El Larra Announces Debut Record 'Santa Cruz' Out June 19
EL LARRA ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM SANTA CRUZ OUT JUNE 19
“CITA SOÑADA” OUT NOW
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Cuban-born Miami-based rapper El Larra, the creative moniker of Leandro Soriano, is set to make waves with his debut record Santa Cruz out June 19. Named after his beloved hometown of Santa Cruz Del Norte, the album showcases El Larra as an exciting new voice within el movimiento, a collective term acknowledging the interconnectedness of music genres such as reggaetón, Latin trap, Latin R&B, and dembow, bringing a fresh perspective and undeniable talent to the scene. The 10-track album, made with collaborator and producer icekream, is El Larra’s love letter to the evolution of reggaetón. Drawing inspiration from contemporary reggaetón history, El Larra masterfully weaves together elements of house, electronic, and classic perreo with a dembow beat to create a dynamic and unforgettable sound.
Today, El Larra sets the tone for Santa Cruz with the sensual house track “Cita Soñada,” where he encourages listeners to check their worries at the door and live life to the fullest. “‘Cita Soñada’ is a song that navigates through different rhythms and flow changes,” explains El Larra. “It has a clear message that the most important thing is to have a good time without being tied down. The goal is to have a good time, no matter who we are with.” With its hypnotic beat and irresistible hooks, "Cita Soñada" is sure to become a summer favorite on dance floors everywhere.
The reggaetonero grew up as a youth boxer an hour east of Havana, initially finding his rhythm in the boxing ring. Yet, music was ingrained in Leandro Soriano’s lineage; his grandfather directed percussion in a local orchestra, and his father passed on his knowledge of the drum kit, sparking Soriano’s early fascination with rhythm and beats.
Influenced by the streets of Cuba and artists like Nicky Jam, Daddy Yankee and Wisin y Yandel, Soriano’s musical journey took shape. Despite leaving Cuba at ten years old, he continued to explore his passion, freestyling between menial jobs. It wasn’t until 2016 that he recorded his first track and began dropping reggaeton tracks as El Larra.
In 2019, Soriano made up his mind about pursuing music seriously and released a stream of singles during the 2020 lockdowns. He would eventually meet producer Issam Freiha, also known as icekream, who would become a pivotal creative partner to El Larra. Together, they forged a genreless sound that was still rooted in the roiling dembow rattle at the heart of reggaeton. In 2022, El Larra released his debut EP, Mi Oportunidad, which played on classic themes of el movimiento — money, fame, lust, and love — infused with his own unique flair. With over 2 million streams to date and his debut album on the horizon, El Larra continues to position himself as one of el movimiento’s most exciting new rising stars.