biography

Leon Chiprout is a multi-instrumentalist and visual artist living between Mexico City and Madrid. His music is elegant, playful, and deeply human.

Chiprout first gained recognition as the guitarist for Aleks Syntek y La Gente Normal, earning a Gold Record for their second studio release, opening for Duran Duran, and recording with Ray Manzarek (The Doors) and Stephanie Spruill (Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin). He later founded Los Fulanos, signing with EMI Capitol for an album produced by Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music). His songwriting catalog is represented by Warner Chappell Music.

Leon Chiprout

Photo · Press 2026

Leon Chiprout

After three decades building a career in photography and cinematography, Chiprout returned to music through the piano. That return unlocked something new: a way of composing driven by groove, movement, and a restless curiosity that avoids predictability.

His debut solo project, Superficially Profound, features Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) on guitar, percussionist Luis Conte (James Taylor, Pat Metheny), saxophonist Tim Armacost (Randy Brecker, Al Foster), and bassist Sabo Romo. Jazz has always been Chiprout's deepest love — the music that first opened his ears to the full possibilities of sound. With Superficially Profound, he finally makes it his own.

Chiprout will release a series of singles throughout 2026, leading to the full album.

It is not a comeback. It is a beginning.

trajectory

  • 1989Co-founds Aleks Syntek y La Gente Normal with Aleks Syntek and Michel Rojkind. The band signs with EMI.Wikipedia
  • 1990Guitar on the debut album ¡Hey Tú! (EMI).Discogs
  • 1993Guitar on Más fuerte de lo que pensaba (EMI), with Sabo Romo on bass and Ray Manzarek (The Doors) on keyboards.Discogs
  • 1994Guitar on Tania Libertad’s África en América, and the album’s photography. Shoots covers for Café Tacvba (Re), Kabah and others.Discogs
  • 1996Founds Los Fulanos. Their album is produced by Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music).Manzanera
  • 1998The Los Fulanos video “Creo en mí”, shot on 35mm. Leon turns to photography and cinematography.Video
  • 2008Director of photography of the feature 3:19 (dir. Dany Saadia).IMDb
  • 2018Los Angeles unit DP on Lie Exposed (dir. Jerry Ciccoritti).AMC
  • 2021Publishes the photobook Profoundly Superficial (Fauna), thirty years of images, presented in Mexico City and Madrid.Excélsior
  • 2023Lisboa 77 & Aleks Syntek, “Ser Sin Ser”: Leon writes, sings, plays guitars, co-produces and co-directs the video.Video
  • 2026Superficially Profound, his solo debut: “Chord Shapes” feat. Luis Conte (August) and “Runaway” feat. Sabo Romo (October).Music

cinematography

  • 20083:19Feature · Director of photographyIMDb
  • 2012Hidden MoonFeature · Second unit DP, B cameraIMDb
  • 2013Jirón de nieblaFeature · CinematographerIMDb
  • 2016The Devil’s GardenTV movie · CinematographerIMDb
  • 2018Thin MarginsSeries · Director of photographyIMDb
  • 2019Lie ExposedFeature · Los Angeles unit DPIMDb
  • 2019Betty en NYSeries · New York unit DPIMDb
  • 2022SalFeature · CinematographerIMDb

Member of the AMC (Asociación Mexicana de Cinefotógrafos). Commercial work for brands including L’Oréal, Ford, Baileys, Gatorade and PlayStation — Reel

press

  • 2026Cinemedios — “Aleks Syntek y la Gente Normal: de todo menos normales”Read
  • 2022La Silla Rota — “Superficial profundo”, on the photobookRead
  • 2021La Jornada — on analog and digital photographyRead
  • 2021Excélsior — “Reúnen distintas miradas del fotógrafo mexicano León Chiprout”Read
  • 2021Revista 192 — Portfolio, with a prologue by Guillermo ArriagaRead
  • 2021Instituto Cultural de México en España — book presentation, MadridRead
  • 2018Cinefotógrafo (AMC) — “Desnuda a Los Ángeles con su lente”Read
  • 2018Cinefotógrafo (AMC) — “Un cinefotógrafo muy fashion”Read

interviews & talks

  • 2026Mesas Imposibles (WARP × Clase Azul) — panel: have artists become brands?Watch
  • 2026One Jazz — Contratiempo Radio plays “Chord Shapes”Listen
  • 2024Joy Boy y los Plausibles — on Lisboa 77 and La Gente NormalWatch
  • 2023Live conversation with Aleks Syntek on “Ser Sin Ser”Watch
  • 2021Centro de la Imagen — presentation of Profoundly SuperficialWatch
  • 2021Librería Porrúa — “Un cambio de miradas durante 3 décadas”Watch
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