclub that for years defined Latin entertainment in Los Angeles and featured artists like Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, Fito Páez and Alejandro Sanz — is closing its doors after 25 years. Its final concert will be a private show March 27 featuring Puerto Rican salsa star Gilberto Santa Rosa and an array of friends, hosted by actor and producer Jimmy Smits and MC’d by comedian Paul Rodriguez, both co-owners.
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Established in 1999 by entrepreneur Brad Gluckstein, the Conga was — and still is — an anomaly in Los Angeles: an upscale, celebrity-studded nightclub devoted to Latin music and entertainment. Gluckstein’s co-owners at opening were luminaries Smits, Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez and Sheila E., all representing different sides of entertainment. In contrast with New York, which for decades boasted legendary nightclubs devoted to Latin music, Los Angeles didn’t have a Latin venue backed by star power and that sought to highlight a broad swath of Latin music.
Maluma performing at the Conga Room in 2016
The Conga Room
From the onset, the Conga did just that.
When it opened in its original Wilshire Boulevard location, it featured Celia Cruz as its first headliner, and artists who performed there included Buena Vista Social Club and Tito Puente, but also Carlos Santana and Alejandro Fernández. In 2008, the Conga Room moved to its current, ritzier location at L.A. LIVE, where it continued to expand its programming, bringing in reggaetón and Mexican acts; Maluma and Bad Bunny, for example, played there in the early days.
In 2013, Billboard hosted a show by norteño band Calibre 50, as part of its Mexican Music Awards. While the room also featured other genres, with shows by artists like Lenny Kravitz, Ed Sheeran and Avicii, its core remained Latin music. All told, the venue hosted more than 500 performances in both locations, in addition to special events.
Gilberto Santa Rosa performing at the Conga Room in 2021
The Conga Room
“The Conga Room brought Latin music to the forefront, presenting both international and local artists in an intimate and upscale setting,” said Gluckstein in a statement. “It also became part of the cultural fabric of Los Angeles, hosting cultural, political and community events for a quarter of a century.”
However, offered Gluckstein, “Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the lack of events at the convention center, and the difficulty in booking national acts with AEG and Live Nation controlling national routing, our business model was changed. Coupled with an inflammatory economy and high interest rates, [it changed] consumer behavior significantly.”
Although the venue is shuttering, the nonprofit organization Conga Kids will continue to operate. Founded in 2016, the program reaches roughly 50,000 elementary school children per year in largely under-resourced communities in LA County, offering a curriculum of dance and music of the Afro-Diaspora.
Eladio Carrión shines bright with the highest debut of the week on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts, as Sol María, his sixth studio set, launches at No. 6 and No. 3, respectively, on the Feb. 3-dated rankings.
Sol María, a tribute to his mother, starts with 18,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 25, according to Luminate. The 17-track set blends trap, Afrobeats, reggae and ’90s pop, all genres that resonate with his mother. The set was originally set for a Dec. 23 release, but finally dropped Jan. 19, the first day of the chart’s tracking week.
Of Sol María’s 18,000-unit sum, 17,000 stem from streaming activity, which equals to 23.6 million official on-demand U.S. clicks of the album’s songs in its opening week. Album sales comprise 1,000 units, while a negligible amount of activity derived from track-equivalent units.
On Top Latin Albums, 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.
With Sol María’s No. 6 entrance on Top Latin Albums, the new father of twins Carrión captures his fifth top 10, out of seven visits, on the Top Latin Albums tally and bests his album debut Sauce Boyz’s No. 8 debut and peak in 2020. Three other sets have peaked in the list’s upper region: Sauce Boyz 2 at No. 2 (2021), SEN2 KBRN, Vol. 2 at No. 4 (2022), and 3MEN2 KBRN at No. 3 (2023).
Beyond its top 10 debut on Top Latin Albums, Sol María gifts Carrión his fourth entry on the overall Billboard 200 chart, at No. 37. Plus, with Sol María, the Puerto Rican-American rapper notches his sixth top 10 on Latin Rhythm Albums, as it bows at No. 3 – matching the debut and peak of his last entry, 3MEN2 KBRN in April 2023.
As Sol María arrives, three of its tracks launch on the Hot Latin Songs chart –which blends streaming data, sales, and airplay– led by “Hey Lil Mama,” with Rauw Alejandro, at No. 36. The song is mostly powered by streaming activity, with 2.52 million clicks in its first week.
