Colombia's Heredero Elevates Carranga Music To Global Heights
Within Colombia’s music scene, Heredero (real name Féizar Orjuela) grabbed a once overlooked regional genre ‒ carranga ‒ and pushed it into the spotlight. With his viral track “Coqueta,” he rewrites industry norms and amazes fans throughout Latin America beyond touching listeners globally.
A Carranga Breakthrough
In late 2024, Colombian music charts experienced an unprecedented shift: the track “Coqueta” by Heredero rocketed to No. 1 on Spotify’s official 50 Colombia chart. This was the first time in history that a carranga song, a rural Andean genre, had beaten out the reggaetón powerhouses that usually hold the top spots—such as Karol G and Feid. Fans, radio hosts, and industry insiders alike were stunned by the viral ascent of a folk-inspired track, particularly one strongly linked to the Colombian countryside.
Carranga—sometimes called música campesina—originates from the Andean regions of Boyacá and Santander. Traditionally, it relies on acoustic instruments such as the requinto, requintilla, guacharaca, and guitar, producing an earthy sound that Colombia’s more commercial dance genres have often overshadowed. Yet, as Heredero’s milestone chart triumph suggests, a new generation of listeners is increasingly hungry for music that embraces simple, authentic roots.
For Heredero, the success of “Coqueta” signals more than just a personal victory. In an interview with Billboard —quoted here with permission—he emphasized how the genre’s sudden recognition underscores its untapped mainstream potential. “Es totalmente la suma de esfuerzos, de dedicación, de amor por la cultura musical campesina, de años, de generaciones,” he said, celebrating the rich legacy behind carranga.
That heritage is now resonating with millions worldwide. On TikTok alone, “Coqueta” has inspired over 1.9 million videos, including posts by J Balvin, Valentina Ferrer, Jay Wheeler, and Zhamira Zambrano. On Instagram, more than 55,000 reels feature the track. Each new piece of content further expands carranga’s reach, proving that uplifting, fiddle-infused country rhythms can capture hearts as easily as any reggaetón beat—perhaps precisely because they represent something pure and deeply real to listeners.
From Santander to Global Charts
Born in Macaravita, Santander, Heredero—whose real name is Féizar Orjuela—grew up in a household that lived and breathed creativity. His father was a carranguero musician who passed down his love of music, while his mother, a teacher, was equally dedicated to the written word. Speaking about those formative years, Heredero recounted how nights without electricity led him to watch his mother work by candlelight, scribbling poems and short stories. Even if he did not realize it then, those dimly lit lessons molded his skill in composing lyrics that blend romantic sentiment with regional pride.
While carranga has always been a niche staple in Colombia’s Andean highlands, few could have predicted that “Coqueta,” which appears on his third album (distributed by ONErpm), would explode beyond a local audience. Part of the track’s charm comes from its breezy, pastoral feel—what Heredero calls “el country de Estados Unidos, pero de acá,” underscoring the parallels between Colombian carranga and American country. When asked about the secret to the single’s popularity, he said that fans respond to “cosas reales” (real things) rather than heavily curated images or synthetic sounds.
“Quizás en su momento se pensaba, y funcionaba, tienes que tener piel de bebé, tienes que proyectar no sé qué,” he told Billboard, reflecting on the music industry’s focus on image. “Ahora estamos consumiendo cosas reales… Yo solo soy, yo soy un puente.” True to his words, Heredero maintains a down-to-earth persona: “No me coloque, no me le haga retoque, que no me lo coloque filtro,” he says, instructing photographers to avoid retouching his pictures. Authentic expressions ‒ no shiny filters or fake smiles ‒ strongly connect with audiences, from rural Colombia to global fans who may find it refreshing in a place filled with polished pop star facades.
Transforming Tradition Into Modern Hits
While “Coqueta” was lighting up social media, Heredero began receiving calls from industry figures intrigued by the track’s unstoppable momentum. Among those reaching out was popular singer Jessi Uribe, a significant voice in Colombian música popular. Uribe’s success in that genre (somewhere between ranchera and mainstream pop) was a springboard when he agreed to collaborate on a remix of “Coqueta.”
“When we started, Jessi said: ‘Quiero que siga sabiendo a carranga. Yo no quiero que hagamos una ranchera‘—he wanted the original flavor preserved,” Heredero revealed. Indeed, the resulting collaboration delivered an authentic carranga sound enriched by Uribe’s powerful vocals. The star cameo rocketed the track onto playlists across Latin America and the United States, fueling a spike in global streams.
The remix marked a breakthrough for arrange as a genre, exposing it to listeners who had never heard the twanging chords of a requinto or the scratchy rasp of a guacharo. “Inmediatamente al siguiente día estábamos en las tendencias o dentro de las virales en Chile, en Centroamérica, en Estados Unidos, en España,” recalled Heredero. That surge catapulted him and carranga onto a larger stage, showcasing the universal resonance in spirited country-like sounds everywhere.
