Nearly three years after CNCO ended, Erick Brian is finally finding his footing as a solo artist. Instead of chasing trends, the Cuban heartthrob has bet on a growing genre rooted in his home country. In the past few months, Brian has scored a string of hit singles exploring reparto music while collaborating with icons of the genre like Rey Tony, Helabusador, and Jacob Forever.
“It’s an era where I’m getting closer to my roots, and that’s something that’s always been quite important to me,” Brian tells Remezcla from a bar in Miami. “I really enjoy it a lot. I feel that my fans who have always followed me are also connecting with my music as I move closer to my roots, so I love that.”
Remezcla interviewed Brian last year around the release of his debut EP Btw… Lo Intenté, where he explored many genres without a clear direction. This second time around, he seems far more comfortable in his skin as a solo artist. With a big smile, Brian speaks with confidence and conviction about where his career is heading next. “It’s been a journey of discovery to figure out what I truly wanted to be,” he says. “Everyone knows I’ve been with the guys of CNCO since I was a kid, so things had a completely different vibe when I started as a solo artist. At one point, I didn’t even know where to begin, but thank God, I’m still working on it and always trying to give the best of myself.”
The turning point came in July, when Brian decided to embrace reparto, a genre cultivated in Cuba’s streets in the 2000s. A native of Havana, he grew up listening to the genre — a cross between reggaeton and Cuban music — with pioneers like Chocolate MC and Elvis Manuel soundtracking his childhood. After years of experimenting with different sounds, both in CNCO and as a solo artist, he finally trusted his gut and leaned into a genre that had always been present in his life. “For a while, I’d been mulling over how to approach the reparto genre, specifically, how to do it in my own style,” Brian says. “I wanted it to reflect my personal essence truly. I think the best way to figure that out was by actually exploring that genre and discovering things along the way, like what worked best with the timbre of my voice.”
Brian also found his groove in reparto by collaborating with other Cuban artists in the genre. He teamed up with rising stars Dale Pututi and Nesty for the alluring “Efímero.” A few months later, he tapped Ernesto Losa, Jacob Forever, and Richard Morales for the sultry “Qué Linda.” Both songs seamlessly blend reparto music with Brian’s sound and swagger as a Latin pop star. “I worked on reparto music with the guys until we nailed it,” he says. “We made sure it had that essential and key Cuban edge and a distinct reparto feel while still incorporating my own signature, which is a bit more pop sensibility.”
Since then, Brian has been on a roll. Earlier this month, he linked up with Rey Tony and Helabusador on the feel-good “Vacaciones.” He also recently made history as the first artist to perform reparto music at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. He performed “Efímero” with Dale Pututi and Nesty and a reparto version of the Tony Dize classic “El Doctorado.” At 25, Brian is happy to bring reparto to a new generation of fans. “That’s the ultimate goal,” he says. “It’s truly what I want to do. I’d love for this genre to go global and for other countries and cultures to discover how great and danceable it is, too. I want it to become something huge just like reggaeton.”
To keep the momentum going, Brian promises more reparto collaborations. He is also considering an album centered on the genre. “Lately, I’ve really been resonating with my roots and with my people,” Brian says. “I’m feeling good about this direction. I’ve learned so much, and I want to champion reparto music. I feel like the genre is in a really great place right now. I think what’s needed is for us all to come together to keep it growing and to show everyone just how vibrant and full of flavor this genre is.”