At sixteen, Kenneth stepped beyond the familiar world he had always known in pursuit of his dream. And somewhere along the way, he found another one: to become a source of comfort for others, just like the world that embraced him.
Before your debut, you gave us a tour of your room and introduced your chicken plush Gina and your teddy bear Max. Are Gina and Max still around?
Kenneth: Yeah, they are. (laughs) That room was actually decorated when I was a kid, so it kind of looks like a little kid’s room. But I’m in the middle of moving right now, so I’m planning to redecorate it. My mom even asked me, “Do you think it’s finally time to throw Gina and Max away?” I don’t really play with them anymore, but I still want to keep them. My grandparents won them for me from claw machines, so they’re really special to me.
What do you want your new room to look like?
Kenneth: Right now, my room kind of looks like a toy store, so I want to change that a little. I have almost 120 Funko Pop figures, and I’m definitely keeping those, but I’ll probably get rid of most of the other toys. I want the room to feel a little more relaxed. I also want it to reflect more of the things I’m into, like soccer and gaming. Before, there really wasn’t anything in my room connected to SANTOS BRAVOS. But now I have a lot of photos. Recently, someone even gave me a clock that counts the days since our debut. We’re already past 180 days now. (laughs)
It feels like just yesterday you were suddenly thrown onto the stage to perform “0%” right after finding out you’d made the final debut lineup during survival. Now you’re traveling all over the world before you even realize it.
Kenneth: My life changed completely after the show. One thing that’s been hard is not being able to be with my parents all the time like I used to. My dad came to Korea with me, but my mom is still in Mexico. I haven’t seen her in a month. But I’m really happy these days. I feel like both my life and my mindset have changed in a good way. My dream came true, and I’m finally doing the things I’ve always wanted to. It makes me feel alive. I also love that I get to sing as much as I want now. Because of all this, I’ve already been able to visit places like France, the U.S., and Korea. And we’ll be going to even more places soon.
What has it been like coming to Korea? I heard you’ve always loved spicy food, and that you even tried Korea’s famous Buldak ramen. (laughs)
Kenneth: I’ve always loved spicy food, so whenever I travel abroad, I usually bring spicy sauces from Mexico with me. A lot of countries don’t really have food that spicy. But the second I got to Korea and tried Buldak ramen, I thought I was going to die. (laughs) It was insanely spicy. Still, I loved it. Kimchi honestly didn’t feel that spicy to me, but Gabi and Alejandro were struggling. (laughs)
You’ve already had so many memorable experiences in Korea, from going to a BTS concert to meeting Korean fans in person through MBC’s “IDOL RADIO.” What stands out to you the most?
Kenneth: One thing that really stayed with me is how people in Korea bow to show respect whenever they greet each other. I really admired that. And when we went to see BTS’s concert, I was amazed by how organized and respectful the fans were. Watching everyone enjoy the concert together while preparing fan events for the members was really beautiful to see. It made me want to carry that same kind of respect into my own life, too.
You even danced with Alejandro on “IDOL RADIO.” Watching how freely you enjoyed the performance, it really felt like we were seeing your growth in real time.
Kenneth: Dance was probably the hardest challenge for me, but it’s also the thing that helped me grow the most. Before joining survival, I had never danced in my life, so I started out in the lowest-level class. At first, I used to overthink dancing a lot. But eventually, I stopped getting stuck in my own head and just focused on doing my best while letting things happen naturally. Once I did that, I stopped thinking, “I’ll never get better at this.” I think I really started improving once I stopped worrying so much about what other people thought of me. Drew also helped me a lot because he had so much experience with dance. He taught me how to make movements feel more natural and helped me become more aware of my body. I’d watch the way he moved and slowly try to adapt to it myself. More than anything, the five of us practiced together constantly. We motivated each other and gave each other a lot of strength.
You once said that before joining SANTOS BRAVOS, you imagined yourself as a solo artist. But being part of this group changed the direction of your dream and made you realize you wanted to experience a sense of brotherhood in your career, too. What does SANTOS BRAVOS mean to you now?
Kenneth: Back then, my mindset was a lot more centered around “me.” But these days, I find myself thinking more in terms of “us.” I think that’s been the biggest change. When we stand onstage together as a team, we support each other, we feel that sense of brotherhood, and that gives me a lot more confidence. Working together as a team feels really important to me now. I’ve learned that when one person does well, it helps all of us shine. But when one person falls short, people can end up seeing the whole team that way. That’s why teamwork matters so much. Because of that, I think I’ve naturally become someone who thinks about other people first more often. I’ve also gotten better at understanding other people’s perspectives.
You’re the youngest member of the team, and there’s a nine-year age gap between you and Drew, the oldest member. Even with that difference, it feels like the members really treat each other as equals. Gabi even said that although you’re sixteen, you sometimes seem more like you’re thirty. (laughs)
Kenneth: I actually agree with Gabi. (laughs) I don’t mean that in an arrogant way, but I do think I’m pretty mature for my age. I adapt to new environments pretty easily, so I naturally end up getting close to people who are older than me. I also try to really listen to people, and I think I’m pretty aware of what should and shouldn’t be said in certain situations. Even though there’s an age difference between me and the members, they’ve always treated me like an equal, so I’ve been able to talk to them really comfortably. And honestly, I love that they don’t treat me like a little kid. (laughs) I think that’s a big reason we’ve been able to build such a close relationship.
Even while going through your teenage years during survival, you came across as incredibly mature and disciplined. That really stood out to me.
