Music has always been at the heart of Iuris Ekero’s life. Raised in a family steeped in musical tradition—his grandfather a singer with several albums and his father a skilled trumpeter—he grew up surrounded by sound and rhythm. That legacy has shaped his journey, fueling his passion to carve out his own path as an artist. With his debut single “Midnight Drive,” iurisEkero introduced listeners to his fresh, energetic blend of pop and modern melodies, offering the first taste of his ambitious project, “Proyecto One.”
Follow-up singles like “Come to Me, I’m a Man” showcased his ability to deliver catchy hooks and vibrant production, while “The Sun, The Wine and You” added summer energy with its infectious remix added into the package. Each release reflects his evolving artistry and unwavering drive to create music that moves people. Now, with the release of “Proyecto One (Deluxe Edition),” a 16-track album that captures his full creative vision, iurisEkero is ready to fully step into the spotlight. In this interview, he opens up about his inspirations, his process, his music, and where he hopes this journey will take him.
- Growing up with a singer grandfather and a trumpeter father, what’s one specific childhood memory that made you realize music was going to be your path?
iurisEkero: Sure, I clearly remember when I was 7 years old, my father used to take me to see his band’s concerts, where he played the trumpet, and I enjoyed all the music so much and dreamed of creating my own songs in the future. Often, we traveled outside our city for his concerts, and I saw how people enjoyed and danced with lots of joy, and I thought: when I grow up, I want to be a musician.
- Your family’s influence clearly shaped your artistry—how do you balance honoring that legacy while creating something distinctly your own?
iurisEkero: I believe that naturally, I have incorporated those melodies and all the ones I listened to later on, so when I compose, a combination of that music and what I still listen to today naturally emerges. I always try to be original, but above all, I want the song to touch the heart.
- Was there a piece of advice from your grandfather or father that still guides you in the studio today?
iurisEkero: My grandfather taught me his passion for music and the importance that songs have for all people in life. From my father, I learned to identify a good melody or song, always being attentive to the fact that when inspiration comes, you have to seize it and never give up, even if it takes time to appear.
- You’ve lived between the USA and Argentina—how has that bicultural experience shaped your musical identity?
iurisEkero: It’s incredible how life experiences nourish my songs. Living in the USA and in Argentina allows me to listen to and analyze so many different rhythms and types of music, and both cultures, in many aspects, help me add originality to my songs. A Miami dance club rhythm mixed with the nostalgia of Argentine tango feels absolutely incredible to me.
- Midnight Drive introduced your energetic pop style. What was the “spark” moment that inspired that song?
iurisEkero: This is the first song I felt so satisfied and proud to have composed. Among all my songs, I think it is the most personal, and it is based on a trip with a very dear friend from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls in the USA, one night when we missed the flight and had to rent a car to arrive on time in Sioux Falls. I drove all night, with a lot of snow on the road, but we laughed and enjoyed the trip so much that it had to become a song. Of course, we arrived on time.
- Come to Me, I’m a Man radiates positivity—was it written from a personal experience or more of a universal celebration?
iurisEkero: I was looking for an original lyric for the music, and I felt it was appealing that the song sung by a woman said “come to me, I’m a man,” but it is based on the idea of empowering everyone and putting prejudices aside.
- The Sun, The Wine and You feels incredibly intimate and warm—did you write it in a burst of inspiration or was it carefully crafted over time?
iurisEkero: You’re right, it was a burst of inspiration when I was at the beach having a glass of wine, and I thought it would be great if a song could emerge from this peaceful and happy moment, and that’s how it happened. I’ve gone through the process of completing it, but I believe it sends a message to enjoy the simple moments in life, as sometimes we don’t realize how wonderful they are.
- Each of your singles has a different vibe—how do you decide which sound or style a song will take on during production?
iurisEkero: The song, in its demo version, has to convey feelings or, as I said before, touch a certain inner chord that tells me “you’re on the right track.” Sometimes that doesn’t happen, so I set those aside and only move forward with those songs that I think and feel are “this song is on the right path” or are entirely original.
- You’ve achieved millions of streams and views already—how do you keep the creative pressure from overshadowing your passion?
iurisEkero: I don’t dwell much on that. I just try to enjoy my music, and the more people feel the same as I do, the happier I am. I really can’t believe that I have close to 3 million streams on Spotify in total, and my songs and videos on YouTube have more than 1 million views. I don’t even understand those numbers; I just enjoy and am grateful.
