After a 12-year run as one of Piso 21’s founding members, Llane officially kicked off his solo career in late 2019 and, despite the challenging global pandemic, continues marking his territory in the music industry with his popetón (pop and urban) beats and melodious voice.
Born Juan David Castaño in Sabaneta, Colombia, Llane’s love for music traces back to his music-loving family. His first performance was at the age of 8 at a Mother’s Day event in school. By 11, he discovered his passion for breakdancing, hip-hop and reggaeton music, dubbing the urban culture as one of his biggest influences.
Llane, who admires the careers of artists such as Michael Jackson, J Balvin, Maluma, Freddie Mercury and many others, formed part of the Colombian pop group Piso 21 from 2007 to 2018. On Feb. 3, 2019, he announced he was going solo.
“I was scared at the beginning, but I try to make the best decisions for myself. I always put myself first and I try to take care of my heart. This is something I had to do for me,” he tells Billboard. “This was a chapter in my life that I’m very proud of and it gave me the base I needed to become one of the best soloists right now.”
Despite launching his debut single “Mas De Ti” in October 2019, 2020 has marked a special year in Llane’s career. Not only was he a featured artist on songs by Tainy, Sebastian Yatra, Andres Cepeda and Fonseca but he also released singles such as “Amor Bailando,” “Pa’ Ti,” “Como Antes” and his Manuel Turizo-assisted “Sera.”
“I need to have a lot of patience in my career because even though people know who I am from Piso 21, I’m aware that I’m new,” he says. “I count on the support of many people, but at the same time, I have to go through the whole process. What I really want is for the audience to identify with me as a person.”
Learn more about this week’s Latin Artist on the Rise below:
Name: Juan David Castaño Montoya, aka Llane
Age: 30
Major Accomplishment: “Being nominated to the Latin Grammys, getting my music into the important charts, singing as a solo artist in Premios Juventud, performing at the Billboard Latin Music Week showcase, participating on Univision’s reality Tu Cara Me Suena, and the fact of traveling the world and that millions of people sing my songs.”
Recommended Song: “Sera” in collaboration with Manuel Turizo
What’s Next: “I’m going to wait until next year to continue releasing new music. ‘Sera’ is growing right now and I don’t want to cut its wings. I’m going to kick off 2021 with a collaboration with two very important artists that I admire and that I know will introduce me to a new audience.”