“TQMQA” follows at No. 39 1.7 million streams, and make progress in the radio realm. It rallies 41-31 on Latin Airplay with 4 million audience impressions (up 20%).
Meanwhile, the last of the album’s three debuting cuts on Hot Latin Songs, “Bendecido,” opens at No. 49, largely from its 2.1 million streams logged in the tracking week.
Carrión’s fresh chart achievements arrive on the heels of his first Latin Grammy win for “Coco Channel,” his Bad Bunny collab named best rap/hip-hop song at the awards in November.
Broadway legend Chita Rivera has died. She was 91. According to The New York Times, Rivera’s death was confirmed via a statement issued by her daughter Lisa Mordente. The iconic singer, dancer and actress graced the Broadway stage for nearly seven decades, originating iconic roles like Anita in West Side Story (1957), Rose in Bye […]
“These are real life situations,” Xavi tells Billboard Español, reflecting on the inspiration behind his gut-wrenching and fiery chart-topper “La Victima.” “I feel like we all go through obstacles or things like that in life. Sometimes you have to make songs out of that.”
In the booming landscape of música mexicana, Xavi, a 19-year-old Phoenix native, has rapidly emerged as a force to be reckoned with. His 2024 breakout, with the viral hits “La Diabla” and “La Víctima,” marks not just a high point in his career, but also a redefinition of genre boundaries.
Yet his story is one of triumph over adversity, marked by a life-altering accident and a bicultural upbringing that has influenced his musical craft.
His musical journey began in the church pews, watching his grandfather sing with a passion that ignited his own love for music. “Since we were little, we used to go to church with my grandparents,” he says. “Just seeing my grandpa playing with so much passion — and the truth is that when he sang, he sang with feeling, he sang with love and he did it for God. I remember that day I fell in love with music.”
This early exposure, coupled with influences from Mexican crooner bands like Camila and Sin Bandera and global pop icons like Justin Bieber, shaped his diverse musical palette. Despite a challenging childhood marked by his parents’ separation and living between Phoenix and Sonora, Mexico, Xavi found solace and expression in music.
A pivotal moment in Xavi’s life came with a near-fatal car accident at the age of 16. This harrowing experience, which resulted in a cracked skull and changed facial structure, could have been a setback. Instead, it became a source of inspiration.
“God gave me a second chance to go on and try harder,” he shares. “I saw it initially as a negative, but it ultimately changed my mindset. Now, I’m grateful for every moment I have.”
Videos of Xavi, bandaged and playing guitar while recovering, went viral on TikTok, deepening his connection with fans and marking the beginning of his rise as a tumbados románticos pioneer, inspired by Natanael Cano’s groundbreaking corridos tumbados which Xavi discovered on SoundCloud a few years ago. With his riveting blend of rebellious guitar-driven corridos infused with romantic lyrics, Xavi is not just riding the wave of Latin music; he is crafting his own niche.
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The teen signed with Interscope Records in 2021 and began releasing a string of singles that showcase his unique subgenre that blends corridos tumbados with a poignant emotional depth.
His 2023 summer EP, My Mom’s Playlist — a tribute to his mother which features renditions of Latin pop and rock en español classics she loved — reflects his deep-rooted family values, and the support he receives from the. Meanwhile, his chart-topping singles testify to his no-holds-barred lyrical prowess and bewitching vocals, leading to his Billboard chart breakthrough.
At the end of December, Xavi debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 with not one but two entries: “La Diabla” and “La Víctima,” which have since reached peaks of No. 22 and No. 55, respectively. His global appeal is further evidenced by his presence on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, with “La Diabla” reaching the top five on both.
Backed by management that aligns with his vision, Xavi’s future in the industry looks bright. As he gears up for an upcoming tour and continues to release new music, his philosophy remains grounded: “I live each day as if it’s my last, as tomorrow is never promised,” he asserts.
An extended version of this interview was published Jan. 29.
Name: Joshua Xavier Gutiérrez
Age: 19
Recommended Song: “Right now I like them all. But the one you really have to listen to is “La Diabla” because we made it with a lot of love for you.”
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Major Accomplishment: “Since we were kids, my brother [Fabio Capri] and I used to make music. There came a time when we stopped and thank God music reconnected us.”
What’s Next? “We’re going to be releasing surprises on our platform soon. There will be a lot of new stuff coming out for you to listen to.”