- Your debut album has 16 tracks—how did you ensure each song tells its own story while still feeling part of one cohesive journey?
iurisEkero: In Proyecto One, I tried to ensure each song had its own story that the listener could imagine or relate to their life or experience. I aimed to include various musical styles in the album but maintain a unity from the first to the last song. If you listen closely, love or heartbreak is always present, along with the joy of life.”
- The album blends nostalgia with technology—can you give an example of how you used modern production tools to evoke a nostalgic feeling?
iurisEkero: That’s a good question. It’s incredible and admirable how my inspiration or the idea I have for a lyric, and even the music, can be almost instantly realized thanks to new technologies. For example, if you want a trumpet, a saxophone, etc., you can have it in your song within minutes, which speeds up the creative process. But at the same time, it requires you not to leave everything to technology. All my songs are the result of a lot of hard work and even collaborations with incredible artists I’ve hired to be part of my songs.”, For example, if I’m using synthesizers in a song, I try to mix a modern sound with an 80s sound, and then I see which one fits the most with the song.”
- What’s been your most memorable fan reaction to one of your songs so far?
iurisEkero: When I read the comments on my song videos saying ‘Thank you for making my life happier and for being with me,’ I honestly don’t realize how far a song can reach, even to remote places, and how grateful I am for this success that I never imagined.”
- Your music is often described as “club-ready”, “radio-ready” and “memory-making—which of your tracks do you think best represents that collective description?
iurisEkero: I think ‘Grateful For Today’ really represents that description well. It’s a song with a unique cohesion, and as you listen to it, you can visualize each moment of the day you live, reminding us all to be thankful.”
- What’s one lyrically deep-cut track from the album, you’re especially excited for fans to discover, and why?
iurisEkero: Without a doubt, ‘Someone who looks at You Like that’ is a unique and complete ballad. After listening to it, you’ll cherish more those who love you, and if you don’t have that person, you’ll probably feel the desire to find or feel that kind of love .”
- What was the song on the album that went through the most changes from the first demo to the final master?
iurisEkero: Midnight Drive is the song that evolved the most from the demo version to the final version. I think I have about 8 to 10 different versions, in lyrics or duration. It also shifted between a slower and more upbeat rhythm, but I always kept its essence and message.”
- Which track on the album pushed you the most creatively, and what did you learn from making it?
iurisEkero: I believe it was again GRATEFUL FOR TODAY. The lyrics describe each moment of the day that passes, for which one should be thankful. If you listen carefully, it teaches you to value life and give importance to small things. It was a great challenge to stop and recount each moment and to give meaning to the song.
- Several songs feel cinematic in scope—do you imagine visuals while you’re creating?
iurisEkero: Absolutely, my songs tell stories that listeners make their own or that remind them of similar experiences described in the songs. Each song brings you an image and a feeling.
- Are there lyrical themes or “hidden connections” between songs that listeners might only notice after hearing the whole album?
iurisEkero: When I started composing each song, I didn’t intend for them to be connected, but upon finishing all the selected ones, I realized that the unity among them was in LOVE in all its forms, but that happened naturally.
- How do you see your sound evolving in the next few years?
iurisEkero: Yes, of course. I have several songs that haven’t been released yet, featuring artists from around the world. It is a pride for me to have worked with them and for them to bring all their talent to my songs. Many of these will be released this year.
- What do you hope listeners feel after finishing “Proyecto One (Deluxe Edition)” from start to finish?
iurisEkero: I hope that after listening to the album, you feel that urge to listen to it again—whether to remember a love, to dance, or to wait for that person who hasn’t arrived yet. It’s a very positive album, even in the songs that talk about love ending. I hope the listeners enjoy it as much as I do.
OFFICIAL LINKS:
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCkAeXRpGy3l81_qFm8RH5nA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yh3pmJ514U9AfOrcPZyID
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0DNZCNQ13?ref=dm_ff_amazonmusic.3p
Apple Music: https://geo.music.apple.com/us/artist/iurisekero/1781580467?app=music&ls=1
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/52057971
Official Website: www.iurisekero.net
Instagram: @iuris_ekero
