Carin Leon

Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez, known professionally as Carín León, was born on July 26, 1989, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He began playing the guitar at the age of 15. His musical career started with his first band, Los Reales, before he co-founded Grupo Arranke in 2010 with four friends. The group achieved recognition with their song “A Través del Vaso.” León was a member of Grupo Arranke for seven years, during which time he developed his musical style and stage presence. In 2018, he embarked on a solo career, achieving significant success with his solo rendition of “A Través del Vaso.” His early solo releases also included “Me La Avente” and a cover of Noelia’s 1999 song “Tú,” both of which appeared on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, and Regional Mexican Airplay charts.

León further diversified his music by releasing covers of popular songs such as Extreme’s “More Than Words” and Shakira’s “Moscas en la Casa,” which was featured on his album *Pistiembre Todo El Año*. During the COVID-19 pandemic, León adapted to new platforms, utilizing podcasts, alternative radio, and emerging digital channels for wider distribution. This period coincided with a global increase in interest in regional Mexican music, as noted by Spotify. His career milestones include an appearance on NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk’ in September 2022 and winning the Latin Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Song in 2022 for “Como lo Hice Yo,” alongside Édgar Barrera and Matisse. By 2022, he was recognized as the third most streamed Mexican artist on Spotify. His single “Que Vuelvas” with Grupo Frontera held the number one spot on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart for six weeks in 2023. León’s album *Colmillo de Leche* earned him his second Latin Grammy for Best Norteño Album in 2023.

In 2024, León expanded his reach, making his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He also performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, where he received the key to the City of Coachella from the city council. The same year, he debuted at the Stagecoach Festival. In October 2024, he performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and on Austin City Limits at the Moody Center. León’s fourth studio album, *Boca Chueca, Vol. 1*, won a Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album in 2024 and a Grammy Award for Best Música Mexicana Album in 2025. In February 2025, he performed at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile, receiving the Silver and Golden Gaviota awards. The following month, he made his debut at Rodeo Houston, performing for an audience of 70,603 fans. He returned to NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk’ for a second performance in May 2025.