A key, often-hidden figure in Latin pop over the past decade is ready to step into the spotlight. After co-writing hits for superstars like Kenia Os, Aitana, and Joaquina, Andry Kiddos has found his calling as the future of Latin alt-pop. At the same time, the rising singer-songwriter and producer has crafted a global yet vulnerable sound shaped by his experience as part of the Venezuelan diaspora. Constantly on the move and singing about the disconnection that can come with those circumstances is what makes Kiddos’ music connect more than ever.
Since 2020, Kiddos has lived a double life as a singer and songwriter. Leaning into the childlike wonder of his stage name, he first made an impact as an independent act with the bluesy “Son Tantas Cosas.” Through his reliable pen game as a songwriter for other artists, Kiddos gained more access, contacts, and credibility in the music industry, which led to him signing with Universal Music Latino a year later. After forming friendships during studio writing sessions, he collaborated with Os, Piso 21, Mau y Ricky, Mariah Angeliq, Cuco, Bratty, and more.
Andry Kiddos was born Andry Leal in Maracaibo. When reggaeton and Latin pop ruled the charts in the 2000s, he remembers growing up with Wisin y Yandel, Don Omar, Reik, Camila, Maná, and Venezuelan legends Chino y Nacho. The proliferation of burned CDs in local flea markets also shaped that era in music. “My father really introduced me to music,” Kiddos recalls. “He was always bringing us those bootleg CDs, like the ‘Best of 2005′ compilations, and my brother and I would blast them at full volume.”
image credit: Joss Andreu
With Venezuela in the middle of economic collapse, Kiddos knew it wasn’t feasible to keep growing his music career there. He also realized that moving to Medellín, Colombia, with a group of friends meant leaving his loved ones behind. “The resources were just too limited, especially in Maracaibo, where I’m from,” Kiddos says. “There was no electricity. I couldn’t make music anymore. It was impossible. There was simply no way forward. It was a really hard decision for me, mostly because of my family. It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life.”
Though Kiddos has written for artists across all genres, he is known for his work with Latin pop princesses like Os and Joaquina and Spanish superstar Aitana. After writing and producing hits for Os like “Me Dolió,” “Tsunami,” and “Tu Peor Pesadilla,” he helped her solidify her jump from influencer to one of Mexico’s top singers. Os also tapped Kiddos to feature on their collaboration “¿Qué Pasa?” Kiddos reveals that he’s currently writing music with Os for her next project. “I have a really special connection with her,” he says. “It goes beyond the artist dynamic. We’re close friends. I pitch whatever pops into my head about her sound, as if she were my soulmate. Really beautiful ideas come up. [They’re] things I wouldn’t necessarily do for myself but that are amazing. The idea of hearing those messages come through Kenia or any other female artist, I honestly love it.”
As Kiddos gained traction as a songwriter and producer, he also started making waves as an artist in 2020 with his breakthrough single, “Son Tantas Cosas.” The genre-bending song, which has amassed over five million streams on Spotify, was a first taste of unique perspective as an artist.
Last year, Kiddos earned his peers’ recognition at the Latin Recording Academy. He was nominated in the Best Pop/Rock Song category for co-writing “No Llames Lo Mío Nuestro” with fellow Venezuelan artist Joaquina. While the song didn’t win the award, Kiddos enjoyed the week he spent in Las Vegas leading up to the ceremony.
“The Grammy experience, being there with my friends, was something I really wanted to do,” he says. “I needed to experience it to feel the music differently. I’d obviously love to be nominated again as many times as God wills it, but I have a different perspective now.” Being surrounded by legends and singers he grew up listening to inspired Kiddos to build a lasting legacy. “I want to be one of those artists who, at some point in my life, if I’m still around, gets named Person of the Year. That’s what I’m really aiming for, more than just standing on a red carpet waving at people.”
Now, at 26, Kiddos has continued to embrace vulnerability on his upcoming album. Many of the singles from the LP so far reflect Kiddos’ reality of moving through many countries and coming in and out of people’s lives. The dreamy “Delorean” wishes for the time machine from “Back to the Future” to relive the past. Kiddos hits his stride as a sentimental Latin heartthrob with the funky “Por Como Me Cuidas,” about feeling emotionally distant.
As Kiddos continues recording music for his album, he is also pushing beyond the limits of Latin pop. With the feel-good “119,” he taps into a more rock-leaning sound reminiscent of 2000s music. Then there’s the anthemic “Los Mismos,” where Kiddos pulls out the electric guitar to sing about being one call away. His dream collaborations also reflect his genre-defying spirit, including Argentina’s Milo J, Chile’s Akriila, and Mexico’s Nsqk.
