He began his career as a child prodigy, capturing national attention in Spain for his remarkable vocal talent and releasing his debut album at just ten years old.[2] Mateo rose to international prominence in 2013 with the breakout hit "Señorita", which established him as a rising star in Latin pop.[9][10][11][12]
Notably, Mateo is the youngest solo male artist to reach number one on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart.[23] In addition to his success as a performer, he has built a respected career as a music producer and has toured extensively throughout Spain and Latin America.[24]
Beginnings
Abraham Mateo was born on 25 August 1998 in San Fernando, Cádiz. He grew up in a musical family: his maternal grandfather was a church choir tenor, his paternal grandfather a flamenco singer, and his mother sang Spanish music. His older brother Tony also sings and plays music. Abraham began singing at age three, imitating Operación Triunfo performances, with early vocal coaching from his mother. He later took singing lessons and learned flute at six, piano at eight, and guitar at ten, teaching himself by ear.[25][26]
At seven, he participated in the Veo Veo children's music festival in Andalusia, organized by the Teresa Rabal Foundation, and two years later won the national revelation award.[6][27] In 2008, he joined the Andalusian TV show "Menuda Noche" on Canal Sur TV, where performed for over four years. There, he sang emblematic Spanish songs, performed with Raphael, and sang before artists like Juan Luis Guerra and David Bisbal.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
Mateo performing in 2010 at a charity event in his native San Fernando
In 2014, he launched a national tour with over 40 concerts in Spain[53][54] and opened for One Direction during their Where We Are Tour in Spain and Latin America.[55] He also performed for the first time in Latin America, including shows in Chile and at Luna Park in Buenos Aires.[56][57]That November, his first biography, I.AM., was published by Montena (Penguin Random House).[58]
Mateo and the Mexican boyband CD9 at an autograph-signing event in Ecatepec, Mexico, April 2015
His third album, Who I AM, fused pop, ballads, and R&B with funk influences.[15] It debuted at number five in Spain (Platinum) and reached number one in Mexico.[16][17][19] The single “All the Girls (La La La)” became a hit in Spain and Brazil, with its video named Best Music Video by VEVO Spain.[59][60][61][62][63] Mateo toured extensively across Latin America, performing at major venues such as Luna Park and Arena Ciudad de México.[64][65][66]
Mateo performing in Valladolid during his Are You Ready? Tour in May 2016
In 2015, he recorded his fourth album, Are You Ready?, in London and Los Angeles with producers like Poo Bear and Jörgen Elofsson.[67][68] Released in November, the album introduced a more mature sound, mixing pop, R&B, and bilingual ballads. It debuted at number three in Spain (Gold) and number seven in Mexico.[69][70][71][72] Singles included “Old School,” “When You Love Somebody,” and “Mueve” featuring Lali.[73][74][75]
2017–2021: Transition to urban music and positioning in Latin America
In 2017, Mateo embarked on a new phase in his career, adopting a more urban and Latin sound while maintaining elements of his Spanish roots. He began working with managers Armando Lozano and Edgar Andino to support his internationalization efforts.[84] That same year, he released "Loco Enamorado" featuring Puerto Rican artists Farruko and Christian Daniel.[85][86] The track became a breakout hit across Latin America and the U.S., reaching #6 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Songs and charting on Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, Latin Rhythm Airplay, and Mexico Airplay.[87][88][89] It was certified 4× Platinum (US Latin), 2× Platinum in Spain and Mexico, and Platinum or Gold in several other countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.[20][90][91][92][93]
Later in 2017, Mateo released “Háblame Bajito”, featuring rap icon 50 Cent and pop singer Austin Mahone. The video premiered exclusively on Billboard, and the single was certified Platinum (US Latin) and Gold in Spain and Argentina.[22][94] In early 2018, he received a nomination for Best New Latin Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, reflecting his growing impact in the Latin music world.[95] Later that year, he scored his first Billboard Latin Airplay number one with "Se Acabó El Amor", alongside Jennifer Lopez and Yandel, becoming the youngest male artist to top that chart.[96][97] The single went Platinum in the U.S. cementing his position within the Latin urban genre.[98] Additionally, he collaborated on “Jungle” with Pitbull, "30 de Febrero" with Ha*Ash, and participated in the remix of “Quiéreme” with Farruko, Jacob Forever, and Lary Over.[99][100][101]
