Johann Alexander Vera Tapia (December 4, 1995) better known as Johann Vera, is an Ecuadorian singer, songwriter, and actor from Guayaquil.[1]
He started his career at 10 years old by participating in the RCN show Factor X alongside Camilo and Greeicy. He then participated in La Banda, a reality TV-Show created by Ricky Martin and Simon Cowell. In both instances, he ended up in the finalists group.
Working as an independent artist, he has released various singles such as “Donde Nací”, “Vuelo a París” and “Pretty Girl”,[2] and appeared on TV Shows such as Disney Channel's Champeta, Nickelodeon's Club 57, Kally's Mash Up, among others.
On 2020, Vera represented Ecuador on the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, winning a "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull) award; The second ever received by an Ecuadorian artist.[3]
Personal life
Johann Alexander Vera Tapia was born on Guayaquil, December 4, 1995 to Jayo Vera and Shirley Tapia. He has a younger sister named Stephanie and an older brother named Christian.
When Johann turned six, the family moved to Bogotá, where he lived for the next 10 years and met most of his lifelong friends. During his time in Colombia he participated on Factor X and later joined MISI, a well known arts academy.[4]
Graduating high school at 15 years old, he moved to the United States, where he could better pursue his life-long dream. He worked as an extra on TV shows and commercials; but his life changed on 2015 when he joined La Banda by Univisión.
As of 2022, he resides in Miami, Florida and remains working as an independent artist. He has been releasing music every year, acting, and posting on his YouTube channel.[4]
Career
Vera got started as a singer at the age of nine on the RCN show Factor X, where his position as finalist, alongside Camilo and Greeicy, allowed him to access a scholarship to the MISI arts academy. After moving to the US, he participated on the 2015 Univisión show La Banda where he worked with notorious singers such as Ricky Martin, Simon Cowell, Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini.[1]
In August 2016, he released his first independent single and music video, "Pretty Girl (Tu Canción)".[2] The video was mostly recorded in Los Angeles. Later in that year, he also released a single called "Tíralo" with the music video being recorded in Bogota, Colombia.
Johann Vera - Premios Disco Rojo 2022
In 2017, he released another single, this time with a more sentimental note: "Vuelo a París". The music video was recorded in New York City. That same year he released "Ojo por Ojo" on his birthday.
In 2018 he released the song "Nervioso" with the adjacent video recorded in Japan. That year he also became the first Ecuadorian artist to ever sing on an awards ceremony on the United States by releasing his single "Astronauta" on Univision's Premios Juventud.[5]
In 2019 he followed up with "Ahogando". The music video was directed and produced by Vera himself. Being shot in various locations on the Ecuadorian coast, we can see the appearance of 2 notable Ecuadorian celebrities, Nathaly Quiñonez and Michela Pincay.
On February 13, 2020 he released "Perdón", which was the one chosen for him to sing on the Viña del Mar International Song Festival 2020, The largest Latin American Music Award. His performance awarded him a "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull) award. Later that year he released “En Donde Están”.
On 2021, Vera released “Me Tienes Mal” and “Inevitable”. The latter ended up on Ecuador's top charts for several weeks on that same year. Additionally, the music video was recorded alongside her longtime friend Paula Galindo (commonly known as Pautips) on their former school in Colombia.[6] That same year, Johann finished up the taping of "Kally's Mashup ¡Un cumpleaños muy Kally!" and “Club 57”.[6]
On 2022, Vera was inspired to create a new Ecuador inspired FIFA World Cup song that reached top charts on the country. “Donde Nací” was adopted by Ecuadorian fans as the unofficial team cheer in this year’s cup. The song has been used in thousands of TikTok and Instagram videos including some by influential Ecuadorian figures such as Guillermo Lasso. One of the most viral songs of the season.[7]
Discography
Singles and EPs
Year
Title
Notes
2016
Pretty Girl (Tu Canción)
Pretty Girl (This One's For You) [Spanglish Version]
Tiralo
2017
Tiralo (The RNWY Remix)
Vuelo a París
Flight to Paris
Ojo por Ojo
2018
Nervioso
Astronauta
2019
Ahogando
2020
Perdón
En Dónde Están?
2021
En Dónde Están? (Acústico)
Inevitable
Inevitable (English Live Session)
Me Tienes Mal
2022
El Profe
Song released in collaboration with Brray and Jd Patoja
