Nacho Cano

Ignacio „Nacho“ Cano Andrés (b. Madrid, 26 February 1963), better known as Nacho Cano, is a Spanish arranger, composer, and record producer. He and his brother showed an interest in music in their young lives. At 5, he began to play the Spanish guitar and at 12 he started his first band called "Prisma", with Toti Arboles and Eduardo Benavente, both of whom would later make up the core of the sociocultural movement that took place in Spain after Franco's death, known as the "Movida Madrileña". After playing in several different bands in his early teens, Nacho formed Mecano with his brother Jose and his brother's friend Ana Torroja. At 16, Nacho wrote "Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar" ("I Can’t Get Up Today"). Mecano signed their first record deal with CBS, when Nacho was 17 years old. This first album smashed all sales records in Spain, selling 1,000,000 copies in three months. At this time, Nacho met the influential Hans Zimmer who would help him produce and arrange Mecano's third album and his least sold album and the one that ends his contract with CBS Spain. Today, Nacho attributes Hans with teaching him the most important music lessons of his life. They remain friends and mentors to this day. It was during this journey also that Nacho met Penélope Cruz who would star in the music video for one of his most successful songs, "La Fuerza del Destino".(Destiny's Force) In 1992, seeking to escape the challenges that entail his success, he travelled to New York City with Penélope Cruz and wrote his first and best conceptual album "A World Split by the same god". They moved to London in 1994. Their relationship lasted through 1996, and they remain friends.