Cruz

Carlos Escalona, a.k.a "Cruz", is a songwriter, music producer, and musician based in New York City. Carlos has been part of numerous notable projects with artists, including Paulina Rubio, Marc Anthony, Danny Ocean, and Fito Paez, among others. With over 20 years in the music industry, Carlos looks forward to continuing his career by elevating production and supporting Latino Culture. He has been honored by his peers for outstanding commitment to the art, with multiple Latin Grammy® nominations and a Latin Grammy in 2017. He was recently elected as an Advisor to the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy. 

Cruz also received BMI's Latin Music Award. While creating music has been a lifelong passion, the evolution into a successful profession allowed Carlos to focus on another passion, cultural and social awareness of Latino lives, achievements, and struggles. His motto. “I’m not interested in being famous but rather being part of a platform that allows me to contribute to making our stay here a better place” is evident in his altruistic work over the years. 

In 2020, Carlos worked with the Paraguayan Folk Band, "Tierra Adentro," to produce an album titled “Aguije,” written entirely in Guarani (the Paraguayan indigenous language). Their goal was to expand global awareness of the richness of South America's indigenous culture and prevent Guarani from becoming another forgotten language. “Aguije” has garnered national acclaim, becoming the only album in an indigenous tongue to be nominated for a Latin Grammy. 

Currently, Carlos is working on a project advocating against the oppressive gun violence which long plagued South America. This project will recognize a Latino Urban Singer with a bright future, who was murdered in Colombia at the brink of stardom.

Collaborating with other notable musicians, Carlos plans to release an inspirational single with all proceeds going towards a foundation dedicated to combating firearm violence. This is only one example of Carlos’s work to pay it forward, having previously worked with victims of criminal violence to raise funds and support his community. He continues this work locally, teaming up with BMI as a moderator at the Celia Cruz High School of Music located in the Bronx, New York. This program aims to help young musicians pursue their musical dreams while facing academic, educational, and social challenges. Carlos furthers his pride in shepherding new artists through collaboration and exposure as they break onto the music scene.

Carlos has also leveraged his successful personal brand, on the cutting edge of pop and Latino culture, to infuse branded projects with the sensation of ‘cool’. In 2021, he worked with M&Ms and Volkswagen to musically enrich new out-of-the-box campaigns. Today, Carlos is collaborating closely with an Anheuser Busch beer brand, ‘Presidente’, to enhance a Tiny Desk (unplugged-type) experience of his latest EP, titled “Madison Vol. 1”. Carlos is a proud voice for both Latinos and NYC and will continue to release groundbreaking original music under his artist name Cruz and platforming new up-and-coming artis,