Música mexicana artists are getting creative with their music. El Padrinito Toys – the 17-year-old YouTuber turned singer – is a testament to how Gen Z artists are sonic shapeshifters in today’s fast-paced music era. To better understand his artistry, Remezcla spoke to the emerging artist about ageism, his shooting incident in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and his newest electro-corrido anthem with Deorro and Skrapy, “PPP,” or “PURO PINCHE PARTY” (March 28).

Born Samuel Ibarra Aispuro, Padrinito has been in the music realm for only two years and has already dealt with ageism and an armed attack in Culiacán. Though he has delivered viral hits like “Los Collares” with Oscar Maydon and “KLK” with Victor Mendivil, Kevin AMF, and Victor Rivera Y Su Nuevo Estilo, the young artist is no exception to being looked down upon for his age. “As a young artist – and like all artists who are just starting – at the beginning, you’re always faced by a wall or people who underestimate you for being young,” he shares. “But you just have to show that you can do it, even if you are young.”

As a newcomer, he has not only dealt with new challenges in the studio but also faced public violence. Last week (March 19), the Mexican singer and his father were followed and shot at by armed men in a van in Culiacán while they rode in a car. Though the artist was unharmed, his father was reportedly shot in the right shoulder. However, he’s not letting it get in his path of making music.

As a babalawo (or priest) of the religion Ifa, he believes that his Saints will always be there for him and considers himself grateful for everything that happens to him, including the setbacks. The moniker “El Padrinito” comes from baptizing people into the religion, including other música mexicana stars like Luis R. Conriquez and Marca Registrada’s vocalist Fidel Oswaldo Castro, who practiced it at some point in their lives.

Though he calls the shooting incident a “personal matter,” he says it’s also a way for his spiritual guide to show him he’s on the right path. “[I’m feeling] good because of my faith – which are my saints and my God. They continue to show me that they exist, and I think they’ve shown me that I’m on the right path,” he explains.

“If these kinds of things weren’t happening to me, maybe my Saints wouldn’t show me that they exist or that God exists. There are times one can say, ‘Why doesn’t this work for me?’ But you realize that there are things that really help you,” he adds. “I’m not upset because I feel that everything happens for a reason and everything is a lesson and you have to keep going… I’m not sad or happy [about the shooting], I’m normal.”

And he did move forward. Only a week after the incident, he’s already promoting his new collaboration. After dabbling in corridos, corridos felices, and electro-corridos, Padrinito is further expanding into EDM with the help of Mexican-American DJ and producer Deorro and Mexican singer-songwriter and producer Skrapy. Together, they came up with “PPP,” which Padrinito performed during an intimate showcase in Los Angeles, CA, on Mar. 26.

During the conversation, the young artist shared that he’s been working on dembows and electro-corridos with Skrapy for over a year. Now that the genre is a hot trend, he sent one of the songs to Deorro, who made it into an electro-corrido within three months. Padrinito met Deorro after the EDM producer invited him to one of his shows in Los Angeles, CA.

Deorro also recounts this meeting in a separate chat with Remezcla, where he shares that his A&R brought the idea of working with El Padrinito. But this isn’t the first time he has tapped into his culture’s talent. The producer has also worked with other Mexican artists like Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Ángela Aguilar, and Eddie Zuko, showing his audience how diverse his compatriots can be.

I feel that everything happens for a reason and everything is a lesson and you have to keep going… I’m not sad or happy [about the shooting], I’m normal.

On mixing traditional Mexican elements with EDM, Deorro says, “I came into this EDM scene when it was mostly a lot of Europeans [and] Americans, and it was very intimidating. Now that we bring in this light where I’m showing my culture, it makes everything more fun.” He also shares he’s working with artists like T3R Elemento and Natanael Cano for his next project.

Though Padrinito has experienced a lot in such a short time, it’s clear he’s pursuing music despite the challenges that come up along the way. Up next, he’s gearing up for his debut EP, which will include collaborations with Gerardo Ortiz’s brother Oscar Ortiz, Peso Pluma’s songwriter Neton Vega, and his colleague GORDO ARCE, who is also part of the “Toys” YouTube collective. Moreover, he will also perform at the upcoming Belico Fest in Phoenix, AZ, on Apr. 27 and The Belishow in Los Angeles, CA, on May 17.