Who is the young music producer who appears as the new Bizarrap

He is 23 years old and lives in Morón, in the same western zone of the Buenos Aires suburbs from which today's maximum reference for music that comes from the suburbs emerged: Bizarrap.

His name is Gonzalo Fontana.

Known more and more under his stage name Phontana, this young musician is behind most of Rei's successes, one of the great figures of Argentine urban music, who is his partner and friend. BM, the cumbia artist whom he promoted as

with the song MA (Mejores Amigos).  

The son of musicians, Gonzalo had contact with notes and instruments since childhood. In 2018 he began to study a

at the University of Tres de Febrero and little by little he became increasingly interested in the role of producer. 

In the middle of 2020, in the middle of the coronavirus quarantine, his career took the first leap when he played a key role so that Rei began to gain

on the networks with his first songs.

Working together, that year they released the single Pininfarina, which months later would have a second version based on a remix together with two of the most important stars of national trap: Duki

His Spotify profile has over 4 million monthly streams.

(Photo: "Imruso"/Leonardo Puga.

The single was certified Platinum when it exceeded

, being the first time that a Phontana song was positioned at the top of the music platform charts.

And

Gonzalo started his musical training like many do when they are kids: with

As an adult, with the investigation of digital tools, he began to shape his dream of living from music.

In the footsteps of Skrillex

"When I started rehearsing with bands, like all young people, I realized that we didn't all have the same idea. I wanted to grow up and live from this. That's when I discovered (the American ragpicker) Skrillex, who came to play in the country and It blew my mind. With his inspiration, I set out to learn to combine and put everything together on my own. That was what helped me expand," he recalls about his first steps. 

Phontana not only learned, but was able to put an imprint on her work.

From his studies, he began to find a sound that the public easily recognizes today: basically it is distinguished by the

, among which a

of course.

With this essence, he collaborated in the creation of songs such as "Fernet" by

in duo with 

, "Aros 20" by his partner together with Obie Wanshot, "Actitud" by

, and "Quisiera Remix" by Lautaro López, Today accumulates a

Gonzalo with his friend and partner, Rei: since 2020 he has produced several of his biggest hits.

Eager to grow and continue generating hits, Phontana gained experience as a DJ and

live

In that role, on March 19, he shone in Rei's presentation

, sharing the bill with his great reference, Skrillex, included in the event's line up.

"Lollapalooza for me was a

: it started from the moment I went as a spectator and dreamed of making my music there. Since I found out I was going to accompany Julian (Rei), with whom we started this together, it was to be part of a party with a friend with whom we dreamed of being there", says the young producer.

"I dreamed of Lolla since I was in the audience. It was a party to accompany my friend," says the young producer about his presentation with Rei.

His task was to control the "Auto tune", a famous and sometimes questioned effect to correct the pitch of the voice, widely spread in world pop music several years ago.

In defense of Auto Tune

It was a very big responsibility, because he was in charge of the main voice of the recital.

According to his experience, it is a very technical task and not at all easy, contrary to everything that is thought of this digital tool. 

"Auto Tune is an aesthetic issue that goes beyond knowing how to sing. To use it, it is essential to know how to sing, not everyone can handle it. The idea of ​​this supplement is to be able to give the artist something that helps with the music they make," he explains. .

From a family of musicians, Gonzalo began with the guitar, which gives a special sound to his productions, mixing digital with analog.

And he adds, "All the songs we make have a fundamental note, which is the main note of the song, and this tool brings the artist's voice closer to the scales that you request automatically. If you put it on the handle, it comes out robotic. Although there are also other programs to correct."

He was the producer of one of the biggest hits of summer 2023: “MA (Mejores Amigos)”, by BM, a song that was published in September 2022 and has more than 80 million views on YouTube and about 50 million on Spotify.

It was perhaps the best result of Phontana's entrepreneurial capacity and good vision for discovering new talents. As soon as she met the

she did not hesitate to produce an urban music song for him. 

Two weeks after its premiere, the song on YouTube Argentina's trends and with time and the impulse that Tik Tok users gave it, became one of the 50 most listened to on Spotify worldwide: it reached the Top 1 of that platform in countries like Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Chile.

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The success is sustained: this April 10 number 5 in the Argentine Hot 100 of Billboard, the ranking of the historic American music magazine in the country. 

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