A little over a decade ago, a baby-faced native of Hesperia, California, auditioned for “La Banda,” a Spanish-language reality series designed to form the next big Latino boy band.
To honor his Mexican roots, 16-year-old Joel Deleōn, then known as Joel Pimentel, belted out Manuel Bonilla's classic “Eran Cien Ovejas” before a formidable panel of judges: former Menudo member and global pop icon Ricky Martin, as well as Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz and Italian diva Laura Pausini. In the middle of his audition, Pausini asked for a different song selection, prompting Deleōn to sing Ed Sheeran's “I See Fire,” which helped him advance in the competition.
“It's crazy to think that 10 years have already passed,” he recalls, now a bearded 26-year-old and covered in tattoos. “I didn't think I could win 'La Banda,' especially at a time when I didn't speak Spanish fluently. To think that going to the audition changed my life… It's a constant reminder [to not be] “I’m afraid to pursue what I want.”
Martin and former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell, who helped propel One Direction to greatness, created “La Banda” to fill the void of a boy band in the Latin market, which Menudo left in the 1980s. Finally, during the show's finale, dated December 13, 2015, viewers voted for Deleōn to join CNCO with Christopher Vélez, Richard Camacho, Erick Brian Colón and Zabdiel de Jesús.
Each member represented a different part of Latin America, but on stage the boys were in sync with their heartthrob harmonies and tight choreography. CNCO quickly gained fame with multiple world tours, a nomination for best new artist at the 2017 Latin Grammys, and multi-platinum hits like the seductive “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” and the anthemic “Hey DJ.”
Joel De Leon
(Ricardo Rosales)
Like Geri Halliwell in Spice Girls, Zayn Malik in One Direction and Camila Cabello in Fifth Harmony, Deleōn surprisingly decided to leave the group in 2021 to “start building my own path and career.” It was then that he changed his stage name from Joel Pimentel to Joel Deleōn, as a nod to the last name of his late grandfather, who inspired him to pursue music.
After releasing a few solo singles under CNCO's label, Deleōn found himself at a creative stalemate. In 2023, he went the independent route and released the appropriately titled EP “ Ahora Me Escuchan???” (Can You Hear Me Now???) – reveals a punchier, more playful sound reminiscent of Joe Jonas' pop-rock side project DNCE, but with more Latin detours.
Since then, Deleōn has found her own groove as a Chicano pop-R&B star. Last year, he went on his first solo tour of Latin America and on November 28 he previewed his upcoming debut album with the bilingual hit “Me Alegro Por Ti.” In honor of CNCO's 10th anniversary on December 13, De Los sat down with Deleōn about the group's legacy, his departure, and life after the boy band.
What did you take away from your time with CNCO?
I carry with me a lot of dedication to the art of music. You have to have a lot of dedication and passion for your music. I feel like that's one of the main reasons why CNCO became so big: there was so much dedication and so many hours put into studio, choreography, interviews and things like that. Obviously, I take those wonderful memories that I lived with the other four guys, and it is something that motivates me to continue working to reach that level as a soloist as well.
What kind of impact do you think CNCO had, 10 years later?
A huge impact! The band's legacy will live on for a long time. I continue to see the support of the fans. I don't feel like CNCO is completely finished. In the end, something will happen between all of us. Obviously, each of us wants to take our time to do our things individually. It's crazy. Sometimes I think, “If I ever become a father, I'll say, 'Look, I was in this boy band that traveled to Asia, Europe, and was heard in Africa.'”
What do you remember about the moment you decided to leave the band? Would you change anything about that?
Obviously it was difficult. It was a decision I thought about. It was never my intention to make it seem like I was abandoning them. The boys and I are fine. I don't follow [as] A lot of contact with them as before, but it is normal. Each person is doing their own thing.
Look: I probably would have been around CNCO a little longer if it weren't for certain things, so maybe I'll leave this as a theory for readers to fill out and see what it could be. [Laughs.] It definitely had nothing to do with the boys. If anything, those last few years were the best years I had with them personally.
I have no regrets because throughout these last four years as a soloist I have learned a lot, so many things that I would not have learned being in the band. [These were] years of growth. Obviously, when you're in a band run by this big label, everyone takes care of your stuff. You have nothing to worry about, but once you get out there and have to do it yourself, you learn a lot. I'm grateful for how everything turned out, to be honest.
Joel De Leon
(Ricardo Rosales)
To advance your solo career, how important was it for you to follow the independent path?
I think that being independent for me is the best thing that could have happened to me, without harming any record label. When you leave a boy band and sign with such a big record label, sometimes [executives] expect you to do a certain thing they think [will] exercise, [and] At the end of the day, they are the experts. But if this is something an artist loves and wants to do for the rest of their life, it's also important for the artist to be genuine. [and] share what they want to share.
The best part of being an independent artist is the creative freedom. I could use some help in other areas. [Laughs.] It's been really great. The producer I'm working with, Palace, is amazing. He understands it. He understands me. I think it's very important to have a producer who really understands you and wants to build the vision that you have.
You started a new era last month with your song “Me Alegro Por Ti.” What more can we expect?
I would describe it as the most vulnerable era I have had so far. this song [describes] one of the first phases of a relationship, once you break up with it. Eventually, throughout this concept album, you will see every emotion a person goes through from the beginning of a relationship to the end and after. This song fits into that “I'm having fun without you” phase, but you'll soon hear the rest of the story. Music and genre are definitely something that feels 100% real to me. This really fits who I am, especially as an artist. I'm excited for what's to come. Hold on tight for 2026. There will be a lot of music.
You recently finished your Latin American nostalgia. tour, which included both your songs and CNCO's hits. Could you bring it to the United States?
There's a big chance, to be honest. I look at my streaming numbers and the United States is actually the second-highest viewing country I have. So something has to be done here.
In the future, would you be open to doing a reunion tour with CNCO?
I'd love to. There are some people who couldn't come to our shows. [back then]. It wouldn't just be for us to enjoy the good old days, but to give those good old days to people who have never been a part of them, to people who want to relive those times, or to those fans who now have a child and want to introduce them to the music they grew up listening to. I'm not sure where the guys' heads are at right now, but I think it would be a good idea.
Now that they are all solo, each member could have a section of the tour to perform their own songs as well.
That would be sick! We could create an EP or an album without any label involved. We could create music from where we are and from what our hearts say, so that fans can connect with us even more. They already connected with us on such an extreme level back then, but connecting with music that is so much more vulnerable and real to us would be something they would go crazy for. It would be great to show our solo work too, so it's a great celebration of different things.
