Today we’d like to introduce you to Enrique Levin.
Hi Enrique, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Brazilian and Guatemalan parents, and am currently based in Miami. I hold a BS in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in international business and finance. I am an entrepreneur, advisor, investor, producer, artist, curator, and DJ.
I started my career as a musician when I was a teenager and very quickly learned that if I wanted to make music for the sake of art, I would not be able to make much money from it; and if I wanted to make money from art, I would either need to sacrifice my artistic integrity to make the kind of music the industry profits from, or spend decades begging for opportunities. Given how few people with talent actually make it, how little talent many famous artists have, and how limited the potential revenue for music is in today’s world, even if successful, I decided to focus on entrepreneurship to create sources of income and free time that would allow me to make music for its own sake.
For nearly three decades, I’ve built and advised hundreds of ventures across the US and Latin America through my company, ELEVIN Solutions. I never abandoned music and kept practicing and educating myself. I completed several internationally renowned music production certificates and honed my skills by practicing relentlessly. I produced over 1,000 tracks before feeling ready to create a product for commercialization. Six years ago, I decided I was ready.
I worked for two years to create my first album as ELEVIN and took on the challenge of finding my audience. Frustrated by how difficult and expensive it was to reach listeners as an independent artist, I developed my own digital strategy using playlists as both a platform and a form of performance. What began as a tool to promote my own music quickly evolved: as artists started submitting tracks and fans continued listening, my playlist became one of the most influential curatorial spaces in the melodic techno scene worldwide, amassing millions of streams and transforming into an extension of my DJ sets.
Realizing my strategy had helped over 500 artists generate more than 20 million streams in under a year, I founded the ELEVIN Foundation to channel that momentum, a nonprofit built to amplify independent voices, elevate curation as an art form, and prove that reach and merit can coexist. For me, music is more than sound: it’s a system that can be reimagined, and I’m here to rewrite the rules.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, it has never been smooth. Every single step of my career has been a mix of uncertainty, opportunity, hard work, and hyper-focus. I think focus has always been the key to success.
“If you focus on a single thing for a long time, the path will reveal itself in front of you because you will be aware of opportunities you would otherwise miss.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As ELEVIN, the music producer, curator, and DJ, I have released dozens of tracks and two albums that have achieved over 10M streams and attracted over 200K followers across all platforms.
I listen to and provide feedback on more than 30 tracks per day. With over 130K followers, my playlist Melodic Techno by ELEVIN is one of the most influential playlists in the genre worldwide. Every year, over 10,000 artists apply for a chance to be included, and fewer than 500 make it into my playlists. My DJ sets are built from my playlists, allowing the audience to connect with my musical curation before, during, and after my performances.
I have performed internationally as a DJ in Miami, Lisbon, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and many other major cities, connecting with audiences through my hybrid set that includes carefully curated music, live performance, breathtaking visuals, and an environment where the audience is the focus.
I use my positioning as a producer, curator, and DJ to promote artists and help shape a new, merit-based music industry. As Founder and Executive Director of the ELEVIN Foundation, I lead initiatives that empower artists to grow based on merit. Through curated playlists, high-impact videos, and genre-defining events, we help artists connect with their audience in meaningful ways without sacrificing their rights or creative freedom.
As CEO of ELEVIN Solutions, I help hundreds of entrepreneurs every year with mentorship, advisory, and investment.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Asking for help is the most important thing you can do. Most people simply don’t ask for help due to ego, insecurities, and many other reasons. I have found that most people with experience and/or success look forward to sharing what they’ve learned—maybe as much as those seeking guidance.
That said, if what you’re looking for is an easy solution to your challenges, don’t waste your time. No one will find you, and no one will take you to where you want to go. The only way to succeed without depending on luck is to fail fast, fail often, and fail forward. Success cannot be planned; it has to be discovered.
Contact Info:
- Website: elevinsound.com | elevin.org | elevinsolutions.com
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sYGsdVktZQbdEMj7ypJrY
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevinsound
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriquelevin/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/ELEVIN
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/elevinsound
