Latin Artist on the Rise: Meet Ed Maverick, Who’s About to Take His Folk-Pop Melodies to Coachella
Eduardo Hernández Saucedo, better known as Ed Maverick, is a self-taught musician. At the age of 15, the Mexican singer-songwriter turned to the Internet to learn how to play guitar. "All of a sudden, I realized I was actually getting good at playing guitar and that I was progressing after watching tutorials," Ed tells Billboard.
Two years later, he wrote his first song, which he never recorded. His second song "Te quiero" is featured in his debut album Mix Para Llorar En Tu Cuarto (which roughly translates to a Mix For You To Cry to in Your Room).
In a reggaetón-dominating music world, Ed, now 19 years old, stands out for his norteño-tinged folk-pop melodies and his blunt and raw lyrics that typically tell stories of love and heartbreak challenging stereotypes of male sensitivity.
"When I started writing and recording, it was just because I wanted to express what I was feeling. I didn't have a plan or anything like that. It sort of just happened," Ed shares.
The Chihuahua, Mexico native — who became a viral sensation on YouTube with some videos, like "Fuentes de Ortiz," surpassing 40 million views — grew up listening to artists like Joan Sebastian, Juan Gabriel and Leo Dan. As a teen, he discovered bachata music and became a fan of Romeo Santos and Aventura.
"When I was in high school, I bought a Romeo Santos CD and to this day, my mom has it in her truck's CD player. So, every time she turns on the truck, she blasts Romeo Santos songs," he says.
While he still enjoys the bachata tunes, his playlist now includes artists like Tame Impala, Cuco, The Marías and Tyler, the Creator.
Slated to make his Coachella debut in April, when Ed got word from his manager that he had been booked for the music fest in Indio, California, he couldn't believe it: "I was doing a soundcheck at a concert when my manager called and said, 'I have to send you something.' What he sent was the contract to perform at Coachella and I replied 'is this real?' I feel like I'm not as excited as I should be, though. I'm always like that. When I perform on a big stage, I don't get nervous/excited until the day of."
Learn more about this week's Latin Artist on the Rise below.
Name: Eduardo Hernández Saucedo
Age: 19
Major Accomplishment: "I would say getting played on KEXP. I'm a big fan of the station, so getting played on there has been a major accomplishment."
Recommended Song: "Ropa de Bazar"
What's Next: Ed is confirmed to play in major music festivals including his Coachella debut in April, and multiple fests across Mexico including Vive Latino and Pa'l Norte.