For Julián Duque, being Hispanic in the United States is not simply a matter of heritage, it is a living, evolving mission. Arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant, he recalls the struggle of adapting and the drive to succeed: “Being Hispanic means representing a different culture in another country. It means learning, growing and our own rebirth. Representing your country, your people, leaving a positive image of who we are.” In his vision, the label hispanidad becomes a beacon of hope and pride, a reminder that culture can cross borders and transform lives.
His decision to support migrant artists stems from his own story. Julián shares how he arrived in the U.S. as a student, worked multiple jobs including resorts, fast-food chains, and found in each role a lesson in perseverance. Those experiences, he says, allowed him to “see the life of the immigrant from another angle and understand the lifestyle of many who come to this country in search of an opportunity. Life for an immigrant is not easy and has many challenges.” This empathy formed the foundation of the record label Immigration Records: not just a label, but a bridge for emerging immigrant artists whose journeys mirror his own.
Founded in 2018 in a Brooklyn apartment during his master’s programme in Music Business, Immigration Records is his bold response to that journey. “Immigration Records is a company founded by a Latino dreamer. Latinos are entrepreneurs, dreamers, hard-workers. Immigration Records represents those values in everything we do,” he explains. The label’s roster, primarily Hispanic, primarily immigrant, spans the Americas and beyond, proving that latinidad is as much about vision as it is about origin.
In practical terms, the short-term goal of Immigration Records is to “leave a cultural mark on the local music industry of Miami, where we are recognised for supporting emerging talent, creating community and connecting the different players in the industry with the most talented emerging Latino artists.”
"Our long-term goal is global. We want to be a cultural movement in the whole world… not only the United States, but also Africa, Asia and Europe.” says Duque. His greatest dream? To build a creative hub for immigrant artists, a place with studios, spaces for live shows, nature, food trucks, co-working zones—where newcomers can feel at home while they build their art.
More than business, for Julián community is the core. He defines living in community as “connecting with the local scene, getting involved, supporting each other, seeking and creating opportunities. It implies cooperation, solidarity and diversity. These values enrich our lives and promote a brighter future.”
The value of community is represented through his festival, UNSIN - a music and conference event in Miami built “100 % on community… a co-creation of friends, artists, colleagues and passionate people.” UNSIN means on scene and unseen, as in "on scene artists, unseen stars" and is a space that gives support to emerging artists from different cultures, different cities and different countries.
It's a soul project… a festival/conference to discover artists you’ve never seen and who you can’t imagine how incredible they are,” Duque says, with a bold vision "to become the SXSW of Miami, a global hub for music, comedy, film, technology and art."
Building and sustaining that community among migrant artists, he says, involves tangible strategies: regular cultural events, online groups, collaborative projects, mentorships, workshops and cultural celebrations—all designed to keep the community alive, connected and thriving under a shared purpose. But as Julián points out, “It’s very important for us to connect technology with what we do, but never lose the human-to-human support.”
The team behind this vision is small but global: based in Miami are Lilibet Blanco (Director of Label Management), Felipe Carrillo (CFO), and Julián himself as CEO and founder. They also have Juan Duque, as creative director in Dubai and an allied agency in Bogotá.
From humble beginnings in his Brooklyn apartment while finishing a master’s degree, Julián went from dreaming about the music business to founding his own label. “I started because it was my dream. I always loved understanding the business and admired labels from Def Jam to Polen Records in Colombia. I registered the company, bought a domain, built a website and got my first client. And when asked if he regrets the decision: “It allows me to be happy and at peace with myself because I’m doing what I want and what I like… I wake up every day with a purpose and I am fulfilling my calling.”
His greatest achievement? “Creating a name and credibility in the industry starting from scratch, with zero investment, just an idea and a dream.” And the biggest “failure?” He re-frames it: “I don’t believe in failure; I think failure means learning, so that we can do things better. The faster we fail, the faster we learn!”
The roster of artists under Immigration Records is diverse and dynamic: Mimi Rose (Argentinian artist, mixing pop and urban). Rose has achieved success with singles like ‘’The Mission’’ and ‘’Wherever You Go’’ hitting No.1 on Itunes Argentina in 2018 and 2019.
In addition, she became the first Latin American woman to sing Argentina’s National Anthem at Manu Ginobili’s retirement ceremony. Her style is described as pop with strong influences of soul and R&B. She began composing primarily in English, but later made a shift to Spanish-language tracks targeting the Latin market.
Thematically, Mimi’s work often deals with emotional vulnerability, self-discovery, empowerment, and navigating relationships. Some of Immigration records most successful releases with Mimi Rose have been Mala Conducta (2021), Se Me Van Las Ganas (2024), La Ouija (2024), Origami Mami (2025).
Nigel is a Puerto Rican artist that takes us on a journey through urban sounds and tropical rhythms. Nigel blends modern Reggaeton beats with classic Latin rhythms to create a vibrant, contemporary sound. His music reflects his cultural heritage, and his lyrics often explore themes of love, heartbreak, and social issues, making his work both emotionally resonant and widely relatable. With deep, expressive vocals and an energetic performance style, he has built a loyal fan base in the Puerto Rican music scene. One of songs he had under the direction of Immigration Records is Te Pienso featuring Pacho El Antifeka.
CES is the creative project of Costa Rican-American musician Cesar Paniagua. His sound merges rural authenticity with an urban edge, drawing deeply from Costa Rica’s lush biodiversity and the multicultural vibrancy of Miami. This fusion gives CES a distinctive global appeal.
CES released his single titled Quizá Baby under the Immigration Records Label. He found his inspiration in summer romances that fade once vacation ends, and those connections that just can’t happen for one reason or another. Both of these shared a feeling of uncertainty. For CES this song represents a new opportunity to experiment and play with the musical genres that producer Giorgio Cesaroni and he have been gravitating towards. On a more personal and spiritual level, the track began as a piece of writing inspired by someone he cared for deeply.
CES is Known for his compelling stage presence. CES has performed on notable stages around the world, connecting with audiences through evocative melodies and emotionally rich lyrics. His music transcends borders, offering a fresh perspective shaped by his bicultural identity and immersive storytelling.Overall, Each artist is a story of migration, culture, risk and art—and together they show how the Latino diaspora continues to shape creative industries globally.
Julián Duque’s story reminds us that hispanidad is not just something we inherit, it’s something we enact. Through music, movement, community and identity, he is proving that heritage lives when it is shared, transformed and extended across borders. “We are dreamers, entrepreneurs, creators of culture. Immigration Records is not just a company, it is a community that vibrates with the soul of immigrants around the world.”
