Music. Latin Grammy Awards: Edgar Barrera, the multi-nominated star producer

Bad Bunny, Shakira, Karol G, Camilo… Behind the success of many Latin American stars lies another star: the Mexican producer and composer Edgar Barrera. Competing in 13 categories at the Latin Grammy Awards this November 16 in Seville, he is the most nominated artist of this 24^e edition – the ceremony where the prestigious awards are presented is held for the first time in Spain (instead of the usual United States). At just 33 years old, Barrera “is the Latin music composer of the moment”, noted The country.

The Spanish daily thus retraces the extraordinary journey of an artist who has already won 20 Latin Grammies. This year, Edgar Barrera is competing in the categories of producer of the year, best song, best album and best composer.

A destiny made of opportunities

“Barrera’s story speaks volumes about a world mired in inequality, where long-term decisions can make life easier”explains the newspaper, which evokes the circumstances of his birth.

Pregnant, his mother crossed the border so that little Edgar could be born in the United States and obtain American citizenship. Even though he grew up in Mexico, it allowed him to move freely and have more opportunities, particularly professional ones, once he became an adult.

From adolescence, Edgard developed a passion for the guitar, then at 15, the year in which he wrote his first song, he moved to Texas. And at 20, he tried his luck in Miami. “He gave himself four months: if he did not start a career as a composer and producer in the Mecca of Latin music, he would try his luck on the other side of the border, following a different professional approach,” relate The country.

“A tailor” for artists

Very quickly, he proved to be talented in composition and was spotted by studios. “According to him, it all started in 2015, when the successes kept coming,” to start with Without contractperformed by Maluma.

Since then, his collaborations as composer and producer with the Colombians Maluma and Camilo or the Mexicans Christian Nodal and Grupo Frontera have made him a star of Latin music. “I work at the crossroads of these genres called urban music and which includes reggaeton, Latin pop, hip hop, Mexican regional”, explains the producer, who considers himself “a tailor” at the service of the artists with whom he works.

His ambition is ever greater and he dreams of seeing his music played on all continents. “Latina music is going global, because Latinos are settling all over the world”, he says.