Andrés Levín is a Venezuelan-born American record producer, bandleader, filmmaker, recording engineer and philanthropist. After several nominations, Levin won a Grammy Award in 2009 for his production of the In the Heights cast recording.[1] His Grammy-nominated[2] Latin fusion band Yerba Buena was founded along with Cuban-American singer Cucu Diamantes.
Andrés Levín | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 30, 1968 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Genres | Latin, Pop, Rock, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, film maker, song-writer, musician, composer, philanthropist, arranger, guitarist |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, bass, keyboards, programming |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | Tribe Caribe |
Levin has been called the "master-chef of urban fusion" by the Los Angeles Times.[3]
Early life edit
Levín, son of Argentinians, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Since his father is a musician and producer as well, Levin was surrounded by music.[4] He began playing guitar at age 10 and was soon immersed in the musical world. In 1988, Levin took advantage of a full scholarship at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts before studying composition at Juilliard in New York City. While in New York, Levin worked at Skyline studios and was soon hired by producer Nile Rodgers as a full-time Synclavier programmer and arranger. With Rodgers, Levin worked with artists such as the B-52's, Diana Ross, INXS, and The Vaughan Brothers.[5]
Yerba Buena edit
Together with Diamantes, Levin formed the band Yerba Buena. Before Yerba Buena, Levin had worked in several disparate genres, including R&B, soul, and Latin. Levin said that the same year the band was founded, he had been in Nigeria, Cuba, and Bahia... [and] those influences combined to form the Yerba Buena sound."[6] Levin has also said that even though Yerba Buena "experiments with many influences, the basis of the group is inspired by the African and Cuban diaspora, where both worlds meet. The music is a bridge between the two cultures."[6]
Film edit
In 2012, Levin produced his first film alongside Sarah Green, Amor Cronico. Directed by Jorge Perugorría[7] Since then he has been involved in feature and documentary films as producer, exec producer, associate producer or consultant such as : Guava Island (Amazon), Fate of the Furious (Universal), Habana Motor Club, and several documentaries for Amazon which he also directed.
Advertising edit
Levin has been involved in the music for advertising industry since 1995. In the fall of 2009 he launched Pirata (with Canadian partner Pirate)[5] to provide sonic branding and audio post production for all aspects of broadcast audio, such as original music and licensing, sound design, full service radio production and 5.1 mixing.[8] Since its creation, Pirata has provided work for Dr. Pepper, Verizon, Miller, Heineken, Cablevision, Kraft, Ritz, and Kohl's.[9]
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Year | Album | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Paulina Rubio - 2 en1: Pau-Latina/Paulina | Composer | |
| 2017 | Natalie Merchant, The Natalie Merchant Collection | Producer | |
| 2014 | Fonseca, Jon Batiste, Rise Up | Producer | |
| 2014 | Miguel Bosé, Amo | Co-producer | Nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2015 - Album of the year |
| 2014 | Coreon Du, Binario | Producer | |
| 2014 | Arto Lindsay - Encyclopedia of Arto | Producer | |
| 2014 | Aleks Syntek - Romántico Desliz | Producer | |
| 2013 | Cucu Diamantes - Amor Cronico | Producer - Composer | |
| 2012 | Miguel Bosé, Papitwo | Co-producer | |
| 2012 | John Legend, Love I’ve Never Known [1] | Producer, Co-writer | |
| 2011 | Fonseca, Ilusión | Producer | Winner of 2012 Grammy: Best Tropical Fusion Album / Nominated 2013 Latin Pop Grammy |
| 2011 | Les Nubians - Nü Revolution | Producer | |
