Company Behind KATSEYE Debuts All-Latino Boy Band: SANTOS BRAVOS
Courtesy of the artist.
Have you ever wondered what a Latine boy band formed under the K-pop model would look like? Well, wonder no more because we finally got it: SANTOS BRAVOS. The Korean company behind global stars like BTS and KATSEYE has stepped into the Latine market by debuting a boy band composed entirely of Latino members yesterday (Oct. 21) with the song “0%.”
HYBE Latin America, the regional arm of K-pop powerhouse conglomerate HYBE, launched the five-piece ensemble SANTOS BRAVOS following the conclusion of a reality competition show by the same name, in which 17 participants competed for a spot in the group. After six months of training, three of which were featured on the show, the official lineup for SANTOS BRAVOS was announced at a live performance in Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional last night, with an audience of 10,000. The competitors making it into the band are Mexican-American Drew, Alejandro from Peru, Kauê from Brazil, Gabi from Puerto Rico, and Kenneth from Mexico. Notably, Drew is Karol G’s former dancer, accompanying her throughout the Mañana Será Bonito Tour, and Kauê won Brazil’s The Voice Kids in 2020.
Written and produced by Johnny Goldstein (Shakira, Black Eyed Peas), “0%” blends Afrobeats with pop melodies and sensibilities, and its lyrics are all about enjoying the moment without worrying about the future. The visualizer was filmed in a junkyard on the outskirts of Mexico City and features the members’ choreography skills, proving that the Latino boy band era is back. Only a few hours into their official careers as SANTOS BRAVOS, the group has yet to announce a debut LP.
Though the group’s official training time was shorter than that of the average K-pop trainee, SANTOS BRAVOS is the first Latino boy band to be formed under the K-pop model. “The challenge was finding the right balance between two worlds: K-pop and Latin music. We worked to keep the energy of K-pop — the harmonies, vocal arrangements, dance breaks — while preserving the Latin rhythm that unites us,” said Santiago Duque, VP Creative & A&R at HYBE Latin America, in a statement about “0%.”
Right after their debut performance at the Auditorio Nacional, Drew, Alejandro, Kauê, Gabi, and Kenneth hopped on a plane to Miami, FL, for their participation at Billboard Latin Music Week. They will also perform as part of Billboard‘s En Vivo concert series tonight (Oct. 22), marking their stateside debut.
Listen to “0%” below.