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54 Ultra

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

54 Ultra
Born
John Anthony Rodriguez

2000 (age 25–26)
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Genres
Years active2020–present
LabelInterscope
Websitewww.54ultra.com

John Anthony "Johnny" Rodriguez (born 2000), also known as 54 Ultra, is an American musician. Known for his smooth, Latin soul-influenced vocals, he first gained popularity in 2023 with his single "Where Are You?", releasing his debut EP, First Works, in 2025. In 2026, he featured on the viral song "Talk To You" by Anotr and signed with Interscope Records. He is set to release his debut album in fall 2026.

Early life

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John Anthony Rodriguez was born in 2000 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, to a Puerto Rican father and Dominican mother.[1] His mother was very interested in music and frequently attended bachata and merengue concerts.[2] He got into music when he was fifteen, originally making rap beats before learning guitar and piano during his time in high school and community college, where he learned audio engineering.[3] His beats in high school led to him achieving small regional fame in North Jersey. Rodriguez had also sung in a salsa band for over a year.[4]

Career

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In 2019, Rodriguez was hired at a recording studio after interning for them. He began learning how to sing and write songs and started producing R&B music, inspired by Brent Faiyaz, and writing for other musicians such as RetcH, Fetty Wap, and Kali Uchis.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodriguez unable to work at the studio, so he recorded his songs that were originally meant for other musicians, making them public. He ended up enjoying the process and continued creating music.[3] At this time, he began listening to '70s and '80s artists such as Donnie and Joe Emerson, which influenced his sound.[6]

In June 2023, Rodriguez released the single "Where Are You?", which was his first song to have a Latin sound.[3] The track triples his monthly listener count on Spotify and led him to begin working with producer Max Shrager. They subsequently recorded the singles "Heaven Knows" and "What More Can I Do" together.[4] On May 30, 2025, Rodriguez released his first project, the EP First Works. It was recognized by Billboard as one of the "Best Projects of the Year (So Far)."[7][5][8] In March 2026, Rodriguez's vocals and guitar-playing were featured on the disco track "Talk To You" by Dutch electronic music duo Anotr.[9] After going viral on TikTok, the song reached number one on the World Airplay Radio Monitor (WARM) Global Dance Radio Chart and peaked at number five Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[10] In April, Rodriguez signed with Interscope Records[11] and made his debut at Coachella 2026 music festival.[12] He is set to release his debut studio album in fall 2026.[13]

Influences and artistry

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Rodriguez's music has been described as Latin soul, indie pop, and indie rock, combining smooth vocals and vintage production.[5] Rodriguez, who sings in both English and Spanish, was inspired by other New York City-based Latin musicians such as Joe Bataan, Ralfi Pagan, Héctor Lavoe, and the Fania All-Stars[13] in addition to contemporary artists including Mac DeMarco, Beach House, Dev Hynes, Kali Uchis, and Steve Lacy.[3] He uses many salsa and bolero vocal arrangements in his music, such as call-and-response and vocal layering[4] in addition to pulling from rare soul artists such as Donnie and Joe Emerson.[12] On his debut EP, First Works, he combined new wave music influenced by George Michael and Robert Smith with his R&B influences.[6] His stage name, "54 Ultra", comes from a combination of the disco club Studio 54 in New York City and Frank Ocean's 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra.[1] Rodriguez is also known for his vintage, '70s-inspired style of dress, which he wears day-to-day, even when not performing. His fashion was inspired by that of Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, and Heatwave.[4] He is also into vintage watch collecting.[13]

Discography

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Extended plays

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Title Details
First Works

Singles

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Title Year Album
"Ultra Violet" 2020 Non-album single
"Should I Let This Go?" 2021
"YWMFM / Sunday"
"Sierra" 2022
"Just Like You" 2023
"Where Are You"
"Heaven Knows" 2024
"What More Can I Do"
"Talk 2 Me" 2025 First Works
"Upside Down"
"No Tengo Valor"
"I Won't Go" Non-album single
"Find Your Love"
"Turnaround / I'm Hooked" 2026
"Talk To You (54's Version)"
"Tell Me"

References

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  1. 1 2 Yanguas, Marisol (January 22, 2026). "Live Review: 54 Ultra @ The Atlantis -- 1/18/26 | Parklife DC". Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ "54 Ultra's Retro Soul Captures the Warmth and Texture of Old Tape". Hypebeast. October 29, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, Taylor Winter (August 27, 2025). "Meet 54 Ultra: The NYC Artist Redefining Latin Music on His Own Terms". Galore. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sajonas, Felson (September 23, 2025). "The Retro-Futurist Voice of 54 Ultra". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "54 Ultra Unveils New Single "I Won't Go" and Nostalgic Super 8 Music Video". Live Music Blog. September 11, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "VIDEO: INTERVIEW – 54 Ultra Says Robert Smith, George Michael Were Big Early Influences, Talks 'First Works', Coachella". B-Sides. November 18, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ Green, Quincy (June 24, 2025). "The 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far (Staff Picks)". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Willschick, Aaron (October 21, 2025). "54 Ultra Announces "Live in North America (Part Two)" Tour". V13 Media. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ Weffer, Rene (March 6, 2026). "ANOTR join 54 Ultra on new single 'Talk To You'". Electronic Groove. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ Zellner, Xander (April 28, 2026). "ANOTR & 54 Ultra's 'Talk to You' Tallies Fourth Week at No. 1 on WARM Global Dance Radio Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ Sandiford, Kayla (April 15, 2026). "54 Ultra signs to Interscope/Polydor and shares new singles, "Turnaround" and "I'm Hooked"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Alvarado, Holly (April 19, 2026). "Coachella 2026: 54 Ultra leads a new wave of Latin artists in Sonora Tent". Press Enterprise. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 Freed, Jeremy (February 20, 2026). "Inside a Rising Soul Musician's Extremely Vibey Watch Collection". GQ. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
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