| 2011 | Donna D'Cruz - Rasa Swank | ||
| 2010 | Natalie Merchant, Leave Your Sleep | Co-producer | |
| 2010 | Bill Coleman - Remixxer | Producer | |
| 2010 | Ana Torroja, Sonrisa | Producer | |
| 2010 | Aleks Syntek, Métodos de Placer Instantáneo | Co-producer | |
| 2010 | Chiara Civello, 7752 | Co-producer | |
| 2009 | In The Heights Cast Album | Producer | Winner of 2009 Grammy: Best Cast Album |
| 2009 | Cucu Diamantes, Cuculand | Producer | |
| 2009 | Pitingo - Todo Pitingo | Producer | |
| 2009 | Beatriz Luengo, Carrousel | Producer | |
| 2009 | Paulina Rubio, Gran City Pop | Producer | |
| 2008 | Ultra Naté - Alchemy: G.S.T. Reloaded | A&R | |
| 2008 | Ely Guerra - Plug & Play | Composer | |
| 2007 | Miguel Bosé, Papito | Co-producer | Nominated for 2007 Latin Grammy |
| 2007 | Yerba Buena, Follow Me | Producer/ Writer | |
| 2007 | Orishas, Antiodiotico | Producer | Produced five songs; three 2007 Latin Grammy Nominations |
| 2007 | Voltio - En Lo Claro | Producer | |
| 2007 | Feel the Noise | Producer | |
| 2007 | Ultra Naté - Grime, Silk & Thunder | Producer | |
| 2007 | Louie Vega in the House | A&R | |
| 2006 | Hector On Stilts, Same Height Relation | Producer | |
| 2006 | Marisa Monte, Universo Ao Meu Redor | Producer | |
| 2006 | Eliane Elias, Around the City | Producer/ Writer | |
| 2006 | Marta Sánchez - En Directo: Gira 2005 La Coruña | Composer | |
| 2006 | Explorations: Classic Picante Regrooved, Vol. 1 | Producer | |
| 2006 | La Habana de Noche | Composer | |
| 2006 | Xiomara Laugart - Xiomara | Producer | |
| 2005 | Yerba Buena, Island Life | Producer/ Writer | |
| 2005 | Orishas, El Kilo | Producer | Nominated for 2005 and 2006 Latin Grammy: Best Latin Alternative Album |
| 2005 | Marta Sánchez - Lo Mejor de Marta Sanchez | ||
| 2005 | Diego el Cigala - Picasso en Mis Ojos | ||
| 2005 | Haydée - Haydée | Programming | |
| 2004 | Ana Torroja, Essential | Producer/ Writer | Produced and wrote four songs |
| 2004 | Paulina Rubio, Pau-Latina | Writer | Wrote one song, "My Friend, My Amigo" |
| 2004 | Carlinhos Brown - Carlinhos Brown es Carlito Marron | Producer | |
| 2004 | Blaze - Found Love | Producer | |
| 2004 | Moreno Veloso - Máquina de Escrever Música Remix | Producer | |
| 2003 | Yerba Buena, President Alien | Producer/ Writer | Nominated for 2003 Grammy: Best Latin Alternative Album |
| 2002 | Nicole, Viaje Infinito | Producer | Nominated for 2002 Latin Grammy: Best Female Pop Vocal Album |
| 2002 | Lenine, Falange Canibal | Writer | Wrote one song, "Dolores." Won 2002 Latin Grammy |
| 2002 | Red Hot and Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti | Co-producer | Produced nine songs |
| 2001 | Bilal, 1st Born Second | Producer | Produced one song |
| 2001 | Pánico, Telephatic sonora | Producer | |
| 2000 | Daniela Mercury, Sol Da Liberdade | Producer | |
| 2000 | Cyrius, Le sang des roses | Co-producer/ Musician | |
| 1999 | Ana Torroja, Pasajes de un Sueño | Producer/ Writer | |
| 1996-1999 | Arto Lindsay, The Prize, Mundo Civilizado, Noon Chill, Hypercivilizado, Invoke | Producer/ Writer | |
| 1998 | Aterciopelados, Caribe Atomico | Producer | Nominated for 1998 Grammy: Best Latin Rock |
| 1998 | Los Amigos Invisibles, The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera | Producer | |
| 1998 | El Gran Silencio, Libres y Locos | Producer | |
| 1998 | Carlinhos Brown, Omelette Man | Producer | |
| 1997 | David Byrne, Feelings | Producer | Produced two songs, "Finite=Alright" and "The Civil Wars" |
| 1997 | Red Hot + Latin: Silencio = Muerte | Producer | |
| 1997 | Deborah Blando, "UnicaMente" | Producer/ Writer/ Musician | Produced songs, "Unicamente" and "Gata" |
| 1997 | Marta Sánchez, "Azabache" | Co-produced/ Writer/ Musician | Co-produced songs, "Moja Mi Corazón" and "Lampara Mágica" |
| 1996 | David Byrne and Marisa Monte, Red Hot and Rio | Producer | Produced one song, "Waters of March" |
