Joel Pimentel de León is 22 years old, born in California, but with Mexican ancestry, spirit and flavor. He narrated that as a child he used to be someone energetic who spent his time singing and dancing.
Since he was 4 years old he used to listen to ‘Grease’ at home every day, and on one occasion, on a visit to his grandfather, he heard him singing and praised him saying that he had potential for singing, from that day began to sing more.
Joel confessed that his grandfather was that figure that propelled him towards music and that he always saw a great future for him, “I have always said that he could have been a great artist, but with the life that he had there were not many opportunities, with eleven children and crossing the border, it was something super difficult”.
He is a super family guy who has always been around his family, within which there are many who are passionate about music.
The band
His beginnings in the industry were at the end of 2015, when he was one of the winners of La Banda and a member of the boyband CNCO, nominated for a Latin Grammy and considered one of the young musical phenomena.
There were two occasions in which his mother encouraged him to attend the casting of the reality show La Banda, a contest in which the winners are chosen to form a group. According to Joel, the first time when his mother told him, he confessed that he was indecisive since he was more focused on theater, an area in which he was introduced since high school and that caught his attention.
When it happened for the second time, his mother told him who the judges would be, who at that time were Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini, that’s when he decided to try because he thought it would be where the doors were to do what he wanted do would open.
He explained that this whole process also involves him as an impulse from his grandfather, “he died two months before I auditioned, so I wanted to pay him tribute, and that’s how it all started.”
Despite having decided to audition, he never believed that he would go far or that he would be one of the finalists in the reality show, and he confessed that one of the limitations was that the Spanish language was not his strong point. He said that what pushed him to do everything he has done is because he likes him, not because he has confidence in himself.
Likewise, he thinks that both La Banda and CNCO were like a school for him, and that if he had not belonged to the group, he does not think he would be where he is today, commenting that this whole process was something that prepared him for what he is experiencing now. Also, he said that the group helped change his mind.
“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to belong to La Banda and now I am ready to show what I can do on my own,” said Joel.
Facing a language that he did not handle well was one of his biggest challenges on the show, he revealed that one day he asked himself about that lack of confidence in him. “If I don’t believe in myself, no one else will. Be yourself, if people can understand you at least a little bit, then you are fine” were part of his words.
Similarly, he said that he is currently in an “if you don’t like me, you don’t like me” mindset and doing things with the goal of feeling happy with himself.
Almost a year ago Joel decided to disband the CNCO quintet, which was a group to which he belonged for six years. He admitted that deep down in his heart he wanted to do it to learn and do new things that would challenge himself; However, the most difficult part of that decision has been leaving his four companions and no longer living with them. Still, he said that they are still friends and everything is fine between them.
He stressed that he has learned a lot from them, but now that he begins a new stage in his life, he feels that he has the freedom to make his own plans and what he has in his mind.
When he was introduced to the topic of the group in which he was seen to grow artistically, he said that he shared many good moments with the other members and that Richard, who is Dominican, made them laugh too much and talked a lot about the Dominican Republic, he also his accent hit him sometimes. Therefore, according to Joel, he always has this country on his mind.
“I like everything. Every time I come here they treat me like I’m at home, the food is amazing, the music, the people, literally everything. There is nothing I don’t like about this country” she expressed.
Joel de León as soloist
Being a new version of his person in the artistic and musical field, Joel said that a large part of his initiation as a solo artist is to take risks and try new things.
Among those new experiences that he wants to live, he stated that if the opportunity arises, he would love to act for a production and would do so without thinking twice.
His solo release has been a success, his songs ‘La culpa’ with 4 million views on YouTube and the most recent ‘Coco’ with more than a million views have received great acceptance from his followers.
Given this, the interpreter of Mexican descent stated that he has always known the loyalty of his fans, however, he never believed he received as much support as he is receiving, which has motivated him to continue releasing songs for them.
In his future plans is to release an album and probably later start a tour. For now, he will be performing at festivals and opening shows, all “little by little” as he put it.
Joel in “4 Beats”
On Saturday, February 19, Joel De León met at the Palacio de los Deportes as a counterpart in ‘4 Latidos’, a concert by the duos Sin Bandera and Camila, and commented that he has always loved ballads.
“Since I was little my parents, grandparents and uncles always put in the house. I am very familiar with this type of music” he pronounced, he also expressed that opening a concert for these artists is something that is still difficult for him to believe.
He opened the activity with the song “Tan Enamored” by Ricardo Montaner, and the song was followed by three more, concluding with his most recent single “Coco”. The now soloist was well received by the public, so much so that he encouraged everything since he was seen by the crowd.
He was accompanied by guitarist Manuel “Papo” Matos. The crowd was activated since his arrival and shared with him his rhythms and melodies.