Reik

Biography

Reik is a Mexican pop rock band from Mexicali, Baja California, formed in 2003 by Jesús Alberto Navarro Rosas (lead vocals), Julio Ramírez Eguía (guitar, background vocals), and Gilberto Marín Espinoza (guitar). The group's first five albums were classified as Latin pop, but the group has since transitioned to a more urban-influenced sound since 2015. Reik has won a Latin Billboard Music Award, four Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica awards, and a Latin Grammy.
Formed in 2003, the group released its self-titled debut album in 2005, which featured the singles "Yo Quisiera" and "Qué Vida La Mía". Reik's second studio album, Secuencia×Secuencia21 November 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Quien decide es el amor3:222Sabes3:413Sin conocerte3:164Me duele amarte3:135Vivo en sueños3:126Invierno3:367De qué sirve3:428Llegó tu amor3:379Quédate3:2210No sé porque te vas (I Can't Believe She's Gone)3:4911Ahora sin ti2:59, was released on 21 November 2006, anchored by the lead single, "Invierno". On 30 September 2008, Reik released its third studio album, Un Día Más×Un día más25 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ilusionado3:242Piel de ciudad3:343Fui2:554Inolvidable3:435No me hables de ayer3:026No hay nadie más3:067No desaparecerá3:388Voy a estar3:219Vuelve a mí3:1110Un día más2:4411Momentos2:35, for which the band won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2009. The band's following releases, Peligro (2011) and Des/Amor (2015), featured a more electronic sound.
Feeling frustrated with the perceived stagnation of Latin pop after the release of Des/Amor, the band evolved its sound and began collaborating with reggaeton artists. The band has since released popular singles "Ya Me Enteré×Ya Me Enteré8 April 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ya Me Enteré3:23" with Nicky Jam, "Me Niego" with Ozuna, and "Amigos Con Derechos" with Maluma. These singles charted on numerous Billboard charts and renewed the band's popularity. The group also collaborated with Korean pop group Super Junior on the song "One More Time (Otra Vez)".

Jesús Alberto Navarro

Jesús Alberto Navarro Rosas is the vocalist. He was born on 9 July 1986, in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. He started singing at the age of six when he joined a choir at his local church. Growing up, his musical influences were very diverse. He was inspired by John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Thalía, and Mónica Naranjo.

Julio Ramírez Eguía

Julio Ramírez Eguía is the guitarist. He was born on 21 December 1987, in the city of Mexicali. He has been playing the guitar since he was twelve years old. Growing up, he was influenced by Further Seems Forever. At nine years old, he was a black belt national champion in karate. When he was about fourteen or fifteen years old, he had his own soccer team who were champions as well.

Gilberto Marín Espinoza

Gilberto Bibi Marín Espinoza is the group's electric guitarist. He was born on 26 January 1983, in the city of Mexicali. He was the last member to join the band. In 2002, he enrolled in the Autonomous University of Baja California in Mexicali but dropped out to focus on his music career. He is married to Kalinda Kano and has two children, Jazz and Emil.

2005–2015: Formation and early albums

In 2003, Abelardo Vázquez ended their then-nascent musical project, tentatively called "Reik". Vázquez invited Jesús Navarro and Julio Ramirez to record their first demos, which were released through the Mexican underground club scene. Two of the most successful demos – "Levemente" and "Ahora Sin Ti" – brought more widespread coverage across Mexico. In early 2004, Reik invited Gilberto to join the band. On 24 May 2005, Reik released their self-titled debut album, produced by Kiko Cibrián. The group's name actually means "rake" (as in raking the guitar's strings), but the band wanted their non–English-speaking Mexican listeners to pronounce it correctly, hence, Reik. The first single "Yo Quisiera" got heavy rotation on Mexican pop radio stations and soon went to number one. Their second single, "Qué Vida La Mía", also topped the Mexican charts, as did their third single "Noviembre Sin Ti". Their fourth single, "Niña", failed to match the success of their previous singles, charting only at number 33.

