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Edgar Barrera: The Mastermind Behind Latin Music’s Biggest Hits
Edgar Barrera is a name that keeps showing up at the Latin Grammys. For the second year in a row, Barrera leads the pack in nominations, marking him as one of the most recognized talents in Latin music today.
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In 2024, he’s racked up nine nominations, from “Producer of the Year” to “Song of the Year” for some of the biggest hits across genres, including Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and Shakira’s “Entre Paréntesis.” This comes on the heels of his record 13 nominations from the previous year, confirming his impact and consistency in the industry. When the Latin Grammys hit Miami’s Kaseya Center on November 14, 2024, all eyes will be on Barrera, the Mexican-American producer who’s making history with his contributions to Latin music.
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Born in Texas, Barrera, now in his mid-thirties, has come a long way from his days growing up with regional Mexican music at home. He told LatiNation that this genre holds a special place for him: “With the genre that I feel the most connected is regional Mexican. I grew up with that music. That’s where I feel safe; it feels like home.”
Barrera’s career path was set in motion during his university days. Despite getting accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music, financial constraints kept him from attending. “I applied for Berklee College of Music. I got in. I didn’t have enough money. So, I decided to go to Miami and do an internship. I sent a bunch of emails to producers in Miami, and two producers answered. I went for a five-month internship… it extended for ten years.”
That decision to take a chance on an unpaid internship proved life-changing, as he quickly embedded himself in Miami’s music scene, working with artists across various genres and refining his craft as a producer and composer.
Edgar Barrera has become a go-to name for chart-topping collaborations, working with icons like Shakira, Madonna, Bad Bunny, Karol G, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Peso Pluma and many many more.
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His approach to songwriting and producing is collaborative, always beginning with the artist’s vision and building from there. Barrera’s unique process means that every song has its own story and approach. “My process making a song depends on the artist. Whatever the artist wants to do most of the time, we go with that concept. Every song starts different.”
For instance, he recalls how “Vida de Rico” with Camilo came together in an unusual but very fitting way during the early days of the pandemic. “We did that song in the middle of the pandemic. It was us being bored in our houses during quarantine. He wanted to do a cumbia record, and since I’m Mexican, we just started working on it over Zoom. We started with a guitar, and within a week, we were in the studio, and the song was out a few days later.”
With a Grammy, 21 Latin Grammy wins, and 62 nominations under his belt, Barrera’s influence goes beyond the awards. His work has a genuine, fresh quality that allows him to bridge traditional Latin sounds with modern music trends. As he’s added to his experience, his versatility has expanded, now covering everything from reggaetón and cumbia to regional Mexican sounds, all while staying true to his musical roots.
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Some of his best-known works include tracks like “un x100to” with Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny, “Que Vuelvas” with Carin León, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” by Karol G, “Chanel” for Becky G and Peso Pluma, “Bebe Dame” with Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera, as well as “La Bachata” by Manuel Turizo, among others.
For Edgar Barrera, the goal is to continue creating and pushing boundaries with music that resonates on a deep level. As he gears up for the Latin Grammys in November, his focus remains on what’s next and on working with more artists who inspire him.
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