Álvaro Lenier Mesa

Álvaro Lenier Mesa, known artistically as Lenier, is a young Cuban composer and singer from Güines, Mayabeque, who with his music has been gaining space in the Latin sound environments of southern United States, combined with intense promotion on Cuban radio and audiovisual support.

Álvaro Lenier Mesa was born in Güines, south of Havana and on the banks of the Mayabeque river. He always says he has felt art, and music more specifically, in his body, although he never received formal academic training in this regard.

When Lenier was 9 or 10 years old, he doesn't remember exactly, he was part of a Campesina Music program that Alexis Díaz Pimienta formed at the Instituto Superior de Arte. Together with a select group of only 10 children from all over Cuba, Alvarito, as they called him back then, would manage to stand out and even became a class monitor. Around two years in the project gave him experience in music and several performances, like those he remembers from the program Palmas y Cañas and the children's show Arcoíris Musical. "I would like them to give me some of those videos that must be scattered around somewhere," he says between nostalgic and amused.

Lenier comments that he learned about music in recording studios, listening to recordings of other artists. By watching and asking questions he learned to record and now even makes his own songs. Lenier is committed to singing about love and does not fear expressing his most hidden feelings in public.

Lenier emigrated to the United States at age 15 with his father and upon arriving in Miami began to venture into the urban genre, since campesina music didn't have much of an audience.

At 15 years old he went to Miami, but even in the United States he remained immersed in traditional Cuban music genres; he even was part of the television program Clave Guajira. In total it was around 10 years of his life dedicated to campesina music. He is a very popular artist in Cuba and Miami and has managed to carve out a path within the urban genre. He began his artistic career taking his first steps within popular campesina music and was one of the male voices of the popular Cuban television program Palmas y Cañas. Once established in the city of Miami, he was part of the guateque on Fernando Hidalgo's television show on channel 41 in Florida. After his style change, Lenier has managed to collaborate on several songs that have become fixed hits on the dance floor.

The young man had to work as a barber to get ahead and collaborated with many radio stations in Colombia, where he had the opportunity to record his first album. After years of hard work and dedication, Lenier began as a backup vocalist for Jacob Forever.

Following his success with Jacob Forever, Lenier began to compose some of his next hits, such as "La Protagonista," which Jacob made a hit with salsa artist Víctor Manuelle, then came collaborations like "Que Nochecita" until finally Lenier launched his solo career. Another artist with whom Lenier has a close relationship in his career is musical producer Emilio Estefan, who has said that the güinero is one of his favorite artists.

Lenier also has the support of world superstar Pitbull, who has helped him immensely in his music projects. They premiered at the Latin American Music Awards (Latin AMAS) the new single "Me Quedaré Contigo Remix" in collaboration with Pitbull, El Micha, and Ne-Yo before an international audience. "Me Quedaré Contigo Remix" reached the top of the charts with several number ones on the radio. The song was nominated in Puerto Rico for the Premios Tu Música Urbano under collaborations.

Lenier released his single and video "Como Te Pago," a song dedicated to all mothers, a song that deals with a son seeking a way to thank his mother for everything she has done for him. Also about the way some people have their mother by their side but don't appreciate them.

Among Lenier's greatest hits are songs like "Mi Corazón," "Por tu Amor," "Yo tengo una Guitarra que no suena," "Una Mujer como Tu," "Que Nochecita," "La Buena y El Malo," "Ya es muy tarde," "La Nochecita," "Me Quedaré Contigo," "Te Toqué sin Querer," "Si Tu No la Llevas," "Quiéreme," "El Beso," "Me Extrañarás," "Pobre Corazón," "Malos," "Déjame," "Me Quedaré Contigo Remix," "No Volveré," "Un Montón de Estrellas," "Como Te Pago," among others.

Nominations

The singer continues to surprise with his unique talent in his career as a singer-songwriter, some of the nominations Lenier has had are:

Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song (2022)
Premios Juventud for Tropical Mix (2022)
Premios Lo Nuestro for Crossover Collaboration of the Year (2021)
Premios Lo Nuestro for Urban/Pop Song of the Year (2021)
Premios Juventud for El Traffic Jam (2020)
Nominated for the Premios Lucas for the music video of "Me extrañarás" feat Álvaro Torres, directed by Freddy Loons (2019)
Nominated for the Premios Lucas for the music video of "Pobre corazón" feat Divan, directed by Freddy Loons (2019)

Collaborations

Amanece (Remix) feat Yomil y El Dany, Jeancarlos Canela
Así Mismo Es feat María Pino
Candela Fuego (Remix) feat Henry Vera
Confirmé Que Sin Ti feat Chocolate MC
Crazy Loca feat Yomil y El Dany, El Chacal
Cuánto Vale feat Yandel
Dale Tres feat El Taiger
Déjame feat El Chulo
Dueño De feat July Roby, Divan
El Antídoto feat Enzo La Melodía Secreta, Melody
El Beso feat Jacob Forever
Llámame (Remix) feat IAmChino, Mark B, Eix
Más Rico Mañana feat Jacob Forever, El Chulo, El Taiger, La K Da King, El Micha, El Uniko
Me Extrañarás feat Alvaro Torres
Me Gusta Así feat Erick Lexi
Me Quedaré Contigo feat El Micha, Pitbull, Ne-Yo
Miénteme feat Jay Maly
Mírala feat Kimiko y Yordy
Niña Mía feat El Micha
No feat El Chacal, Yomil y El Dany, Señorita Dayana, El Micha
No Volveré feat Yomil y El Dany, El Micha
Pobre Corazón feat Divan
Quién Me Quiere feat El Micha
Soy Yo feat Chacal, El Chulo, El Micha, Yomil
Te Toqué Sin Querer feat Diana Fuentes
Ya Es Muy Tarde feat El Chulo