Proyecto Sur is a Chicago-based salsa band led by Latin bassist, composer, and music director Jose I. Figueroa. Raised in Puerto Rico, Figueroa was introduced to salsa at an early age, drawing inspiration from both the classic salsa bands of the 1960s and 1970s and the romantic salsa sounds of the 1990s. The project's signature style fuses traditional salsa rhythms with pop music influences.
The group is known for producing salsa-flavor arrangements of popular English-language songs, beginning with their 2017 release of "Shape of You (Salsa Version)", followed by covers of "Ordinary People" and "Sir Duke" in 2020, and "Easy on Me" in 2023. In 2023, Proyecto Sur released the single "Perfecto," a song written by Figueroa dedicated to his firstborn son, featuring collaboration with pianist and arranger Efrain "Junito" Davila.
In addition to holiday-themed arrangements like "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (2019) and "Jingle Bells (Salsa Version)" (2024), the band has maintained a steady output of original singles, including "Romántico Sabrosón" (2024), "Apartment #314" (2024), and "Rompecabezas" (2025).
