Andrés Levín is a Venezuelan-born American record producer, bandleader, filmmaker, recording engineer and philanthropist. After several nominations, Levin won a Grammy Award in 2009 for his production of the In the Heights cast recording.[1] His Grammy-nominated[2] Latin fusion band Yerba Buena was founded along with Cuban-American singer Cucu Diamantes.

Andrés Levín
Born (1968-09-30) September 30, 1968 (age 56)
Caracas, Venezuela
GenresLatin, Pop, Rock, R&B
Occupation(s)Producer, film maker, song-writer, musician, composer, philanthropist, arranger, guitarist
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, keyboards, programming
Years active1988–present
LabelsTribe Caribe

Levin has been called the "master-chef of urban fusion" by the Los Angeles Times.[3]

Early life

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Levín, son of Argentinians, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Since his father is a musician and producer as well, Levin was surrounded by music.[4] He began playing guitar at age 10 and was soon immersed in the musical world. In 1988, Levin took advantage of a full scholarship at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts before studying composition at Juilliard in New York City. While in New York, Levin worked at Skyline studios and was soon hired by producer Nile Rodgers as a full-time Synclavier programmer and arranger. With Rodgers, Levin worked with artists such as the B-52's, Diana Ross, INXS, and The Vaughan Brothers.[5]

Yerba Buena

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Together with Diamantes, Levin formed the band Yerba Buena. Before Yerba Buena, Levin had worked in several disparate genres, including R&B, soul, and Latin. Levin said that the same year the band was founded, he had been in Nigeria, Cuba, and Bahia... [and] those influences combined to form the Yerba Buena sound."[6] Levin has also said that even though Yerba Buena "experiments with many influences, the basis of the group is inspired by the African and Cuban diaspora, where both worlds meet. The music is a bridge between the two cultures."[6]

Film

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In 2012, Levin produced his first film alongside Sarah Green, Amor Cronico. Directed by Jorge Perugorría[7] Since then he has been involved in feature and documentary films as producer, exec producer, associate producer or consultant such as : Guava Island (Amazon), Fate of the Furious (Universal), Habana Motor Club, and several documentaries for Amazon which he also directed.

Advertising

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Levin has been involved in the music for advertising industry since 1995. In the fall of 2009 he launched Pirata (with Canadian partner Pirate)[5] to provide sonic branding and audio post production for all aspects of broadcast audio, such as original music and licensing, sound design, full service radio production and 5.1 mixing.[8] Since its creation, Pirata has provided work for Dr. Pepper, Verizon, Miller, Heineken, Cablevision, Kraft, Ritz, and Kohl's.[9]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Role Notes
2017 Paulina Rubio - 2 en1: Pau-Latina/Paulina Composer
2017 Natalie Merchant, The Natalie Merchant Collection Producer
2014 Fonseca, Jon Batiste, Rise Up Producer
2014 Miguel Bosé, Amo Co-producer Nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2015 - Album of the year
2014 Coreon Du, Binario Producer
2014 Arto Lindsay - Encyclopedia of Arto Producer
2014 Aleks Syntek - Romántico Desliz Producer
2013 Cucu Diamantes - Amor Cronico Producer - Composer
2012 Miguel Bosé, Papitwo Co-producer
2012 John Legend, Love I’ve Never Known [1] Producer, Co-writer
2011 Fonseca, Ilusión Producer Winner of 2012 Grammy: Best Tropical Fusion Album / Nominated 2013 Latin Pop Grammy
2011 Les Nubians - Nü Revolution Producer
2011 Donna D'Cruz - Rasa Swank
2010 Natalie Merchant, Leave Your Sleep Co-producer
2010 Bill Coleman - Remixxer Producer
2010 Ana Torroja, Sonrisa Producer
2010 Aleks Syntek, Métodos de Placer Instantáneo Co-producer
2010 Chiara Civello, 7752 Co-producer
2009 In The Heights Cast Album Producer Winner of 2009 Grammy: Best Cast Album
2009 Cucu Diamantes, Cuculand Producer
2009 Pitingo - Todo Pitingo Producer
2009 Beatriz Luengo, Carrousel Producer
2009 Paulina Rubio, Gran City Pop Producer
2008 Ultra Naté - Alchemy: G.S.T. Reloaded A&R
2008 Ely Guerra - Plug & Play Composer
2007 Miguel Bosé, Papito Co-producer Nominated for 2007 Latin Grammy
2007 Yerba Buena, Follow Me Producer/ Writer
2007 Orishas, Antiodiotico Producer Produced five songs; three 2007 Latin Grammy Nominations
2007 Voltio - En Lo Claro Producer
2007 Feel the Noise Producer
2007 Ultra Naté - Grime, Silk & Thunder Producer
2007 Louie Vega in the House A&R
2006 Hector On Stilts, Same Height Relation Producer
2006 Marisa Monte, Universo Ao Meu Redor Producer
2006 Eliane Elias, Around the City Producer/ Writer
2006 Marta Sánchez - En Directo: Gira 2005 La Coruña Composer
2006 Explorations: Classic Picante Regrooved, Vol. 1 Producer
2006 La Habana de Noche Composer
2006 Xiomara Laugart - Xiomara Producer
2005 Yerba Buena, Island Life Producer/ Writer
2005 Orishas, El Kilo Producer Nominated for 2005 and 2006 Latin Grammy: Best Latin Alternative Album
2005 Marta Sánchez - Lo Mejor de Marta Sanchez
2005 Diego el Cigala - Picasso en Mis Ojos
2005 Haydée - Haydée Programming
2004 Ana Torroja, Essential Producer/ Writer Produced and wrote four songs
2004 Paulina Rubio, Pau-Latina Writer Wrote one song, "My Friend, My Amigo"
2004 Carlinhos Brown - Carlinhos Brown es Carlito Marron Producer
2004 Blaze - Found Love Producer
2004 Moreno Veloso - Máquina de Escrever Música Remix Producer
2003 Yerba Buena, President Alien Producer/ Writer Nominated for 2003 Grammy: Best Latin Alternative Album
2002 Nicole, Viaje Infinito Producer Nominated for 2002 Latin Grammy: Best Female Pop Vocal Album
2002 Lenine, Falange Canibal Writer Wrote one song, "Dolores." Won 2002 Latin Grammy
2002 Red Hot and Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti Co-producer Produced nine songs
2001 Bilal, 1st Born Second Producer Produced one song
2001 Pánico, Telephatic sonora Producer
2000 Daniela Mercury, Sol Da Liberdade Producer
2000 Cyrius, Le sang des roses Co-producer/ Musician
1999 Ana Torroja, Pasajes de un Sueño Producer/ Writer
1996-1999 Arto Lindsay, The Prize, Mundo Civilizado, Noon Chill, Hypercivilizado, Invoke Producer/ Writer
1998 Aterciopelados, Caribe Atomico Producer Nominated for 1998 Grammy: Best Latin Rock
1998 Los Amigos Invisibles, The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera Producer
1998 El Gran Silencio, Libres y Locos Producer
1998 Carlinhos Brown, Omelette Man Producer
1997 David Byrne, Feelings Producer Produced two songs, "Finite=Alright" and "The Civil Wars"
1997 Red Hot + Latin: Silencio = Muerte Producer
1997 Deborah Blando, "UnicaMente" Producer/ Writer/ Musician Produced songs, "Unicamente" and "Gata"
1997 Marta Sánchez, "Azabache" Co-produced/ Writer/ Musician Co-produced songs, "Moja Mi Corazón" and "Lampara Mágica"
1996 David Byrne and Marisa Monte, Red Hot and Rio Producer Produced one song, "Waters of March"
1996 Mundo Civilizado Producer
1996 Red Hot + Rio Producer
1996 Tina Turner - Wildest Dreams Producer
1995 Chaka Khan, The Woman I Am Writer
1995 Doro, Machine II Machine Producer/ Writer/ Musician Co-produced and co-wrote four songs
1995 Jennifer Love Hewitt, Let's Go Bang Writer One song, "The Difference Between Us"
1994 Cece Peniston, Thought 'Ya Knew Producer/Writer One song, "Through Those Doors"
1992 Tyler Producer, Composer Album
1991 Mica Paris, Contribution Writer/Producer (with Camus Celli)
1991 Nia Peeples, Nia Peeples Producer (with Camus Celli) One song, "Heaven Help Me"
1989 Eddie Murphy So Happy Keyboard Programming

