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How Carlos Santana and Natalia Lafourcade Came Together For ‘Hermano,’ an Ode to Migrants
Natalia Lafourcade, Carlos Santana and producer Edgar Barrera have joined forces on “Hermano”, a ballad dedicated to migrants and the wider immigrant community. The song calls for unity and empathy amid discrimination and racism affecting Latino communities in the United States.
Lafourcade says the melody came to her in a dream and began as a ballad with a Veracruz feel. The recording blends son jarocho and huapango influences, a 6/8 rhythm and the Venezuelan cuatro with contemporary production and Santana’s guitar; the collaborators shaped it to sound both Mexican and universal.
In short
- Lafourcade, Santana and Barrera made “Hermano” for migrants.
- The ballad calls for unity and empathy.
- Its sound blends Latin folk roots with contemporary production.
Explained simply
Carlos Santana is a Mexican-born guitarist who became an international star, while Natalia Lafourcade is a Mexican singer and songwriter known for drawing on the country’s musical traditions. Edgar Barrera is a songwriter and producer whose work spans Latin music.
Son jarocho and huapango are musical traditions from Mexico, and the Venezuelan cuatro is a small, four-string instrument. Bringing these sounds together with contemporary production and Santana’s guitar connects the song’s regional influences with a broader audience.
Migrants are people who move from one place to another, often across national borders; many Latino migrants and their families live in the United States. The song’s themes of unity and empathy speak to debates about discrimination and racism affecting Latino communities there.