Spanish pop singer Miguel Angel Perez has been crowned the first instrumental music song of the year on YouTube.
Perez, who grew up in La Habana, near the Mexican border, began performing in his native language last year and has become a sensation in the country, where he has performed at concerts, radio shows and even in Mexico City.
He was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, a prize awarded to the best video music video and best original song from Latin America, for his track “La Bodega de Los Ligos.”
Pereza’s track won a Grammy nomination for best Latin music video, and his performance at the 2016 Grammys was widely praised.
In an interview with the BBC, Perez said his songs were meant to be shared with others, not to be played on a radio station.
“They are meant to help people understand what they are experiencing and the world around them,” Perez said.
“They have been translated into English and Spanish and are available for free download.”
The Polaris Music Awards nominations are announced in May.