Adrian Quesada

Adrian Quesada operates at the intersection of vintage soul, Latin rhythms, and modern production sensibility, reshaping what border music can mean in the 21st century. The Austin-based multi-instrumentalist and producer first gained recognition as guitarist for Grupo Fantasma, the Latin funk outfit that secured a Grammy in 2011 for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. His production fingerprints extend across projects with Spanish Gold and the Echocentrics, but his most significant vehicle remains the Black Pumas, the psychedelic soul duo he formed with vocalist Eric Burton in 2018. Their self-titled debut earned three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year for "Colors".

Quesada's sonic palette draws from cumbia, Chicano soul, Ethiopian jazz, and dubbed-out funk, filtered through analogue gear and tape saturation. His 2022 solo album Boleros Psicodélicos reimagined classic boleros through lysergic textures and Fender Rhodes haze, cementing his role as archivist and transformer of Latin American music traditions. Within Austin's cultural landscape, he functions as connector between communities, translating heritage into contemporary language without dilution.