Huan Esteban Aristizabal Singer Date of Birth: 09.08.1972 Country: Colombia

Biography of Juan Esteban Aristizábal

Juan Esteban Aristizábal, known as Juanes, was born on August 9, 1972, in the small town of Carolina del Príncipe, near Medellín, Colombia. He was the youngest of six children, with five older brothers: Javier, Luz, Mara, José, and Jaime. From a young age, Juanes learned to play the guitar from his father and brothers. Despite not knowing English, he was drawn to bands like Metallica, Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin.

At the age of 14, Juanes formed a band called "Ekhymosis," influenced by the heavy metal music popular at the time. However, he wanted to incorporate traditional Colombian sounds into their music, which created conflicts within the group and ultimately led to its breakup after five albums and eleven years together.

Tragedy struck Juanes early on, with the loss of two close individuals. His friend was killed during a shootout at a nightclub, and his cousin was kidnapped and later murdered, despite his uncle paying a ransom for his return. Additionally, when Juanes was 16, his father passed away from cancer. These events greatly impacted him and shaped his worldview, influencing his music and the messages he wants to convey to his listeners.

In 1998, Juanes embarked on a solo career after parting ways with Ekhymosis. He made the difficult decision to leave his home, family, and girlfriend behind and moved to Los Angeles, USA. He lived in a tiny apartment, ate fast food, and got three tattoos. This dark period in his life led to depression, but he spent his time composing music for his debut solo album, "Fíjate bien" (Take a Good Look). The album, recorded at Gustavo Santaolalla's studio, "La Casa," featured a diverse range of styles, including rock, salsa, rhythm and blues, trance, vallenato, funk, and pop. It was presented at the National Museum of Colombia, a place where music like Juanes' had never been heard before. "Fíjate bien" received three Latin Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Song, Best New Artist, and Best Solo Vocal for a Rock Album.

Shortly before the September 11 attacks, Juanes began writing songs for his second album. He composed the music for "A Dios le pido" (I Beg God), but it was after the events of 9/11 that he was inspired to write the lyrics, asking God to take care of the loved ones and future generations. His second album, "Un día normal" (A Normal Day), was released in May 2002. In contrast to his debut album, it had a more innocent, gentle, bright, sunny, and optimistic sound. It focused on love, peace, and happiness, urging people to cherish each day as if it were their last. Juanes wanted to show the world that Colombia had another side beyond death and destruction. "Un día normal" outsold "Fíjate bien" and received critical acclaim. Juanes received numerous awards for the album, including a Grammy Latino for Best Rock Song and accolades from MTV VMA Latin America and the Oye and Onda Awards.

Juanes' popularity continued to grow, and he currently tours the United States and Latin America. He is also working on his new album, with one song already recorded titled "Madre" (Mother).