During his XIII Tour promoting the album A Cámara Lenta, Mateo performed in Spain, Argentina (including Luna Park and Teatro Gran Rex), Uruguay, and Peru, and held showcases in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.[102][103][104][105][106] In Mexico, he toured with Mau y Ricky, performing at venues such as the Pepsi Center, Auditorio Telmex, and Auditorio Metropolitano.[107][108][109] He also performed at the Festival Presidente in the Dominican Republic and held a concert in Miami during Formula 1 events.[110][111]
In 2019, Mateo released “Me Vuelvo Loco” with CNCO and “¿Qué Ha Pasao?” with Sofía Reyes as previews of his sixth studio album, Sigo a lo Mío, released in 2020.[112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120] The album features collaborations with Manuel Turizo and Becky G, and includes the track “Esta Cuarentena,” written during the COVID-19 pandemic.[121][122][123][124][125] The title track addresses the online harassment Mateo experienced during his adolescence.[126][127][128] That year, he released “Qué Será” with Leslie Grace, collaborated with Omar Montes and Lérica on “Pegamos Tela,” which became a hit in Spain, and participated in the charity single “Pa’ La Cultura,” led by David Guetta.[129][130][131]
2022–present: Return to pop and consolidation in Spain
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Abraham Mateo refocused his career on the Spanish market with the goal of consolidating his position as an adult pop artist. During this period, he embraced a sound rooted in modern pop with electronic elements and influences from the 1980s and 1990s.[132][133][134][135][136]
In 2022, he released Quiero decirte with Ana Mena, which was certified four times platinum in Spain.[137][138][139] In 2023, he achieved widespread success with Clavaíto, a bachata-infused collaboration with Chanel. The track reached six-times platinum status and won Best Collaboration at the LOS40 Music Awards.[140][141]
In April 2024, Mateo released Insomnio, a studio album that blends Latin pop, electronic sounds, and urban rhythms.[142] The record features collaborations with Sebastián Yatra (XQ Sigues Pensando:(), Danny Ocean (Bailarina), Omar Montes (Falsos Recuerdos), and includes the viral hit Maníaca,[143] a Spanish adaptation of Michael Sembello’s Maniac, as well as La Idea.[144][145][146][147][148] The album was awarded Best Album at the LOS40 Music Awards and received additional nominations for Best Artist and Best Song. It was also nominated for Best Pop Album by the Spanish Academy of Music.[149][150][151]
In 2023, he released Acoustic Home Session, a live acoustic collection of his most representative songs.[168][169] Mateo also expanded his television presence, serving as an adviser on La Voz España (2023), judge on Factor X (2024)—where his act Aye Alfonso won the competition— and winner of Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta (2024).[170][171][172][173][174] He was one of the presenters of RTVE ’s musical talent show Cover Night.[175]
Artistry and public image
Abraham Mateo completed his secondary and high school education through distance learning, partly due to the public exposure of his early career and experiences of bullying in his hometown, San Fernando. As a teenager, he became a prominent teen pop figure in Spain and Latin America, with a devoted fan base known as “Abrahamers.”[176][177][178] His early rise drew comparisons to Justin Bieber, and Billboard described him as a “wunderkind” who “sounds and dances a lot like Michael Jackson.”[179]
Despite his popularity, Mateo faced criticism and online bullying from influencers and YouTubers who mocked his public image. In Spain, he was often perceived as a child-focused artist, which affected his credibility and led him to focus more on his international career, particularly in Latin America and the U.S.[180][181][182]
In 2015, he was pranked on a TV charity special into believing Michael Jackson wanted to record a duet with him. Though meant as a joke, the segment drew widespread attention and reinforced public mockery.[183][184][185]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
