Natalia Lafourcade, Carlos Santana and Edgar Barrera have joined forces on “Hermano,” a song that confronts racism, discrimination against immigrants and violence while searching for hope. Released October 29, the collaboration combines son jarocho, the traditional folk style from Mexico’s Veracruz state, with Santana’s distinctive guitar sound.
The song emerged from conversations between Santana and Barrera about the guitarist’s next album. They wanted to address the increasingly hostile climate faced by immigrants, an issue Barrera says Santana has connected to the socially conscious spirit of rock music. Santana’s own experiences of racism in the United States, including during the era when he performed at Woodstock in 1969, informed the song’s wider concerns.
Lafourcade was invited to help shape the collaboration. She arrived at a Miami studio with the first verses, which began as a more melancholic ballad about broken human bonds and violence between people who should regard one another as brothers. She and Barrera developed the chorus and refined the song before presenting it to Santana.
For Lafourcade, the song’s central question is why people wage war, shoot at or mistreat one another if humanity is ultimately connected. Although its subject is painful, she and Barrera wanted “Hermano” to offer more than a protest: its message was also intended to create space for light, reflection, conversation and hope.
Barrera sees a link between Santana’s generation and the concerns facing Latin American communities today. He recalled Santana describing how people in the United States mocked him for being Mexican and questioned his ability to play rock music in English. Barrera said racism and inequality toward Latin Americans have persisted across generations, making it important to give those experiences a voice.
Lafourcade also described music as an artistic responsibility. Drawing on an idea associated with Mercedes Sosa, she said songs can raise awareness and awaken people’s minds, souls and spirits. Singing “Hermano” makes her sad because of the reality behind its lyrics, but she considers performing it necessary.
Barrera said his sense of responsibility has grown as his songs reach larger audiences, particularly since becoming a father. He thinks about the messages children may hear in the music and views his role as helping artists express themselves while also representing people who lack a public voice. The collaboration with Santana and Lafourcade, he said, seeks to make at least a small difference through its purpose.
The song also continues Lafourcade’s reflection on how music can acquire meanings beyond its creators. Speaking about the way migrant communities embraced “Hasta la Raíz,” she said songs can accompany people through circumstances the songwriter could never anticipate. Once released, she added, a song may become part of a community rather than belonging solely to the artist.
“Hermano” marks another collaboration between Santana and Barrera. Barrera is also heading into the 2026 Latin Grammys with 10 nominations, including Song of the Year for “Mi Gran Amor,” his collaboration with Becky G and Santana.
Sources: Consequence.