“Chin chin, boludos,” CA7RIEL says, raising a glass of sake during our vegan lunch at New York City’s Planta Queen in latest episode of Billboard‘s “Takes Us Out.”
“The sushi without dead fish,” he says, before taking a bite with his deadpan humor. Sitting next to him is Paco Amoroso, shaggy-haired and perpetually cool, who jumps in after a sip of miso soup to set the record straight about their latest album, and ethos: “FREE SPIRITS is our way of life — it’s not a joke.”
Both dressed in casual nude sweaters, the Argentine pair chat with Billboard Español to dish up the truth behind their “glow up.”
Indeed, the duo is beaming, and for a good reason. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso are entering what they call their most “liberated” era yet with the release of their third studio album as a duo. The 12-track genre-bending opus, which dropped last month, follows Papota, their Latin Grammy-sweeping project from last year. Packed with cheeky irreverence, introspective highs, and a guest list that includes Sting, Anderson .Paak, Fred Again, and even Jack Black, the album signals a rebirth for the longtime collaborators.
But the road to rebirth wasn’t easy. After winning five Latin Grammys last November, they shocked fans by announcing their split just a month later. “La verdad que estábamos destrozados. Sí, estamos hechos mierda. Y ahora estamos nuevos,” Paco admits, candidly referencing the burnout that had swallowed them whole.
That’s where Sting comes in. Following a chance meeting in Buenos Aires, the legendary musician became their unlikely guide, inviting the pair to detox in his wellness retreat. “Antes no podíamos ni pensar. Ahora tenemos paz,” says CA7RIEL, offering what feels like both a punchline and a revelation.
Rested and recalibrated, the duo also discuss their world tour, which kicks off in their native Buenos Aires on May 14 and spans over 60 dates across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. True to CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso’s free-spirited ethos, they’re not losing sleep about what’s next.
Check out the full interview above and discover five things we learned about the Argentine pair during our “Takes Us Out” interview below.
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CA7RIEL Underwent Face Tattoo Removal — & Learned That Erasing the Past Isn’t Easy
Image Credit: Billboard The musician revealed a surprising detail — his facial tattoo removal. “Ya no lo tengo más. Sí, me lo quité en la clínica… dolió, duele un montón. No se saquen tatuajes, no está bueno,” he said, laughing. The process, though painful, mirrors the duo’s creative rebirth and personal renewal.
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How Sting Became Their ‘Spiritual’ Mentor
After winning five Latin Grammys last November, burnout led the duo to announce their split in December. However, a chance encounter with Sting changed everything. “He saw that photo on the left and picked up the phone… he invited us to spend some time with him, just to chat,” Paco shared. “We needed the words of someone respected who also meant something to us, someone who had already gone through everything, through all of that.” Sting’s wellness retreat helped them recalibrate their focus, leading to the creation of FREE SPIRITS. “Before, we couldn’t even think. Now, we have peace,” added CA7RIEL.
Fun fact: Years before the duo collaborated with Sting, CA7RIEL hilariously mistook the music legend for an impersonator. “At a Halloween party, Sting walks in… and we all thought he was just some guy dressed up as Sting, but no, it was fucking Sting! I met him when I was broke and in debt”, he explained.
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They’re Obsessed With Video Games — & Even Wrote a Love Song About the Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Billboard They admitted to having had a serious video game addiction, which inspired a quirky song that was ultimately left off FREE SPIRITS. “There was a really good one about a relationship with a video game console… you eventually realize it’s about the Nintendo Switch,” Paco revealed. Although they loved the idea, they decided to leave it off the final track list. “Sometimes you have to push some friends off the boat. You’re the captain and you have to keep pushing people overboard,” CA7RIEL jokes.
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They’ve Known Each Other Since They Were Six — & Bonded Over Their ‘Almost-Shared’ Last Name
Paco and Ca7riel first crossed paths as childhood classmates. “We’ve known each other since we were six — we were just little kids in school — so we’ve been together our whole lives,” Paco shared. CA7RIEL added, “Our teachers thought we were brothers because our last names are almost the same. So maybe it’s our teachers’ fault.”
Real names: Catriel Guerreiro (CA7RIEL) and Ulises Guerriero (Paco Amoroso).
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They Believe in Embracing Mediocrity — & See It As a Relatable and Universal Struggle
In a refreshing take, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso embrace the stark reality of mediocrity in their musical approach. With songs like “El Himno del Mediocre,” the duo explores struggles many can relate to, challenging the overly polished narratives often seen in the music industry. Their call to “accept it” reframes the idea of it as a universal part of life. “You’re constantly fighting against mediocrity — why? Accept it!,” states CA7RIEL.
“Sometimes in music, people talk about the good times or there’s a lot of bragging… and I thought it would be cool to make a song that means the exact opposite,” adds Paco.
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