Santander Continues His Solo Rise With New Single “Once Again”
Venezuelan singer-songwriter Santander is continuing his transition from behind-the-scenes hitmaker to recording artist with “Once Again,” a slow-burning fusion of Latin pop and Afro-influenced rhythms built around desire, uncertainty and the possibility that one late-night connection may never happen twice.
Produced by Lauro, the single follows “Peliculear,” released in July, and continues Santander’s latest chapter under Universal Music Latino. Rather than making an aggressive stylistic introduction, the Venezuelan artist is building his identity gradually, leaning into melody, conversational songwriting and the Caribbean-rooted rhythmic sensibility increasingly shaping contemporary Latin pop.
“Once Again” carries some of that tension directly in its production. The track pairs a relaxed Afro-Latin pulse with melodic elements inspired by the polished pop productions of the 1990s, creating a nostalgic backdrop without turning the record into a retro exercise. Santander has cited watching the Luis Miguel series and revisiting the piano arrangements and cinematic productions associated with that era as part of the song’s inspiration.
That reference point is important. While Latin pop continues to absorb Afrobeat, Caribbean and urbano influences, Santander approaches that convergence from the perspective of a songwriter rather than simply following a production trend. “Once Again” uses those rhythms as a foundation while keeping storytelling at the center.
The song revolves around longing for someone he may not see again, but Santander avoids treating that uncertainty as straightforward heartbreak. Instead, jealousy, humor and flirtation move through the record, including the line, “Ayer soñé que ya estabas casada / No sabes el show que yo prendí en la entrada.” The result feels closer to an overheard conversation than an oversized romantic declaration.
That ability to make small moments memorable has already been tested well beyond Santander’s own catalog.
Before his current solo push, the Venezuelan songwriter built credits alongside artists including Danny Ocean, Kapo, Fonseca, Ozuna, Rawayana, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso and others. BMI highlighted Santander earlier this year as a Venezuelan singer-songwriter whose growing writing résumé includes work across contemporary Latin pop.
One of the clearest examples is Danny Ocean and Kapo’s “Imagínate,” which lists Carlos Santander among its songwriters. The collaboration eventually reached No. 1 on Billboard’s overall Latin Airplay chart after previously topping Latin Pop Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay.
That résumé changes the context surrounding “Once Again.” Santander is not entering the artist conversation without evidence that his songwriting can translate commercially. The more consequential question is whether the instincts that helped shape records for other performers can become the foundation of a recognizable catalog under his own name.
It is a transition Latin music has seen before, but one that remains difficult to execute. Successful songwriters understand structure, hooks and the mechanics of collaboration; becoming an artist requires something different — an identity audiences can recognize across multiple releases. With “Peliculear” followed closely by “Once Again,” Santander appears to be treating this stage less like a one-song launch and more like the construction of a musical language.
The timing also places him inside a broader Venezuelan presence in contemporary Latin pop. Artists such as Danny Ocean have helped demonstrate how Venezuelan songwriting can move fluidly between pop, urbano and Caribbean sounds without being confined to one genre. Santander’s own connection to that ecosystem is already tangible through “Imagínate,” giving his solo emergence an interesting generational dimension.
“Once Again” therefore works as more than another introduction. Where Santander’s songwriting résumé established his value inside the studio, this new phase asks audiences to connect those instincts to his voice, personality and perspective.
That distinction will ultimately determine the scale of his next chapter.
With Universal Music Latino behind the current rollout and additional music expected, the next several releases should provide a clearer picture of how Santander intends to position himself: as a songwriter expanding into performance or as a fully developed Latin pop artist capable of building a distinct lane of his own.
For now, “Once Again” suggests the latter is the objective — pairing the songwriting discipline already present in his career with an increasingly defined sound rooted in Latin pop, Afro-Caribbean rhythm and nostalgia.
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