El Niño Andrés

**El Niño Andrés** is the stage name of Venezuelan harpist and composer Andrés Martínez, a modern torchbearer of traditional *llano* music revitalized through playful experimentation. Known for reinventing the fiery rhythms of *joropo* and *golpe llanero* with avant-garde twists, his work bridges Venezuela's rural roots with global psychedelic and electronic influences. The artist's whimsical titles (like *"She Understood Duke Ellington"*) hint at his genre-blurring ethos, weaving complex harp patterns with unexpected textures while honoring folkloric storytelling. A collaborator with acts like Betsayda Machado, El Niño Andrés has become a cult favorite for reimagining Latin American heritage with irreverent charm, proving traditional instruments can thrive in left-field sonic landscapes.