Howie Dorough Embraces His Heritage with Spanish-Language Debut ‘Coqui’

A household name as one of the Backstreet Boys, Howie Dorough — artistically known as Howie D — is embarking on a new chapter. The singer has officially unveiled his new solo single, “Coqui,” which marks his debut in the Spanish language.

The nearly three-minute track, penned by Dominican songwriter Darlin, is a sensual Afrobeats-infused jam. It is elevated by Howie’s signature sugary vocals, layered over the atmospheric, rhythmic sounds of the coqui — a small tree frog native to Puerto Rico — and the crashing of ocean waves.

“Making this record, I wanted to identify with things that were true to me, about the culture, the people, and my heritage,” Howie, who was born in Orlando to a Puerto Rican mother and a Georgia-based father, shared. “This is where my mother is from, and where I have the most connection with growing up. With this song, I’m properly connecting with my roots, and I’ve never fully dived in until now.”

While Howie is recognized as one of the Latin voices within the Backstreet Boys, having previously recorded Spanish versions of hits like “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” and “Anywhere for You,” he admits that his upbringing in South Florida during the ’70s and ’80s left him with limited exposure to the language. Relearning it for this project was a labor of love.

“I wanted to sound authentic, and the music felt real to me, it felt very natural,” he explains. “It was almost like re-training my tongue to understand; it felt like a child learning a language for the first time. I was very humble, I was corrected a hundred times. I didn’t want to accept mediocrity. There were times that were easier, there were other times that I was frustrated, but I got through with Darlin’s coaching and my Duolingo app.”

“Coqui” represents Howie’s third attempt at a Spanish-language project. He candidly admits that despite his massive, devoted Latin following, personal insecurities previously hindered his progress. “Making music in Spanish has been a passion of mine, but also a struggle,” he says. “I was a little scared of not being accepted by my own people, because I didn’t speak the language perfectly. I wasn’t so much worried about my fans, but of the industry tearing me apart.”

Today, Howie feels more comfortable in his identity, viewing this release as a personal journey rather than a pursuit of commercial metrics. “Latin music is so big right now, and people are willing to hear music that’s not in their own language,” he notes. “I don’t have major expectations… this is a passion for me, it’s more of a journey. It’s a story that hopefully people will get to know, of a kid who once wanted to embrace his culture, his roots, and because of society and insecurities over the years, I’ve held myself back, but now is the time.”