Erick Brian Colón, the only Cuban member of the successful group CNCO, is determined to make his roots the focal point of his new phase as a solo artist: the singer is betting on the Cuban talent and is already preparing a collaboration with Jacob Forever in this genre.
"I want to embrace my Cuban roots strongly," the 25-year-old artist stated in an interview with the Ecuadorian newspaper Expreso, published this Tuesday following his recent tour in Ecuador, where he performed in Quito, Manta, and Guayaquil.
The focus of this new phase is "Efímero," a theme premiered in late July alongside the Cubans Dale Pututi and Nesty. With this, Erick Brian fully embraced a genre that, as he shared, has been part of his life long before he achieved international fame.
"I have been listening to reparto since before CNCO. There is a viral video of me dancing to 'El guachineo', a song from this Cuban genre. That sound has always been a part of my life," he recalled.
Now he wants to take that sound to other Latin American countries, but without giving up one of its most recognizable features: Cuban slang.
"I want to preserve Cuban expressions, but I also want to communicate more clearly what they mean. Every country has its identity, and I like that other people can get to know our slang and enjoy it," he explained.
As an example, he mentioned the expression "te chivaste" used in "Efímero," which in this case, as the singer explained, is intended to mean "you went crazy for me, in love or lost with me."
The cast, primarily developed in the Cuban urban environment and with a strong presence in the neighborhoods of Havana, has gained increasing international recognition. Artists like Bebeshito have made it onto Billboard charts, while within Cuba the genre continues to generate debates and criticism among figures from the government and within the artistic community itself.
For Erick Brian, this bet coincides with the challenge of building his own career after years of being part of one of the most popular Latin boy bands of his generation.
"Having a tour in Latin America as a solo artist essentially means starting from scratch. This is a different mark. Years have passed, I have my songs, and there are people who come to the concerts to hear them. That means a lot to me," he acknowledged.
Regarding their former group, which announced its separation in July 2022 during the Premios Juventud, they maintain a grateful perspective.
"I will always say that CNCO was my school. There I learned practically everything I know, and today I apply many of those teachings. Now it's a different story, and it has its own charm as well," he stated.
Her 2026 Latin American tour has already passed through Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Ecuador, and includes upcoming performances in Argentina.
As he continues to carve out his solo path, Erick Brian is already ready for his next release: "Qué linda", once again featuring Jacob Forever and Richard Morales.
"I'm in that vibe," the singer summarized about the direction he wants to take with his music. "I want to strongly embrace my Cuban roots."
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