In the past 14 months, Camilo Echeverry released two chart-topping albums, placed eight hits on Billboard’s global charts and two top 10s on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.
What he wasn’t able to do was tour.
Sidelined by the pandemic, the rising Colombian pop star saw his streaming numbers and social following and engagement explode, but his touring dreams were placed firmly on hold. Until now.
On May 21, tickets go on sale for Camilo’s first-ever U.S. outing, the Mis Manos (My Hands) tour, so titled after his recently-released album. The tour, produced by Loud and Live, hits theaters in 14 cities, beginning with Miami, Oct. 22 at the Filmore and ending Dec. 3 at the Coca-Cola Theater in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“This is the first time I’m going on stage to perform my songs with my band,” Camilo tells Billboard. “The expectation of looking my fans in the eye, and having them look into my eyes and sing those songs, which are anthems of hope, makes this an almost mystical encounter.”
Because Camilo has been a frequent collaborator with the likes of Ozuna, Shakira and Karol G, it’s likely he’ll have different guests in several stops. But a “fundamental” guest will be wife Evaluna Montaner, also a recording artist, who will perform with him in as many stops as her schedule permits.
“My music doesn’t exist with Evaluna; more than a guest, she’s a living part of every one of my songs,” says Camilo.
Hope and love have always been the unifying the thread not only of Camilo’s music but his very persona. At a time where hard core reggaetón dominates the charts and twerking dancers dominate music videos, Camilo has stood out with music that frequently has reggaetón beats but leans more pop and innocent, celebrating love and life rather than sex and perreo. It’s allowed the 27-year-old singer and songwriter to stand out in a crowded field, and now, to tour solo after just a year on the market, an anomaly in Latin music.
And although Camilo has often performed in major events and festivals, he’s always done so only with his guitar.
“This will be the first time I get on stage to sing my songs with my band. With the band I’ve dreamed. It’s a very key ingredient,” he says.
The five piece band includes a multi percussionist, a guitarist/tres/ukulele player, a bass player, keyboardist and Camilo, who also plays cuatro and guitars, “defending” the fort.
“Up to now, I’ve always defended my songs as I wrote them: with my guitar and my voice,” he laughs. “Even I haven’t seen myself play with a band.”
Don’t think for a minute, though, that this will be some improvised show. Camilo is meticulous in both his music and his messaging and aesthetic (as anyone who follows him on social media knows).
He’s used his pandemic downtime to build a show around the concept of the “tribe,” the name he’s given his fans and the people that surround him.
Although this is a theatrical tour, outfits, lighting and props–even the texture of the floors—have been carefully thought out.
However, the core remains “those songs that have never been sung together by human beings in the same physical space,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how many photos and Tik Toks you post, I’m a person with a very clear need to share live memories with people. That’s the key ingredient.”