| 1996 | Mundo Civilizado | Producer | |
| 1996 | Red Hot + Rio | Producer | |
| 1996 | Tina Turner - Wildest Dreams | Producer | |
| 1995 | Chaka Khan, The Woman I Am | Writer | |
| 1995 | Doro, Machine II Machine | Producer/ Writer/ Musician | Co-produced and co-wrote four songs |
| 1995 | Jennifer Love Hewitt, Let's Go Bang | Writer | One song, "The Difference Between Us" |
| 1994 | Cece Peniston, Thought 'Ya Knew | Producer/Writer | One song, "Through Those Doors" |
| 1992 | Tyler | Producer, Composer | Album |
| 1991 | Mica Paris, Contribution | Writer/Producer (with Camus Celli) | |
| 1991 | Nia Peeples, Nia Peeples | Producer (with Camus Celli) | One song, "Heaven Help Me" |
| 1989 | Eddie Murphy So Happy | Keyboard Programming |
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Guava Island Fear - Childish Gambino and Rhiana Amazon Prime | Music Producer and Consultant | |
| 2019 | Guava Island Mini Docs Amazon Prime | Producer | |
| 2018 | Bucket List feat. Will Smith Facebook TV | Producer | |
| 2018 | Tata-Guines Documentary/work in progress | Producer | |
| 2018 | La Bicicletawork in progress | Executive Producer | |
| 2017 | 4 Seasons in Havana NETFLIX | Music supervisor/Music producer and composer-theme song | |
| 2017 | Cuba Dance HBO | Producer/ Cuba Production Services | |
| 2017 | Cuba Skate FUSION | Cuba Production Services | |
| 2017 | The Fate of Furious UNIVERSAL | Cuba Production Services/Itaca Manager | |
| 2016 | Havana Motor Club | Associate Producer | |
| 2015 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | Soundtrack I'm In Love with a Monster, Co-producer with Salaam Remy | |
| 2015 | Aztec Warrior | Composer | |
| 2015 | Spare Parts | Soundtrack Music Producer, Composer | |
| 2014 | Bocaccerias Habaneras | Composer | |
| 2013 | Se Vende | Executive Music Producer, Composer | |
| 2012 | Amor Cronico | Film Producer, Executive Music Producer, Composer | |
| 2007 | Ladron Que Roba Ladron | Composer | |
| 2007 | Borderland | Composer | |
| 2007 | El Cantante | Composer | |
| 2004 | Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights | Composer | Three songs used |
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Composer | "Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)" used |
| 2003 | Honey | Composer | "Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)" used |
| 2003 | Chasing Papi | Composer | "Electric Boogaloo" used |
| 1999 | Red Hot and Lisbon | Producer | Produced five songs |
Television edit
| Year | Album | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Heroes Original Soundtrack | Composer | One song, "Maya's Theme" |
| 2006 | South Beach | Composer | Wrote Theme Song |
| 2004 | Entourage | Composer | |
| 2003 | ER | Composer |
References edit
- ^ "In the Heights Cast Recording Wins Grammy; Hudson and LuPone-McDonald "Mahagonny" Also Win". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ "Yerba Buena - Profile of Funky Yerba Buena". Latinmusic.about.com. 2014-03-04. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ "An intimate tribute to a mother's legacy - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2005-08-21. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ "Funny Garbage". www.funnygarbage.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011.
- ^ a b "Andres Levin Partners With Pirate To Launch Dedicated Multi-Cultural Company: Pirata | Creative Planet Network". Blog.digitalcontentproducer.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ a b "Andres Levin's Musical Playground". The Morning News. 2006-03-03. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ "Amor Cronico". www.amorcronico.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Clients - Pirata - TRUST". www.trustcollective.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010.
- ^ "Pirata New York". Pirata New York. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ "Andres Levin | Discografía | Discogs". Discogs.