Welcome back to Billboard‘s Latin Connection Podcast!
Today, our special guest is up-and-coming artist Johann Vera who, after being a finalist on La Banda season 1, is kicking off his solo career with a massive following on social media and promising singles like “Pretty Girl” and “Tíralo.”
During our candid chat with the 21-year-old singer and actor, we talk about how his interest for singing began, why his experience on Univision’s competition show made him realize he was better off as a solo artist and his plans for next year — which include the release of his debut EP.
“Being part of reality shows really helps a lot. I didn’t even know I could sing until I participated in Colombia’s X Factor, and that was the first thing I ever did musically or entertainment-related. That’s where I found my passion and love for it,” Vera tells the Latin Connection Podcast.
“But when I arrived to the U.S., I realized things weren’t as easy as they were back home. There are thousands of you everywhere that want to do the same thing as you. But La Banda was a great opportunity for me, and I’ll always think of it as a sort of university where I learned so much.”
Below, listen to our Latin Connection Podcast (Spanglish) episode with Johann Vera: