EL PADRINITO TOYS TALKS CRAFTING CULTURE AND CREATIVITY IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

El Padrinito Toys, born Samuel Ibarra Aispuro on August 9, 2006, in Mesa, Arizona, is a 17-year-old regional Mexican artist who has rapidly gained prominence in the Latin music scene. Although he was born in the United States, he moved to Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, at the age of 13, where he became involved in the local music community. His musical journey began in 2022 when he and his friends from the band Legión RH recorded a cover of "El Chamán." The track leaked online, quickly going viral and marking the start of his music career. Following this success, he released singles like "Los Collares" featuring Oscar Maydon and "KLK," which further cemented his status in the industry. At 17, he signed with Interscope Records and has amassed over 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He attributes his success to his dedication and hard work, stating that it hasn't come overnight but is the result of consistent effort.

We, at LCKD Mag, had the opportunity to sit down with the artist at the Interscope Recording Studios to talk to him about his journey, some of his biggest collaborations, and what’s next to come.

LCKD: How did you get the name “El Padrinito Toys”?

EL PADRINITO TOYS: When I was 14 in Culiacan, I was part of a youtube group called "Markito’s Toys". They were the ones that nicknamed “El Padrinito” and my fans started calling me “El Padrinito Toys” since I was part of the Toys group. To this day, I am still a part of the Toys group even though I am out here making music. 

LCKD: How does it feel to be signed with Interscope Records?

EL PADRINITO TOYS: It feels badass to be honest, all thanks to God. We were lucky enough to get the opportunity to come record a few songs here that are coming out soon. It’s really cool to be able to come in here to record comfortably. In Culiacan, where I’m from, I can record at any studio but it is a much different experience to come to the US and work at another type of studio and be able to collaborate with different producers on another level. They work very differently here than they do in Culiacan. 

LCKD: How does it feel being 17 years old and having such a quick rise to fame?

EL PADRINITO TOYS: Sometimes it feels weird, but at the same time, I feel like everyone is at the place they belong in. It wasn’t how people think, where I just recorded a few songs and they were instant hits. This was something that has taken a lot of time and work, not just from me, but from everyone who has been involved in these projects. All those collaborators have helped me a lot. Apart from that, I also have my parents who have been a huge help and supported me with every decision. They said “you want to sing? Go for it”. I do say it's weird though, because when I was younger I always wanted to be someone important and that people would want to listen to, but I didn’t think it would be this fast. Even filming youtube videos, I wasn’t sure how I was going to make the transition into being a singer even though I knew it was what I wanted to do. Then I learned how to make the transition, but even now, there is so much more for me to learn about this industry. 

LCKD: Tell us about your upcoming song with Oscar Ortiz, “2 Pa 2”?

EL PADRINITO TOYS: That song started off as a simple corrido song which later was rerecorded with a heavier electronic beat to make it more upbeat. We also added more lyrics to it to make it what it is now. 

LCKD: How did the song, “Los Collares” with Oscar Maydon come about? 

EL PADRINITO TOYS: Oscar presented me with that song in Culiacan. We knew of each other already because I lived in Mexicali for a while. He came to my 15th birthday party, which was nothing crazy or extravagant, we were just having dinner so I decided to invite him and he pulled up. We spent the whole time talking. I had always been a fan of his because I really liked his voice and his style so during the conversation I told him we should record a song together. He told me he was down and that we could collab after I released a song of mine. About a year later, after I had dropped some music of my own, he presented me with this song. It had taken a bit because we were both trying to find a song we both liked and could hop on together. From the first moment I heard “Los Collares” I knew we had to record it. 

LCKD: Is a new album on the way?

EL PADRINITO TOYS: I am dropping an EP of covers soon and also an album after that. The majority of that album was written by Neton Vega. With the music I’m creating now, I am pushing myself to work with various genres. I’ve worked with some Dominican artists and am also focused on working with a lot of different producers instead of having just one for the project. I want to make sure my music is diverse so that no one gets bored of the same thing over and over again. 

EL PADRINITO TOYS: It was a pleasure to have been invited and thanks again for having me come on here. 

With a growing fan base and an impressive career ahead, El Padrinito Toys is undoubtedly one to watch in the Latin music world. For a closer look at his work, you can visit his YouTube channel. Stay tuned on LCKD mag for any further updates on El Padrinito Toys and his ongoing success. 

Written by: Ana Oquendo

Photographs by: Steven Esperanza