Two years after leaving the top-selling Latin boy band CNCO, Joel Deleōn wants the world to hear the music that captures who he really is. After breaking away from a management team that he felt limited his musical output, the Mexican-American star is making his debut with the aptly titled EP Ahora Me Escuchan??? The cover art that Deleōn designed shows him on top of a giant ear listening to the reggaeton-heavy release.
“Obviously, I’m super grateful for the opportunity I had being with Sony and all these other companies, but I feel like I was portrayed still as the kid from the boy band,” Deleōn tells Rolling Stone over Zoom from his home in Miami. “This step is me wanting to show that there’s more to being a boy band member. I would like to show that to everybody that there’s passion and inspiration behind my project. It’s not just a product.”
Deleōn shocked the Latin music world when he departed CNCO in May 2021. While the Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell and One Direction’s Zayn Malik were quick to capitalize on their respective exits to pursue solo endeavors, Deleōn’s career stalled for reasons outside of his control. Under Sony and his previous management team, he released only three singles in a two-year period. Following the frustrations, Deleōn revealed in May that he felt like a “prisoner” and took a break. Now under his own label, House Meraki, Deleōn has reclaimed his music career and dropped his first EP.
“This is the happiest that I’ve been in the past three years,” he says. “I’ve been holding onto this music for so long. It was a struggle at first, but afterwards I took into account that everything has to come in its time. A lot of the EP is a side of me that people still haven’t got to meet artistically.”
The six-track EP is loaded with grown reggaeton bangers that Deleōn had recorded post-CNCO. On the seductive “Reggaeton Viejo,” he evokes the classic “Llamé Pa’ Verte” by Puerto Rican icons Wisin y Yandel; later, he sings the perks of casual sex in “Sexo y Ya.” Deleōn also shows off the range of his voice in the dreamy “No Te Veo” and the synth-pop outlier “Blue.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, he talks about finding his freedom and what’s next.
There’s some people that think it should be easy to jump from a successful band into a solo career. What do you say to that?
It definitely isn’t easy. I know that some people may have thought that it was. There’s a whole lot of things behind the scenes that happened that people don’t know about. I necessarily can’t talk too much about it just because I don’t want to bring up accusations or any of that. I just want to show what I can do with my music.
How did you cope with that period of not being able to release music as often as you wanted to?
I just didn’t give up. I know it’s a whole process. I know everything happens in due time. As long as I’m still loving what I’m doing, I’m believing in the process, and I’m having fun with it then I don’t think there’s too much worry. I just know that I’m working hard enough for that moment to come. I’m happy with the music that I’m doing. I’m happy that it’s finally happening.
After constantly working and touring with CNCO, I can imagine that period also gave you time to slow down and reflect.
I got to spend more time with myself figuring out exactly what I wanted to do. Being with my family gave me more reasons as to why I need this to happen. I do this not only for me because it’s my dream, but also for my family. I don’t want them to ever have any struggles with anything. It has given me such more of a push than even in the past when I was in CNCO. It’s been an awakening to where I’m with way more motivation than ever. I’m going to definitely fight for it.
Why did you name your debut EP Ahora Me Escuchan????
To be 100,000 percent honest with you, back then, it wasn’t easy to feel heard, at least personally for me. I guess because I didn’t speak perfect Spanish, my ideas weren’t taken as seriously. It’s basically saying “Can you hear me now?” and now you understand what I can do. You guys know what I’m saying. You guys can understand the type of things that I want to do and can do. Now the music is finally out so now you can hear me.
Throughout the EP, especially in “Sexo y Ya,” you’re showing a daring and sensual side. How do you feel to be putting that part of yourself out there?
It’s cool to be able to show this side to me that people didn’t know. People thought I was always the innocent one, which I was up until 18, but that was six years ago. [Laughs.] I’m 24 now so obviously people are going to say he’s muy atrevido and all of that. This is a time in my life where I’m 24-years-old and a majority of the people who are listening to my music are now going through what I’m saying in my songs. I honestly did this EP off of genuine feelings and what was going on in my life. It’s just more mature. It’s more life experiences of the age gap that I’m in.
How would you describe the experience of going full perreo and channeling Wisin y Yandel in “Reggaeton Viejo”?
It was amazing when we were in the studio with my friend Fray [Gómez]. I was actually in the studio with Lorduy from Piso 21 when we did that song too. As soon as we finished the chorus, one of us started singing, “Bailando sexy le doy dembow.” At the end, we actually put in the sample of “Llamé Pa’ Verte.” It just went perfect together. It ended up being such a good song for the club. The other day I actually celebrated it in a club here in Miami and it was the perfect club song para perrear and to get your person and just start having a good time with that.
Why was it important for you to mix a bit of Mexican slang in “Ponte”?
I created this song with one of my friends named Kinder and the producer Colla. They’re both super Puerto Rican. It wasn’t a personal story of mine. It was more of a feeling that people go through when they see this girl that’s with a guy and they’re not really clicking. It’s like, “Alright, I’m going to try to shoot my shot if something’s not going well.” I told them, “Let’s write about that but try to add some Mexican slang in there.” Two years ago, it wasn’t as common where Mexicans were doing reggaeton, but now it is. I feel like my Mexican audience would appreciate hearing their sayings inside of a reggaeton song. There’s probably going to be a moment when some random people start listening to it in a club, and they’re like, “Wait, that’s like a Mexican saying. Is this dude Mexican?” That was the idea of why I wanted to add Mexican slang.
You’re really singing your heart out in “No Te Veo” and “Blue.” How do you feel to be showing the range in your voice?
Amazing! I feel really great to feel more confident in myself too. I feel like being able to have these two years to figure out my own thing and to grow as an artist and vocally as well has been really nice. It’s been cool to be able to show that part of me. It’s going to give me a lot more confidence to keep on doing that and showing it off.
You close out the EP with the Spanglish pop song “Blue.” Is that going to be a sign of the music to come?
There’s definitely going to be English in the next music that’s coming out. That’s something that has been coming to me super naturally since I’ve started doing music. Spanish is not going to be out though because now that I’ve been doing Spanish music for eight years. It’s definitely going to still be always a part of what I’m doing. You can expect some English pop moments. If you like “Blue,” you’re going to like a lot of the music that’s coming out after that.
CNCO officially came to an end in November. Have any of the guys reached out to you for advice on going solo?
They haven’t hit me up about that yet, but I have talked to them in the past about it. I think right now everyone is just on their own thing. They have my number whenever they want to talk to me or ask something. I think they’ll be fine honestly. They have great friends, an amazing fan base, and they’re all talented. As long as they have a great surrounding, they’re going to be fine.
What do you want to accomplish as a solo artist?
My main focus for this is just to make great music, to be able to provide for my family, and inspire a whole bunch of other people to do what they want to do.