As Mario Bautista celebrates more than a decade in music, the Mexican pop star is looking forward instead of backward.
The singer, who recently turned 30 and released his independent EP Loverboy, says his latest project is about something increasingly rare in the digital age: being present.
That message will take center stage when Bautista opens the third season of Amazon Music City Sessions on June 24, an intimate concert series that pairs established stars with emerging artists and streams performances worldwide through Amazon Music, Prime Video, Twitch, Fire TV and TikTok.
This year's lineup includes Danna, Edgardo Núñez and Playa Limbo, alongside rising acts SANTOS BRAVOS, Sofía Monroy, Adrián L. Santos and Ana Sofi W. The season will be hosted by content creator Schedel Beutelspacher and will combine live performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments designed to bring fans closer to artists.
For Bautista, whose episode features SANTOS BRAVOS as the opening act, the timing could not be more fitting.
"It's crazy how fast time passes," Bautista told this reporter. "If I look back and realize it's been 13 years since I started, it feels like it happened overnight. But then I think about all the experiences, the countries, the cities and the people I've met, and I realize how much has happened."
The singer's latest musical chapter comes with a significant milestone: Loverboy is his first EP as an independent artist.
With that creative freedom, Bautista wanted to make a statement. The project embraces an unmistakable 1980s aesthetic, from its visuals to its storytelling, but not merely for nostalgia's sake.
"The idea came from the message I wanted to share," he said. "What if we went back to the 1980s? A time when people lived with less anxiety and enjoyed the present more. Today everything feels rushed. We feel like if we're not on our phones, we're missing something. But in reality, when we're on our phones, we're missing life."
One line from the project summarizes his philosophy.
"Before, the internet was an escape from reality," Bautista said. "Now reality is an escape from the internet."
The singer believes that message is especially important for younger generations who have never experienced a world without social media.
"People born in 2010 are already 16 years old," he said. "They don't know life without the internet. They were born when technology was already everywhere. I think it's important to show them that there's also a life outside the digital world."
Bautista describes the visual component of Loverboy as "a manual for waking up from the Matrix" and reconnecting with the present moment.
That philosophy could also shape his Amazon Music City Sessions performance.
When asked if he would encourage fans to put their phones away during the show, Bautista laughed and embraced the idea.
"Totally," he said. "It's part of the experience. It's about connecting with the present and with live music."
The June 24 performance will also serve as an important preview of what's next.
Bautista revealed that City Sessions will be the first public presentation of his upcoming live production, complete with musicians onstage and arrangements that will eventually become part of a larger tour planned for 2027.
"This is basically the first show of the new tour," he said. "We're already working with live musicians and the songs feel completely different. There's something magical about hearing the music come alive with a band behind you."
The Amazon Music series itself has become one of the most visible platforms for Latin artists seeking direct engagement with audiences.
According to Paul Forat, Head of Music Industry for Spanish-speaking Latin America at Amazon Music, the initiative was created to help artists build authentic connections with fans while expanding their reach through live experiences.
"In this third season of Amazon Music City Sessions, we want to continue supporting artists and creating spaces that allow them to connect genuinely with their fans," Forat said in a statement. "The success of Amazon Music City Sessions has shown us there is a great opportunity to continue supporting artists, bringing their music to new audiences and strengthening the connection between them and their fandoms in real time."
For Bautista, who has spent much of the past year reinventing himself creatively, the opportunity represents more than another livestream.
It's the beginning of a new era.
"I'm very excited," he said. "When Amazon invited me to be part of City Sessions, I loved the idea, but I didn't have the show ready yet. I've spent the last month working nonstop on it. This performance is a preview of everything that's coming in 2027."
And if his message lands, fans may walk away with more than a concert memory.
They may leave with a reminder to look up from their screens and enjoy the moment happening right in front of them.
