During the 2025 NAMM show, Maná band members Héctor Quintana and Fernando “Psycho” Vallín sat down with Visión Music Magazine to talk about new independent projects, their love for the City of Angels, and the surprises we can expect from the iconic rock group this year.
Backing the Legends: How Hector Quintana Shaped His Own Journey With Maná
Héctor Quintana’s journey from Maná’s Latin beats to Grammy-nominated rock innovator is a testament to his boundless creativity and passion. With Rock for Children, he’s not just breaking boundaries—he’s building bridges, proving that music is a universal language capable of inspiring change.
As the spotlight shines brighter on this extraordinary percussionist, one thing is clear: Hector Quintana isn’t just making music—he’s making history.
Brother, Musician, Producer: The Multifaceted Genius of Fernando “Psycho” Vallín
Another integral member of Maná is Fernando ‘Psycho’ Vallín, who plays the rhythm guitar next to his brother Sergio Vallín (lead guitarist). Psycho’s Mexican rizz and ability to captivate the audience have made him a vital piece of the band’s live performances.
As an accomplished audio engineer himself, Psycho has helped solidify the sound of multiple latin artists, making him an accomplished and versatile technical figure in Spanish-language rock. From strings to studio recordings, Psycho has become the unsung architect of Maná’s signature sound over the past 25 years.
JOURNEY WITH MANÁ
What surprises will the band give us in 2025?
Héctor: We just finished an extremely successful global tour. It was incredible to do the US tour and visit cities in Europe, Latin America, and go back to cities in Mexico we hadn’t visited in a while. We are prepping for another tour and more to come, but can’t say much at this moment.
Psycho: What’s not a surprise is that each time we tour we play in places where the band is well received, and here in the US we always love to play for our “paisanos” and everyone else who have been infected by the sound of Maná. We play for you with all our love.
SUPPORTING THE CITY OF ANGELS
What message do you have for your fans and music community who lost everything during the LA fires?
Héctor: I live in LA, I had the fortune of only receiving an evacuation warning and that nothing happened to the area I live in, but I saw the destruction and the long process people will have to go through to reconstruct their houses. Those who lost their homes, work, and livelihood will need a lot of help. Maná is always supporting good causes. Plus Maná loves LA. I invite everyone to support Los Angeles so we can get ahead of this tragedy.
Psycho: Los Angeles has been the city where Maná has played the most, ever! It’s our closest home and we have a special bond with the city. We have many friends who have become family throughout the years and when they feel pain, it hurts us. This tragedy can happen to any of us, so we have to be there for each other. That is why in solidarity we stand, it’s the moment to act not just talk.
Are there some final thoughts you would like to share during this difficult time?
Psycho: At the end of the day we are all human. There are a lot of issues that could be difficult between nations but we have to try to ease them, we have to. We have to choose solidarity and not hate or have bad blood between us. We are always going to be your neighbor, why not promote love and camaraderie instead.
Héctor: Political ideology is one thing, but solidarity among all the people, Hispanics and individuals from other regions, that’s what matters. Particularly in today’s world.
INDEPENDENT PROJECTS
Hector, you collaborated on the grammy nominated “Solid Rock Revival” album with Alice Cooper, Slash, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, among others. How do you feel about this recognition?
Héctor: These projects were thanks to the doors that Maná opened for me, for us. We have many creative, musical and producing possibilities. I was able to collaborate in one song, doing arrangements and working on the composition of “Vamos mis amigos”. We have amazing guests in the album, like the master Alice Cooper. He resides in Phoenix, Arizona, and it’s there where he has the foundation helping kids get off the streets and get involved in music. You can hear the voices of many of these kids in the album. It was said that if we received a nomination, we would work on a second one.
Hector, you also lead Mana’s Official Tribute events. What’s next for the tribute band and when is the next show?
Héctor: Yes, I’m doing the Official Tribute of Maná. Being the second voice and playing percussion for the band for the past 20 years, helped me learn the essence of a Maná show, and how to bring that energy and good chaos on-stage. We are working on future dates and we will release them on social media on vivamanahq. Stay tuned!
Psycho, we know you love audio engineering. What projects are you working on in the studio this year?
Psycho: Every so often I support fellow artists by playing the bass for their music records. I’m into sound engineering, audio editing and also love being in the recording studio. I love audio production in general. I’m a bit restless, when the band stops, I look for these kinds of collaborations.
The artistry of musicians like Héctor Quintana and Fernando “Psycho” Vallín truly complete Maná’s signature sound. Quintana’s electrifying percussion to Vallín’s rhythmic depth have played an indispensable role in shaping the band’s live performances and studio albums over the past two decades. Their contributions may not always make the headlines, but for those who truly listen, their impact is undeniably felt in every thunderous drumbeat, and every resonant chord.
Both Psycho and Hector have embarked on multiple solo projects and collaborations, showcasing their versatility as musicians beyond their role in the iconic rock band. Keep up with their musical journey on their personal channels and studio collaborations.
