HYBE Latin America is turning the spotlight on the future of Latin pop with Santos Bravos, its newest project designed to discover and shape the next Latin pop group.
Officially announced on Wednesday (July 9), Santos Bravos is both the name of the new project and the final group that will emerge from it. This initiative is HYBE’s first venture into applying its globally recognized pop artist development system — the same one responsible for launching K-pop superstars including BTS, SEVENTEEN, and ENHYPEN — within a Latin American setting.
Beginning this August, the initiative will bring together 16 rising artists from across Latin America — including Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Spain — and the U.S., giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent as they compete to form the new group.
“Our goal is not just to create a group, but to guide young Latin artists through a real transformation — artistically and personally,” said Bang Si-Hyuk, chairman of HYBE, in a press release. “Santos Bravos is about authenticity, emotion, and connection.”
Earlier this year, Telemundo and HYBE Latin America teamed up to launch music competition show and discover the next regional Mexican band with Pase a la Fama, featuring a star-studded panel of judges, including Ana Bárbara, Adriel Favela and Horacio Palencia.
Throughout the Santos Bravos competition, the 16 artists will undergo an intensive creative boot where their “musical, emotional, and performance abilities” will be put to the test. Ultimately, five finalists will become the members of Santos Bravos, also the name of the new Latin pop group “that reflects the voice of a generation and showcases talent on the global stage,” says the press release.
An international team of creative mentors will lead the process, including creative director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Michael Jackson), music producer Johnny Goldstein (Shakira, Daddy Yankee), vocal coach, RAab Stevenson (Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, SZA), and showrunner Jaime Escallón (The X Factor, Survivor, Wendy Perdida pero Famosa).
Meet the 16 participants below:
- Kenneth Lavill (15, Mexico)
- Jonah García (23, Mexico)
- Leonardo Lotina (23, Mexico)
- Pablo Carns (24, Mexico)
- Luigi Cerrada (19, Mexico, Venezuela)
- Heider Moreno (23, Venezuela)
- Iannis Biblos (21, Argentina)
- Priano (24, Colombia)
- Kauê (18, Brazil)
- Lucas Burgatti (23, Brazil)
- Patricio Rodríguez (18, USA/Mexico)
- Alejandro Aramburú (21, Peru)
- Drew Venegas (25, USA/Mexico)
- Jesuale (16, USA/Venezuela)
- Alex Mandon Rey (20, Spain)
- Diego López (23, Mexico/USA)
