Roberto Portillo is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician who is particularly influenced by Latin American music, especially the music of Mexico where he spent part of his childhood. He has collaborated with artists such as Lucas Bramucci, Nefta Lee, and two-time Latin GRAMMY winner Sebastián Merlín. Portillo released his early EPs and singles between 2012 and 2014, showcasing a folk-pop style. In 2020, under the name Hernando, he released the rock-influenced EP Grabaciones Inocentes, recorded with a full band, including trombones and violins. He also produced music for the educational YouTube Kids channel Cantadeberes.
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Initially blending folk sounds with pop melodies, Portillo later incorporated cumbia into his music. This evolution is highlighted in his 2024 single “Cumbia de Carolinas,” on which he collaborated with New York trombonist Elias Heinen and percussionist Pakito Baeza. Portillo sings, “I've met an Argentine girl / I'm going to cross all of Alicante to Carolinas / There are men with grim looks / And buildings where only one neighbor lives / But I see you smile, and my day brightens.”
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