At First, Kapo ‘Didn’t Dare’ to Release Afrobeat Music, But Then He Leaned Into ‘What Truly Made Me Feel Most Unique’

When Kapo released “Ohnana” in summer 2024, his only expectation was to “create music for a niche.” He didn’t hope for much, other than to have a certain number of loyal fans and play shows across a few cities in Colombia.

“My vision was that, but when the song came out, it entered the commercial side in an incredible way,” he tells Billboard. “That’s why I wanted to give my new album a sensible name like ‘in case anyone is listening to us.’”

If “Ohnana’s” success is any indication (the song earned Kapo his first Billboard No. 1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay last fall), a lot of people are listening.

On July 3, Kapo (real name: Juan David Loaiza Sepúlveda) will release his sophomore studio album Por Si Alguien Nos Escucha, home to “Ohnana” and its follow-up hit “UWAIE,” which entered the Hot Latin Songs, Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. last year.

The 15-track set — all composed of the Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae sounds and feel-good lyrics that made Kapo a household name — is a contrast to his debut album Tu OG Favorito (2023) that is more reggaeton-heavy. 

“For a long time, I’d been doing Afrobeat, but I didn’t dare,” the Colombian artist explains. “I had a lot of ideas and colors stored away. On the first album, I explored what I thought might work. … However, the songs that always worked for me were the ones that were very special, like ‘Pelinegra.’ The most personal songs are the ones that work for me. I began giving my music more meaning and to what truly made me feel most unique. This [new] album is a step forward, but more than that, it’s accepting and having the certainty that with my sounds I could achieve great things.” 

Por Si Alguien Nos Escucha includes notable collaborations with Myke Towers, Yandel, Manuel Turizo, Ryan Castro, Rels B, Lion Fiah and Feid on the focus track “X Ti.” 

“I feel like it’s a song that, besides being a great track, is a collaboration we’ve been working on for a long time,” he shares. “Feid is very passionate about music and has been giving us good vibes for a while. I told him a long time ago that I wanted to record a song with him. After ‘Ohnana,’ we managed to connect and get closer. He went into the studio and we created it. It’s a song that I feel will give a twist to what’s happening to me, and it’s one of those dream collaborations.”

Kapo is confirmed for the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week taking place from Oct. 20 to 24, 2025 at the historic Fillmore Miami Beach. Spanning over 30 years, and recognized as the most influential week in Latin music, the event will once again celebrate the heartbeat of Latin music and culture with four days of panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, showcases, networking and activations.

“I really enjoy these spaces to meet with my colleagues, share cultures, experiences, and what’s happening to us. To talk about music and what we like. We’re going to enjoy that week, it’s going to be really cool,” he expresses.

Tickets are on sale now at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com. The full schedule and lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks.