Listen to “VELAS” here
LOS ANGELES (November 6) — Rock icon Carlos Santana and Mexican Music superstar Carín León collide in “VELAS”, a sensual track that celebrates devotion and heartfelt surrender. The single is available today across all digital platforms.
The production of “VELAS” blends Carlos Santana’s unmistakable guitar, with a rich fusion of genres and textures spanning soul, R&B, rock, and pop, all driven by flamenco handclap percussion and a hypnotic urban beat that infuses every note with sensuality.
Written and produced by 26-time Latin GRAMMY® winner Edgar Barrera, the song is a true ode to desire and faith expressed through love.
Additionally, the track draws on the spirituality behind candles in Latin culture, a connection that personally resonates with Santana. “For me, candles have a frequency that connects you with the spirit,” said the guitarist.
“This song is about something that both God and humans love; it’s called romance,” Carlos Santana said. “Romance is a bridge between humans and God. We all pray for something, to God or the universe. What I hope people will feel when they hear this song is that they want to give each other a hug. There’s so much negativity in the world right now that we need a hug of light.”
For Carín León, the symbolism of the song lies in “the act of asking God for that person.” “This connection that we Latinos have with our spirituality, beyond religion, as part of our popular culture—and portraying it in a modern way,” the singer added.
“Beyond the fact that I get to collaborate with him or give my career this great milestone of being with Carlos Santana, I think what anyone from Mexico, anyone from Latin America, any musician should say is thank you for the art you’ve created and for keeping music alive for so, so many years,” added León.
In “VELAS”, the narrator does more than love their partner—they revere them. Their connection is so profound that they seek divine and spiritual intercession for protection. Throughout the lyrics, various religious figures are invoked—from the Virgin Mary to Muhammad and Buddha, and even La Santa Muerte—showcasing a faith that transcends boundaries.
“VELAS” follows “ME RETIRO”, a collaboration with Mexican group Grupo Frontera. Both tracks, written and produced by Edgar Barrera, are part of Carlos Santana’s new musical project.
ABOUT CARLOS SANTANA
For over five decades, Carlos Santana has been a pioneering force in music, fusing Afro-Latin, blues, rock, and jazz into a sound that transcends genre, culture, and generation. A ten-time GRAMMY and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner, he made history with Supernatural in 1999, earning nine GRAMMYs in a single night—including Album and Record of the Year. He is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a Kennedy Center Honoree, and a recipient of Billboard’s Century and Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Awards. Rolling Stone ranks him #11 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
Santana recently marked the 50th anniversaries of his groundbreaking album Abraxas and his iconic Woodstock performance, as well as 25 years of Supernatural. His latest album, Sentient, features collaborations with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Miles Davis, DMC, and Cindy Blackman Santana. The feature documentary CARLOS, produced by Sony Music Entertainment and Imagine Documentaries, premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming globally. His Las Vegas residency at House of Blues, now in its 14th year, continues to thrill audiences.
Out now: Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender (Insight Editions, 2025)—a visual journey through five decades of artistry, featuring rare photographs and personal archives.
ABOUT CARÍN LEÓN
Carín León has established himself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Latin music since his solo debut in 2018. With a distinctive style that blends regional Mexican music with a diverse range of genres, including pop, rock, and other global sounds, the Hermosillo, Sonora native has won three Latin GRAMMYs®, a GRAMMY®, and several diamond, gold and platinum certifications. His versatility is showcased through high-caliber collaborations with superstars such as Bon Jovi, Carlos Santana, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Maluma, C. Tangana, and Camilo, among others, as well as performances on global stages, including the Grand Ole Opry, Coachella, and Viña del Mar, where he received the gold and silver Gaviota awards. In 2025, he shattered the RODEOHOUSTON’s attendance record and toured Europe with the “Boca Chueca Tour,” and in 2026, he’ll become the first Latin artist to perform at Las Vegas Sphere. Recognized as the global ambassador of Música Mexicana, Carín continues to break barriers and inspire new generations.
