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. His Grammy-nominated Latin fusion band Yerba Buena was founded along with Cuban-American singer Cucu Diamantes.
Levin has been called the "master-chef of urban fusion" by the Los Angeles Times.
Early life Levín, son of Argentinians, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Since his father is a musician and producer as well, Levin was surrounded by music. 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.
Yerba Buena 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." 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."
Film In 2012, Levin produced his first film alongside Sarah Green, Amor Cronico. Directed by Jorge Perugorría 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 Levin has been involved in the music for advertising industry since 1995. In the fall of 2009 he launched Pirata (with Canadian partner Pirate) 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. Since its creation, Pirata has provided work for Dr. Pepper, Verizon, Miller, Heineken, Cablevision, Kraft, Ritz, and Kohl's.
Discography
Studio albums Year Album Role Notes2017Paulina Rubio - 2 en1: Pau-Latina/PaulinaComposer2017Natalie Merchant, The Natalie Merchant CollectionProducer 2014 Fonseca, Jon Batiste, Rise Up Producer 2014 Miguel Bosé, Amo Co-producer Nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2015 - Album of the year2014 Coreon Du, Binario Producer2014Arto Lindsay - Encyclopedia of ArtoProducer2014Aleks Syntek - Romántico DeslizProducer2013Cucu Diamantes - Amor CronicoProducer - Composer 2012 Miguel Bosé, Papitwo Co-producer 2012 John Legend, Love I’ve Never Known Producer, Co-writer 2011 Fonseca, Ilusión Producer Winner of 2012 Grammy: Best Tropical Fusion Album / Nominated 2013 Latin Pop Grammy2011Les Nubians - Nü RevolutionProducer2011Donna D'Cruz - Rasa Swank 2010 Natalie Merchant, Leave Your Sleep Co-producer 2010Bill Coleman - RemixxerProducer 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 Producer2009Pitingo - Todo PitingoProducer 2009 Beatriz Luengo, Carrousel Producer 2009 Paulina Rubio, Gran City Pop Producer 2008Ultra Naté - Alchemy: G.S.T. ReloadedA&R2008Ely Guerra - Plug & PlayComposer 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 Nominations2007Voltio - En Lo ClaroProducer2007Feel the NoiseProducer2007Ultra Naté - Grime, Silk & ThunderProducer2007Louie Vega in the HouseA&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 2006Marta Sánchez - En Directo: Gira 2005 La CoruñaComposer2006Explorations: Classic Picante Regrooved, Vol. 1Producer2006La Habana de NocheComposer2006Xiomara Laugart - XiomaraProducer 2005 Yerba Buena, Island Life Producer/ Writer 2005 Orishas, El Kilo Producer Nominated for 2005 and 2006 Latin Grammy: Best Latin Alternative Album2005Marta Sánchez - Lo Mejor de Marta Sanchez2005Diego el Cigala - Picasso en Mis Ojos2005Haydée - HaydéeProgramming 2004 Ana Torroja, Essential Producer/ Writer Produced and wrote four songs 2004 Paulina Rubio, Pau-Latina Writer Wrote one song, "My Friend, My Amigo"2004Carlinhos Brown - Carlinhos Brown es Carlito MarronProducer2004Blaze - Found LoveProducer2004Moreno Veloso - Máquina de Escrever Música RemixProducer 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"1997Red Hot + Latin: Silencio = MuerteProducer 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"1996Mundo CivilizadoProducer1996Red Hot + RioProducer1996Tina Turner - Wildest DreamsProducer 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"1992TylerProducer, ComposerAlbum 1991 Mica Paris, Contribution Writer/Producer (with Camus Celli) 1991 Nia Peeples, Nia Peeples Producer (with Camus Celli) One song, "Heaven Help Me"1989Eddie Murphy So HappyKeyboard Programming
Film 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 2007El CantanteComposer 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 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