Whose Carin Leon?
Carin León is originally from Hermosillo, Sonora, raised in a family where music was always present. He grew up listening to various genres of music such as pop, rock, and of course, regional Mexican music, developing a deep admiration for the diverse rhythms that this mix offered him.
He decided to embark on his musical journey at the age of 15, taking his first steps learning to play the guitar, developing skills for singing and composition. At the age of 16, and once determined to become a professional musician, he joined the group Los Reales as lead vocalist, playing for local parties and events. Later on, he formed the group Grupo Arranke with some of his closest friends, where he served as lead vocalist and composer for over 4 years. His desire to grow, seek creative freedom, and the longing to explore new sounds inspired him to embark on a solo career, making his debut in 2018 with the release of “Desvelada con Banda y Mariachi.”
Carin León has rapidly come to dominate the regional Mexican music scene like no other artist has done in recent years, elevating and positioning the regional genre in the spotlight of the world stage in a way that had never been done before, enriching the perception that Mexican music had internationally through the release of hits like “Me La Avente” and “Tú,” a rendition of the multi-award-winning song by Estefano.
Carin León’s impressive versatility is evident in his captivating and vibrant voice, showcased in his incredible innate talent for composition and his impressive stage energy that have allowed him to effortlessly navigate between multiple genres, experimenting with rhythms ranging from pop, country music to reggaeton. His talent has had a historic impact on the music industry and global culture, collaborating with popular artists of great worldwide renown such as Spanish artist C. Tangana on the song “¡CAMBIA!,” Mexican pop group Matisse on “Como Lo Hice Yo,” and Venezuelan duo Mau y Ricky on “Llorar y Llorar,” just to name a few.
In April 2021, he became the first regional Mexican artist to participate in the Spotify Singles series, and later that same year in October, he joined forces with country music star Walker Hayes on a spanglish version of “Fancy Like (Carin Leon Remix- Amazon Original)” for the campaign “La Cultura That Connects Us” with which Amazon Music Latin celebrated its first anniversary, as well as the intersection of Mexican Independence Day celebrations and the country music month in the United States. That same year, he was part of the panel “Regional No More-Mexican Music Goes Global” as part of Billboard Latin Music Week.
In May 2021, his latest studio album, “INÉDITO,” debuted at the top of the Apple Music charts, reaching #1 on the Mexican Music chart and #3 on the Latin Music chart, while placing six music videos at #1 during the release week. Billboard named it one of the Top 25 Latin Albums of 2021. In December of that same year, he released his album “Pistiremente Todo El Año,” a compilation of live recording covers and unreleased tracks that also featured collaborations with some of the most emblematic figures of the regional genre, such as Joel Elizalde, Chuy Lizárraga, El Coyote, Jovanny Cadena, and Mario “El Cachorro” Delgado, among others.
Carin León is now recognized as a modern icon who has taken on the task of bringing the traditions of regional Mexican music to new generations of listeners, transcending borders. The acclaimed artist has appeared on the covers of major regional music playlists on digital platforms and has shined in some of the world’s largest cities with impressive billboards in Times Square in New York City, Los Angeles, and major cities in Mexico with the support of Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and YouTube Music.
He has received countless nominations and multiple awards, including an ASCAP award for the song “Me La Avente” and a Premio Lo Nuestro award in the ‘Banda Song of the Year’ category. He recently received his first Latin GRAMMY for ‘Best Regional Mexican Song’ for “Como Lo Hice,” his collaboration with Mexican pop group Matisse, as well as 7 nominations at Premios de la Radio, winning the “Best Male Artist” category in 2022, becoming the most nominated artist for that event. In 2023, he won the category of “Mexican Regional Revelation Artist” at Premio Lo Nuestro.
Leon is also on tour in Latin America, with his closest high-profile event set for Bogota, Colombia.
Currently, Carin León is promoting his most recent album “Colmillo de Leche,” which consists of 18 songs, showcasing his maturity in this musical journey with each song. According to the artist, it is his most personal project to date. This project covers various musical genres, once again showcasing his great versatility and artistic ability, proving himself as a great performer throughout the entire album. For this album, Carin León collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as Camilo on “Ni me debes, ni te debo,” Pablo Alborán on “De Piedra a Papel,” and Angela Aguilar on “Vete Yendo,” as well as promising young talents from his hometown of Hermosillo such as Kakalo on “Mil maneras de morir” and Los Hijos de Frank on a rendition of the classic song by Los Tigres del Norte “Corazón de oro,” not to mention the talented Sinaloan composer Luis Mexia on “Pedazo de tonto.”