[10]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2019 Guava Island Fear - Childish Gambino and Rhiana Amazon Prime Music Producer and Consultant
2019 Guava Island Mini Docs Amazon Prime Producer
2018 Bucket List feat. Will Smith Facebook TV Producer
2018 Tata-Guines Documentary/work in progress Producer
2018 La Bicicletawork in progress Executive Producer
2017 4 Seasons in Havana NETFLIX Music supervisor/Music producer and composer-theme song
2017 Cuba Dance HBO Producer/ Cuba Production Services
2017 Cuba Skate FUSION Cuba Production Services
2017 The Fate of Furious UNIVERSAL Cuba Production Services/Itaca Manager
2016 Havana Motor Club Associate Producer
2015 Hotel Transylvania 2 Soundtrack I'm In Love with a Monster, Co-producer with Salaam Remy
2015 Aztec Warrior Composer
2015 Spare Parts Soundtrack Music Producer, Composer
2014 Bocaccerias Habaneras Composer
2013 Se Vende Executive Music Producer, Composer
2012 Amor Cronico Film Producer, Executive Music Producer, Composer
2007 Ladron Que Roba Ladron Composer
2007 Borderland Composer
2007 El Cantante Composer
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Composer Three songs used
2003 Cheaper by the Dozen Composer "Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)" used
2003 Honey Composer "Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)" used
2003 Chasing Papi Composer "Electric Boogaloo" used
1999 Red Hot and Lisbon Producer Produced five songs

Television

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Year Album Role Notes
2008 Heroes Original Soundtrack Composer One song, "Maya's Theme"
2006 South Beach Composer Wrote Theme Song
2004 Entourage Composer
2003 ER Composer

References

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  1. ^ "In the Heights Cast Recording Wins Grammy; Hudson and LuPone-McDonald "Mahagonny" Also Win". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  2. ^ "Yerba Buena - Profile of Funky Yerba Buena". Latinmusic.about.com. 2014-03-04. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  3. ^ "An intimate tribute to a mother's legacy - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2005-08-21. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  4. ^ "Funny Garbage". www.funnygarbage.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Andres Levin Partners With Pirate To Launch Dedicated Multi-Cultural Company: Pirata | Creative Planet Network". Blog.digitalcontentproducer.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  6. ^ a b "Andres Levin's Musical Playground". The Morning News. 2006-03-03. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  7. ^ "Amor Cronico". www.amorcronico.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Clients - Pirata - TRUST". www.trustcollective.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010.
  9. ^ "Pirata New York". Pirata New York. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  10. ^ "Andres Levin | Discografía | Discogs". Discogs.