Beyond “Coqueta,” Heredero’s discography underscores the emotional and narrative range that carranga can offer. Though often grounded in rural life, his songs tackle universal themes like love, heartbreak, pride, and cultural identity. Each recording pays homage to the Andean countryside’s warmth, tying in folksy chord progressions that echo the region’s rolling hills and earthy culture. It’s music made for dancing in communal celebrations, yet it suits introspective moments, too—an intersection that continues to draw listeners from diverse backgrounds.
Dreams of a Grammy for Carranga
With success mounting and fans clamoring for more, Heredero has no intention of slowing down. Though he remains faithful to carranga’s earthy structure, he envisions a broader future for the style. His ultimate dream? “¡Un Grammy para la carranga!” he told Billboard, radiating optimism for the genre’s upward path. “Son cosas que se pueden dar, pero si las trabajas totalmente. Si le metes empeño, corazón…”
This grassroots musical form once seemed relegated to farmland parties or local festivals in a country long dominated by other rhythms—especially cumbia, vallenato, salsa, and now reggaetón. But Heredero sees no reason to stop at Colombian borders. He pictures carranga resonating far beyond the Andean highlands, perhaps following in the footsteps of norteño and banda from Mexico or American bluegrass, transforming humble regional styles into full-fledged global phenomena.
His family’s legacy provides him with both motivation and grounding. Despite glowing headlines and the sudden swirl of interest from major labels and festival promoters, he remains adamant about preserving the authenticity of his roots. “Procuro honrarme a mí mismo la promesa que me hice… de que la carranga crezca, se conozca,” he said. He points to the potential for rural Colombia to become a wellspring of creative innovation so long as local artists are given the tools to record, distribute, and publicize their work.
Another factor fueling carranga’s rise is the hunger for music that counters popular genres’ sometimes hyper-polished, industrial vibe. The authenticity in the twang of a live-recorded requinto or the raw sound of an unfiltered singer underscores what fans worldwide now crave: the feeling that real humans, telling real stories, are behind each note. As the digital realm flattens geographical divides, small towns can become big players in shaping cultural trends. Heredero’s meteoric rise stands as living proof of that.
Meanwhile, communities in Colombia’s rural heartlands have embraced “Coqueta” as an anthem of pride. Families dance to it at countryside gatherings, tickled by the notion that their everyday music has reached an audience once captivated primarily by reggaetón. Numerous fans recount that the song brings back thoughts of trips to farms, grandparents humming carranga tunes in fields, plus carnival nights in village squares. This nostalgia feels homegrown and universal ‒ connecting generations in shared heritage celebrations.
As for what comes next, Heredero plans to keep refining his sound, possibly experimenting with subtle cross-genre fusion always careful not to dilute the essence of carranga. He’s also keen on grassroots initiatives to encourage the next wave of musicians from towns like Macaravita. A scene of talented carrangueros might be waiting in the wings, ready to follow his lead into the national and international spotlight.
When asked during his Billboard interview about a potential collaboration with global icons outside the Latin genre, Heredero answered with a grin: “¿Por qué no? Esto es como el country de Estados Unidos, pero hecho aquí. Imagina fusionarlo con estrellas del country o el folk. Sería hermoso.” Such a partnership could unleash a sonic blend that appeals to fans of both American country and Colombian folk, pushing boundaries even further.
Ultimately, “Coqueta” is more than just a hit single—it’s a gateway to a genre that has long nourished Colombia’s highland culture but rarely traveled so far. By blending heartfelt storytelling, crisp production, and old-school authenticity, Heredero has breathed new life into an art form once associated mainly with grandparent gatherings and local festivities. His success also speaks volumes about the shifting nature of global music consumption: in a world connected by social media, the most remote-sounding style can find a captive audience overnight.
As 2025 unfolds, Heredero’s name continues to echo across digital platforms and radio stations. Whether he eventually steps onto a Grammy stage or stays rooted in local festivals, he’s carved a path few dared imagine possible for carranga. Each new listener plus every new stage gives him a chance to wave his region’s cultural flag high. He shows that even simple folk traditions win hearts from Bogotá to Barcelona ‒ plus far beyond.
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One takeaway From this remarkable story is that music thrives on authenticity at its core. Audiences are increasingly drawn to the genuine, the heartfelt, and the intimate human. For Heredero—and carranga—the future looks bright. He leads a group of performers eager to move from candlelit home studios into the global spotlight. They carry guitar requintos, plus a strong dedication to honoring their heritage ‒ one country-style chord each time.