Reik's debut album went gold in Mexico on 6 May 2005 after selling 50,000 copies. In June 2005, Reik traveled to the United States to promote their album and its first single. They had a promotional mini-tour that visited Miami, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and New York. The album was formally released in the United States in May of that same year. To date, the album has sold 40,000 copies in the United States alone. By May, the album was certified platinum in Mexico for selling 120,000 copies. On 6 July 2007, Reik participated in the Alltel Wireless "Mi Círculo, Mi Música" (My Circle, My Music) concert in El Paso, Texas.
On 8 August 2013, Reik performed at the concert of MBLAQ at the Pepsi Center in Mexico City as guest performers and on 29 October, they performed at the 2013 Seoul International Music Fair in Seoul, South Korea.

2015–present: Transition to urban music and successful singles

While finishing their sixth studio album Des/Amor×Des/Amor17 June 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Qué gano olvidándote3:272Vámonos lejos3:303De rodillas3:314Voy a olvidarte3:205Spanglish3:256Un amor de verdad3:337Ya me enteré3:248We Only Have Tonight3:289Náufragos2:5510Al fin estás aquí3:1611Ya me enteré (urban version)3:39, the band members began to feel frustrated with the state of Latin pop music and longed for a change. Espinoza recalled, "Traditional romantic pop was in a rut...We needed to renovate ourselves." The group enlisted reggaeton singer Nicky Jam in 2016 for a remix of "Ya Me Enteré×Ya Me Enteré8 April 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ya Me Enteré3:23" from Des/Amor, which became the group's first platinum-certified single. The band initially struggled with the transition from pop to urban music, with Eguía noting, "We were used to doing verse, pre-chorus, chorus, repeat, bridge, chorus. In the urban world, they're like, 'hell no!' For them, it's introduction, chorus, the rap part, then second chorus." In May 2018, Reik released the single "Me niego" with Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Ozuna. "Me niego" won best Latin Pop Song of the Year at the 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The song's accompanying music video was filmed in Miami and was described by Marjua Estevez of Billboard as a "heart-racing, action-packed drama".
In November 2018, the band's collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma on the single "Amigos Con Derechos" became Reik's second number-one song on the Billboard Latin Pop songs chart. "Amigos Con Derechos" discusses a couple that is in love but wants to remain "friends with benefits". The group continued collaborating with urban singers, with the band enjoying the "natural disposition that urban superstars have. They help each other in collaborations, and the union they have is admirable." In May 2019, the group renewed its contract with Sony Music Mexico. Reik made its first collaboration with a K-pop group in October 2019 when it collaborated with Korean pop group Super Junior on the song "One More Time (Otra Vez)". The single debuted at number five on the Billboard Latin Pop Digital Song Sales chart. On 9 April 2020, the group performed a live virtual concert via YouTube while in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic with Navarro broadcasting from New York City, Ramírez from San Diego, and Marín from Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Latin American Music Award

The Latin American Music Awards is an annual American music award that is presented by Telemundo to recognise outstanding achievement in the Latin music industry. Reik has received three nominations.

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognise outstanding achievement in the music industry. Reik has received one award from five nominations.

LOS40 Music Awards

The Premios 40 Principales are awarded by the radio station Los 40 to recognise the best in Spanish and international music. Reik has received one award from three nominations.

Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica

The MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica were awarded by Viacom International Media Networks The Americas to celebrate the top music videos of the year in Latin America and the world. Reik has received four awards from five nominations.

MTV Europe Music Award

The MTV Europe Music Awards are awarded by Viacom International Media Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. Reik has received two nominations.

MTV Millennial Awards

The MTV Millennial Awards is an annual Latin American music award presented by the cable channel MTV Latin America to honour the best of Latin music and the digital world of the millennial generation. Reik has received two nominations.

Premios Lo Nuestro

The Premios Lo Nuestro are awarded annually by television network Univision. Reik has received 24 nominations, and one of them.

Premios Juventud

The Premios Juventud are awarded annually by television network Univision. Reik has received one nomination.

Premios Tu Mundo

The Premios Tu Mundo are awarded annually by television network Telemundo. Reik has received three nominations.