Kenneth: Going through “SANTOS BRAVOS” and debuting with the group definitely helped me grow a lot. Even before all of this, I used to think I was mature. But looking back now, I think that was mostly just in my head. (laughs) I think I’ve changed in a really positive way. Before, I tended to look at things more negatively, but now I try to approach things with a more positive mindset. In the past, whenever something bad happened, I would usually just cry about it. But now, instead of reacting emotionally right away, I try to think about why it happened and how that experience might help me in the future. I think that mindset has made me a lot more independent and confident.
You always seem very professional and disciplined, but like the lyrics of “0%” suggest, are there moments when you let yourself completely switch off—moments where you stop worrying and just let yourself run all the way down to zero?
Kenneth: I’m usually a pretty hardworking person, but I do have hobbies that help me disconnect sometimes. Even when I’m exhausted, there’s always one thing I end up going back to: video games. (laughs) When I play games, it feels like I’m stepping into a completely different world. It helps me stop overthinking and relieve stress. Another big hobby of mine is soccer, whether that’s watching matches or actually playing. Those are probably the two things I enjoy the most. Of course, I genuinely enjoy practicing too, but I think it’s important to have moments like that for yourself sometimes.
That probably makes the sense of freedom in “0%” feel even more personal to you. It’s a song about letting go of the past and focusing on the joy of the present moment, and it also marked the beginning of SANTOS BRAVOS.
Kenneth: That song is really special to me. It feels like proof that SANTOS BRAVOS really made it. “0%” is about letting go of the past and moving forward while believing in the good things still ahead of you. In that sense, I think the song represents me really well. I make mistakes sometimes, of course, but I believe those experiences help me grow and become better. That’s why I try to focus on living in the present instead of holding onto the past.
Songs on your debut album “DUAL,” like “WOW” and “VELOCIDADE,” deal with love and more sensual emotions. Since some of those feelings might not be the things you’ve personally experienced yet, how do you approach understanding and expressing them?
Kenneth: That’s such a good question. (laughs) For me, the most important thing is fully connecting with the emotions of a song. Back when I was acting in different dramas and films, there were scenes where I had to cry, but I didn’t really know how to do that properly because those situations weren’t part of my real life. So I reached out to Karol Sevilla, who starred in “Soy Luna,” and asked her how she approached emotional scenes. She told me that imagination was the most important thing. You have to fully become the character and let yourself feel what they feel. That advice really stayed with me. So now, whenever I perform, I try to completely immerse myself in the emotions of the person I’m portraying. Sometimes I connect it to my own experiences, and other times I try to imagine what that person would be feeling. “WOW” is about love, but it also has a really fun, energetic vibe, so I wanted to show that sense of excitement and enjoyment. With “VELOCIDADE,” I feel like I have to become a slightly different version of myself. I tried to express a more mature and charismatic side, even though I’m still young for that. (laughs)
It also feels like “DUAL” reveals a new side of you vocally. During survival, you often showcased more dynamic vocals through performances like “Lloviendo Estrellas,” but on this album, you experimented with a more restrained style on rhythm-driven tracks like “KAWASAKI” and “VELOCIDADE.”
Kenneth: Yeah, I think “DUAL” really let me explore a lot of different sides of my voice. Before this, I mostly sang pop songs or ballads that were more dramatic and emotional. So while recording “DUAL,” I realized my voice could do a lot more than I thought. Songs like “FE,” which is more of a ballad, felt very natural and comfortable for me. But with songs like “KAWASAKI,” I had to change up the way I used my voice and experiment with styles I’d never tried before. Through that process, I learned a lot about different vocal styles and discovered new sides of my voice.
Just like the name SANTOS BRAVOS suggests, with innocence and boldness existing side by side, it feels like we’re discovering a lot of different sides of you, too.
Kenneth: Back when I first joined survival, I think I was definitely closer to the “SANTO” side of myself. I still think I lean more that way, but little by little, I can feel myself becoming more “BRAVO.” Just like the title “DUAL” suggests, I think I’m someone who carries a lot of duality right now. I’m still a teenager, so I’m constantly changing and learning new things about myself.
As part of SANTOS BRAVOS, you’re having the rare experience of traveling the world while still in your teens. A lot of fans in Mexico also seem inspired watching you.
Kenneth: That feels like a huge honor to me. One of my biggest dreams has always been to represent the place and culture I come from, so in a way, I feel like I’m already living that dream. Sometimes it does feel like a lot of pressure, especially at sixteen, but I’m really proud to be able to represent so many people from Mexico. I want to do my best to represent my country well. Wherever I go, I want to introduce people to things like spicy Mexican food and tacos. And if there’s ever a chance to sing mariachi music, I’d want to do that proudly for Mexico. There are so many passionate people in Mexico who live for their dreams, and I want to show that same kind of passion.
In a lot of behind-the-scenes videos, you’re usually the one keeping DUAL, SANTOS BRAVOS’s fandom, updated on what’s going on. You also seem to share little moments from your daily life on Weverse pretty often.
Kenneth: DUAL is our foundation. None of this would be possible without them. Even when they’re not physically with us, I always feel like they’re part of this journey alongside us. That’s why I try to post different things and communicate with them as much as I can. Especially when there’s a camera around, I try to talk as much as possible because I know people are watching and supporting us. DUAL has always been a safe place for us. And because of that, I want us to give them that same sense of comfort. Everyone has vulnerable sides to themselves, and we do too. But I want us to show those parts honestly instead of hiding them. I think it’s important to build a relationship where we can genuinely trust each other. There’s something really beautiful about that kind of honesty.
It sounds like you’ve become a kind of safe place for each other.
Kenneth: People in Mexico are naturally very warm and welcoming. They make you feel comfortable right away, almost like you’re at home. I want to share that same warmth with people outside of Mexico, too. I want DUAL to feel as welcomed and at ease as I’ve always felt there.