Carín León

Biography

Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez (born 26 July 1989), known professionally as Carín León, is a Mexican singer-songwriter who specializes in regional Mexican music. He has recorded songs in several of its subgenres, as well as incorporated influence from other musical genres.

Career

León began playing the guitar at age 15. His first band was Los Reales before founding Grupo Arranke with four friends in 2010. The group gained traction with their song "A Través del Vaso×A través del vaso28 September 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1A través del vaso3:02". He was a member of Grupo Arranke for seven years until starting a solo career in 2018. His career took off with his solo version of "A Través del Vaso". His other songs "Me La Avente" and "Tú", a cover of the 1999 song by Noelia, both charted on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, and Regional Mexican Airplay charts. In 2021, he also released a cover of "More Than Words" by Extreme and later a version of "Moscas en la Casa" by Shakira, which was part of his album Pistiembre Todo El Año.
During the global shutdown of major venues and concert halls due to the COVID-19 pandemic, León pivoted into podcasts, alternative radio, and emerging platforms for greater distribution. This was also in large part thanks to the dramatic overall increase in interest in regional Mexican music globally, as noted by Spotify. León appeared on NPR's 'Tiny Desk' on September 19, 2022.
León won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Song in 2022 for the song "Como lo Hice Yo×Como lo hice yo10 September 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Como lo hice yo2:57" alongside Édgar Barrera and Matisse. In 2022, he was the third most streamed Mexican artist on Spotify.
His single "Que Vuelvas×Que vuelvas9 December 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Que vuelvas2:49" with Grupo Frontera was number one for six weeks on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart in 2023. León won his second Latin Grammy in 2023; this time for the Best Norteño Album with his third studio album, Colmillo de Leche×Colmillo de leche18 May 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1No es por acá2:472Pedazo de tonto2:403Indispensable2:334Deja de chingarme2:595Te pedí3:456Con honores3:057De piedra a papel3:108Si es cierto que te vas3:369Primera cita3:0610Mil maneras de morir3:0911Necesito encontrarte3:2012Mi alma embrujada3:0013Corazón de oro4:2214Vete yendo2:5715Ni me debes ni te debo2:4916Hundido en un pozo2:4017Música de fondo3:0318Outro1:43.
On February 23, 2024, León made his debut performance in one of country music's most prestigious venues, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. On April 14, 2024, León debuted at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California during its first weekend. Six days later, he was presented with the key to the City of Coachella by the city council. The next day, León again performed at the Coachella Festival during its second weekend. On April 26, León debuted at Coachella's country music-themed sister festival, Stagecoach. On October 4, 2024, León made his debut at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park. The following day, he debuted on Austin City Limits at the Moody Center. León received his third Latin Grammy in 2024; this time for the Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album with his fourth studio album, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1×Boca chueca, vol. 130 May 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Cuando la vida sea trago2:532Otra vez3:163Casi oficial3:474Frené mis pies3:355Círculo vicioso2:376Que haga el paro2:187Bebé no cambies tú2:518⁠Por eso bye3:019Qué feo se siente el amor3:0510No sé3:0911The one (pero no como yo)2:5612Lamentablemente3:1513⁠Aviso importante3:1114It was always you (siempre fuiste tú)3:2915Banqueteras3:1616⁠12:3917Aunque tú no lo sepas3:1418Por culpa de un tercero2:5419Despídase bien3:51. Said album also won the Grammy Award for Best Música Mexicana Album in 2025.
On February 26, 2025, León debuted at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile, where he received the Silver and Golden Gaviota awards. On March 9, 2025, León made his debut at Rodeo Houston, where he performed in front of 70,603 fans. On May 16, 2025, León appeared on NPR's 'Tiny Desk' for a second time. León received his fourth Latin Grammy in 2025; winning Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album for the second year in a row, this time with his album Palabra de To's×Palabra De To's5 December 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks1Enséñame2:492Ocupo una limpia2:353Lado frágil2:444El amor de mi herida2:085De su vida me iré3:086De compas2:457Decreté2:358Así es el amor2:269Modo zombie2:4210El curioso2:2211La escalera2:4012Ahí estabas tú1:5313Ya no la friegues2:2414Ya fue2:0815Nada que ver3:0816Eres y serás4:31 (Seca). Said album also won the Grammy Award for Best Música Mexicana Album in 2026.
On February 6, 2026, León released a single and a music video, "Love to Be Loved×Love to Be Loved6 February 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Love to Be Loved2:50", in collaboration with Mexican rock band The Warning. This song is his first one entirely in English.
On March 14-15, 2026, León launched La Cura Fest, his own annual music festival in his hometown of Hermosillo, Sonora. In addition to León performing both nights as the headliner, the festival featured several artists of genres that have influenced León, such as regional Mexican, country, folk, soul, rock, and pop.
On March 20, 2026, León in collaboration with American country artist Jelly Roll, released the song "Lighter", the first single from the official album of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The track was produced by Canadian record producer Cirkut, in the process bringing together an individual from each of the three host countries of the tournament.
On March 25, 2026, León in collaboration with entrepreneur Sebastián Chacón Flores and grill master José Ángel Figueroa, opened his own restaurant in Hermosillo, "El Coyote del Norte", which specializes in gourmet tacos.
León became the first regional Mexican artist to headline a concert at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 20, 2026 and to headline the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan on August 14-15. On September 4, he - as the first Latin artist - performed at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and shared the stage with The Warning during the song "Love to Be Loved".

Personal life

León was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, to Óscar Díaz de León and Carmen Julia Huez. He has a girlfriend and two children.

Live albums

Desvelada con Banda y Mariachi (En Vivo) (2018)
A Puro Pelo (100 % En Vivo) (2018)
Pa' las de Vidrio (En Vivo) (2018)
Amanecida con Todo y con Todos (2018)
Borrachera con Taka Takas (2020)
Encerrados Pero Enfiestados (Live Vol. 1) (2020)
Encerrados Pero Enfiestados (Live Vol. 2) (2020)
Borrachera con Los Honorables (2020)
Pistiembre Todo El Año (En Vivo) (2021)
Cura Local (En Vivo) (2022)
U.V.V. Vol. 8 (En Vivo) (2023)
Palabra de To's (2024)
Palabra de To's (Seca) (2025) – Special edition of Palabra de To's with four new studio tracks
Chapayeka (En Vivo) (2025)
Chapayeka (Puro Chucky) (2025)

EPs

Colmillo de Leche Live Sessions (En Vivo) (2023)
Carín León (Live at NPR's Tiny Desk) (2025)