Leiva (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leiva
Leiva at the 32nd Goya Awards in 2018
Background information
Birth name	José Miguel Conejo Torres
Born	(1980-04-30) 30 April 1980 (age 45) Madrid, Spain
Origin	Madrid, Spain
Genres	Rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2001–present
Associated acts	Pereza Rubén Pozo

Leiva performing live in Pereza

José Miguel Conejo Torres (born in Madrid, Spain, on April 30, 1980), known as Leiva, is a Spanish singer, musician, and songwriter. From 2001 to 2010, he was a leader of the Spanish rock band Pereza with Rubén Pozo. They released six albums together. After the band ended, Leiva started a successful solo career. He has released several popular solo albums, including Diciembre (2012), Pólvora (2014), Monstruos (2016), Nuclear (2019), and Cuando Te Muerdes el Labio (2021).

Leiva's Early Life and Music Journey

Leiva grew up in a neighborhood called Alameda de Osuna in Madrid. He loved football very much. People started calling him "Leiva" because he looked like a Brazilian football player named Leivinha. This nickname later became his stage name.

Starting with Pereza

Leiva began his music journey in 1994 as a drummer in a band called Malahierba. In 1998, he formed a trio with Rubén Pozo and drummer Tuli. They wanted to play cover songs by the band Leño. This group eventually became the band Pereza.

Pereza released their first album in 2001. It wasn't a big hit at first. For their second album, Algo para cantar (2003), Pereza became a duo with just Leiva and Rubén. They became very famous with their 2005 album, Animales. This album helped them become one of Spain's most important pop-rock bands. Pereza released three more albums: Los amigos de los animales (2006), Aproximaciones (2007), and Aviones (2009).

Leiva's Solo Career

In September 2011, the Pereza duo decided to go their separate ways. Leiva then started his own career as a solo singer, songwriter, and musician.

His first solo album was Diciembre, released in 2012. Leiva produced this album himself. It received great reviews and won awards, like the Rolling Stone Award for best album of the year. It was also nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards.

In January 2014, Leiva released his second solo album, Pólvora. He worked with Spanish musician Carlos Raya on this album. Both Diciembre and Pólvora were very successful. Leiva released popular songs like "Eme," "Afuera en la ciudad," and "Terriblemente Cruel." "Eme" is a song where the singer shares his feelings and thoughts about a relationship ending, hoping for a reunion.

In 2016, Leiva released Monstruos. This album explores common fears people have, like the "monsters" we imagine at bedtime. He continued to release successful albums, including Nuclear in 2019 and Cuando Te Muerdes el Labio in 2021.

Leiva's Music Albums

Albums with Pereza

• 2001: Pereza (the only album as a trio)
• 2002: Algo para cantar (as a duo)
• 2003: Algo para encantar (DVD)
• 2004: Algo para cantar (Special edition)
• 2005: Animales ("Princesas" was a very popular song from this album)
• 2005: Princesas (DVD)
• 2006: Los amigos de los animales (Album and DVD)
• 2006: Barcelona (Album and DVD)
• 2007: Aproximaciones
• 2009: Baires, libro (Album and DVD)
• 2009: Aviones (Album and DVD) (includes romantic songs like "Llévame al baile")
• 2010: 10 años

Leiva's Solo Albums

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Leiva's Solo Songs

• "Eme" (2012)
• "Terriblemente Cruel" (2013)
• "Afuera En La Ciudad" (2014)
• "Mirada Perdida" (2014)
• "Sixteen" (with Carlos Tarque and Fito Cabrales) (2015)
• "Sincericidio" (2016)
• "La Lluvia en los Zapatos" (2016)
• "Breaking Bad" (2017)
• "La Llamada" (2017)
• "No Te Preocupes por Mi" (2018)
• "Nuclear" (2019)
• "Lobos" (2019)
• "En El Espacio" (2019)
• "Mi Pequeño Chernóbil" (2020)
• "La Estación Eterna" (2020)

Awards and Nominations

Leiva has won many awards for his music. Here are some of them:

• Goya Awards:

* In 2017, he won Best Original Song for "La Llamada" from the movie Holy Camp!. * In 2023, he won Best Original Song for "Sintiéndolo Mucho" (shared with Joaquín Sabina).

• Latin Grammy Awards:

* He was nominated for Best Pop/Rock Album for Diciembre in 2012. * He was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video for "Vis a Vis" (2013) and "Sincericidio" (2017). * He was nominated for Best Rock Song for "La Llamada" (2018) and "Godzilla" (2019). * He was nominated for Best Pop/Rock Album for Nuclear in 2019.

• Los 40 Music Awards:

* In 2014, he won Best Spanish Rock Act. * In 2016, he won Artist of the Year. * In 2017, he won Video of the Year for "La Lluvia en los Zapatos". * In 2019, he won Album of the Year for Nuclear. * In 2022, he received a Golden Music Award.

• MTV Europe Music Awards:

* He has been nominated multiple times for Best Spanish Act (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020).

• Premios Odeón:

* In 2021, he won Best Rock Artist.

Leiva's albums have also been recognized for their amazing artwork. The art directors for Nuclear, Madrid Nuclear, and Cuando Te Muerdes el Labio (Edición Cerámica) were nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

See also

In Spanish: Leiva (cantante) para niños