Who is Humbe, the Singer Behind the Viral Día de Muertos Song ‘Fantasmas’?
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Humbe attends Rolling Stone En Español Premios at The Fillmore Miami Beach on October 26, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)
With the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos approaching, the song “Fantasmas” is going viral on TikTok. The sentimental song is bringing more recognition to rising Mexican pop star Humbe.
Día de Muertos is typically celebrated in Mexico and by people of Mexican descent in the U.S. on Nov. 1 and 2. Additionally, Oct. 27 is reserved to honor deceased pets. During this time, families set up ofrendas, or altars, at home to remember their loved ones who have passed away. The Mexican tradition went global in 2017 thanks to the success of the animated Disney film Coco. On TikTok, people have been posting pictures of their late loved ones with a filter on an ofrenda and “Fantasmas” playing in the background. Sung by Humbe, the track has been used in over 685,000 videos on TikTok as of press time.
Humbe hails from Monterrey, Nuevo León. The 23-year-old singer first rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when he shared videos about his music-making process on TikTok. Later that year, Humbe released his breakthrough album Entropía, which showed his knack for channeling his emotions into gorgeous pop songs. A first for an artist who got their start on social media, Humbe was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards. Last November, Humbe released “Fantasmas,” which has become one of his biggest hits. He embraces his Mexican roots in the soulful song about missing a loved one.
“Fantasmas” has become a new anthem for Día de Muertos. Last year, Humbe solidified his place in Mexico as the country’s top pop boy with his sprawling Esencia album. He also became more known on a global level after featuring on Latin Mafia’s song “Patadas de Ahogado.” The EDM remix by Hugel has since elevated that collaboration to new heights. Humbe’s recent singles include “Malbec” featuring Reik, “Bestia” with Bruses, and his latest hit “KINTSUGI.”
Check out the music video for “Fantasmas” below.