Nacho Estrella —born Fausto Ignacio Estrella in San Francisco de Macorís— is a Dominican singer-songwriter and comedian who went from bachata and ballads at local piano bars to national fame in 2026, when he finished second on the reality show «Planeta Alofoke».

From San Francisco de Macorís to the piano bars

He started in music with a local group in his hometown and, when El Caribe profiled him in January 2024, described himself as a ballad singer and bachatero with two groups of his own — one for piano-bar shows and one for popular bachata parties — working mainly around San Francisco de Macorís and Tenares. The ballad «Deberían darme un Óscar», which he wrote, opened doors for him in his hometown, and the bachatas «Ahí Va el Loquito» and «Dicen» became popular there and in some United States cities. At that point he had been singing for about two years.

Humor on Instagram

Alongside the music he became known as a comedian on Instagram, where his catchphrase “Saludo, ¿cómo tan y lo niño?” spread. He described the humor in 2024 as a hobby that had led brands to promote products through him.

«Sangre en el romo»

In January 2024 he released the bachata «Sangre en el romo», which he wrote about a heartbroken man drowning his pain in alcohol, with arrangements by Luis Conse, known as “Chavalito”. He said his taste for the amargue style came from his admiration for Luis Vargas, whom he called his favorite bachatero. His channel now lists a version of the song with Luis Vargas, and Listín Diario reported in July 2026 that another song he wrote had been recorded by the veteran and was in production.

«Los Bebedores» and «Planeta Alofoke»

His songs «Hija de la noche» and «Los Bebedores» brought him a much larger audience in 2026. In April 2026 he joined «Planeta Alofoke», the 24-hour reality show produced by Santiago Matías, and on 26 and 27 May finished second, winning US$100,000 after a final decided by viewers’ superchat votes against Carlos Montesquieu, who took the US$200,000 first prize; Listín Diario reported that the final drew more than 2.6 million live viewers.

Legacy

His concert «Bachata bohemia», combining his own songs with a tour of romantic bachata, was set for 7 August 2026 at Hard Rock Café Santo Domingo. He released «Encontré la mía» with Wason Brazobán that year and has paid live tribute to Joe Veras and Anthony Ríos. He told Listín Diario that, wherever his career leads, he will not “divorce” himself from emerging artists and piano-bar singers.