Tag: diamantes

Mexico’s Kenia OS Has Nailed the Transition From Influencer to Pop Star

In just the first half of 2020, Kenia OS released five singles. Given that she’s only been releasing original music since 2018, it’s a pretty impressive track record. The former internet personality now moves smoothly between Spanish-language pop and hip-hop and has become Mexico’s latest musical breakout.

“It has been a journey full of surprises,” Kenia tells For the Record. “I have achieved goals that never crossed my mind.”

And her journey continues as Mexico’s representative in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

“Spotify has supported me at all times,” she says. “It has allowed me to reach new people and make my music go further. For this I am very grateful, and I hope to continue creating new things with Spotify.”

Following her 2018 single “Bonita,” which amassed more than 16 million streams, Kenia has enjoyed a dream run of singles. The past six months alone have seen poignant ballads like “Escríbeme” and “Tercera Noche” thrive alongside the percolating bubblegum pop of “Cocteles” and collaborations with Mexican rappers both established (Gera MX on her slinky “Diamantes”) and rising (Alan Jacques on his brashly dreamy “Supernova”).

Connection with the music and communication with the other artists are key to any successful collaboration, reveals Kenia, who has also worked with finger-on-the-pulse producers like 6IXXX and Omar Varela. “It always starts by listening to some song from them that catches my attention (or vice versa), starting to talk, and finally getting the necessary communication to create the collaboration,” she says.