Introduction

Savani Quintanilla is a name that carries weight before he even speaks a word of it himself. As the son of A.B. Quintanilla III and the nephew of the legendary Selena Quintanilla, he was born into one of the most recognized musical dynasties in Latin American history. Yet instead of simply riding on the family name, Savani has spent years building his own identity as a producer, DJ, and sound engineer under the stage name Principe Q.

This article takes a close look at his early life, his rise in the music industry, his connection to the Quintanilla legacy, and the personal details fans often search for, including his family life and net worth. Whether you discovered him through his Screwmbia project or through his tribute work honoring his late aunt Selena, this guide brings together everything currently known about him in one clear, easy-to-read resource.

Early Life and Family

Savani Quintanilla was born on November 27, 1991, in Texas, and he was raised in Corpus Christi, a city with deep roots in Tejano culture. His full name is sometimes spelled Svani, and both spellings appear frequently across fan pages and entertainment sites.

His father is A.B. Quintanilla III, the founder of Kumbia Kings and Kumbia All Starz, and one of the most influential producers in Tejano and cumbia music. His mother is Evangelina Almeida, often known as Vangie, who was A.B.’s first wife. The couple married in the late 1980s and welcomed Savani as their first child a few years later.

Savani is the eldest of A.B. Quintanilla III’s eight children. He has one biological sister, Martika, and several half-siblings from his father’s later relationships, including Gianni and Elijah Jae. Family has always played a central role in his story, both as a source of pride and as a standard he has had to live up to.

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A quick snapshot of his family background is shown in the table below.

Detail	Information
Full Name	Savani Quintanilla (also spelled Svani)
Date of Birth	November 27, 1991
Birthplace	Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Father	A.B. Quintanilla III
Mother	Evangelina “Vangie” Almeida
Sister	Martika Quintanilla
Half-Siblings	Gianni, Elijah Jae, and others
Aunt	Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Nationality	American

His parents’ relationship began in the mid-1980s, at a time when A.B. Quintanilla III had not yet reached the level of success he would later achieve. They married in 1988 and settled in Corpus Christi, a city that would go on to shape much of the family’s musical identity. Savani arrived a few years into their marriage, becoming the first of what would eventually be eight children for his father across different relationships.

Corpus Christi itself is significant to the Quintanilla story. It is the city where Selena grew up performing, where the family’s music business took root, and where the Tejano sound that later crossed over into mainstream American music was refined. Growing up there meant Savani was never far from the physical places tied to his family’s history, from old performance venues to the studios where early Quintanilla records were made.

The family faced significant hardship in 1995 when Selena was murdered at the age of 23, an event that reshaped the entire Quintanilla family and the Tejano music industry as a whole. Savani was a young child at the time, and while he did not experience Selena’s rise to fame directly, he grew up in a household where her memory, her music, and her influence remained a constant presence.

Growing Up Around Music

Music was not something Savani discovered later in life. It was simply part of the household he grew up in. His father worked in recording studios on a near daily basis, and Savani often tagged along, watching songs get written, arranged, and produced from the ground up.

This early exposure gave him a practical education that most aspiring musicians never get. Instead of learning music purely through lessons or textbooks, he absorbed it through observation, sitting in on sessions where cumbia rhythms and Tejano melodies were shaped into finished records.

Growing up in a Mexican-American household also meant that traditional sounds were part of daily life, from family gatherings to car rides. These early influences would later shape the fusion style he became known for, one that blends classic Latin rhythms with contemporary electronic and trap production.

The Quintanilla name itself is inseparable from Tejano music history. His grandfather, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., managed the family’s music career for decades and played a central role in building Selena’s crossover success before her passing in 1995. Growing up surrounded by that history meant Savani understood, from a young age, exactly how high the bar was set.

Education and Musical Development

Details about Savani’s formal academic background remain largely private, and no major outlet has published specifics about which schools he attended. What is well documented, however, is that his real education came from hands-on experience in recording studios and behind DJ booths.

He built his technical skills gradually, learning sound engineering, mixing, and production techniques through practice rather than a traditional classroom setting. This kind of learning is common among children of working musicians, where the family business doubles as an apprenticeship.

His musical development was shaped by a wide mix of genres. Hip-hop, electronic music, chopped and screwed styles from Houston, and traditional cumbia all fed into his creative process. Rather than sticking to one lane, he experimented across styles, which eventually helped him develop a sound distinct from his father’s classic Kumbia Kings era.

This kind of informal apprenticeship is fairly common in music families, where the studio itself becomes the classroom. Instead of learning theory from a textbook, Savani learned by watching how a track moves from a rough idea to a finished master, how vocals are layered against instrumentation, and how a producer makes small adjustments that change the entire feel of a song. Over time, this exposure translated into a genuine technical skill set covering mixing, arrangement, and sound engineering, all of which became the backbone of his later career.

It is also worth noting that his development did not happen in isolation. Being surrounded by working musicians, session players, and established producers gave him access to mentorship that most beginners in the industry never receive. This access, combined with his own willingness to put in the hours behind the boards, is a large part of why he was able to transition from an interested observer into a working professional relatively quickly.

Beginning a Career in Music

Savani did not start his career by immediately using the Quintanilla name. Instead, he began performing and producing under pseudonyms, including an early identity known as DJ Moonpie, while he honed his craft in the underground Texas DJ scene.

This choice was intentional. By working under a different name early on, he gave himself room to build a reputation based purely on skill rather than family connections. It is a common path for children of famous musicians who want to prove themselves before leaning into their heritage.

Over time, he transitioned into the stage name Principe Q, which translates roughly to “Prince Q,” a subtle nod to his royal-sounding lineage without directly invoking the Quintanilla surname. Under this identity, he began producing tracks, DJing live sets, and collaborating with other artists in the Latin music scene.

Career as a Producer and DJ

As Principe Q, Savani has built a career centered on three main pillars: music production, DJ performances, and sound engineering. He is also a member of Kumbia All Starz, the group his father founded in 2006, which connects him directly to the family’s musical tradition while giving him creative freedom.

His production work involves shaping beats and arrangements that combine cumbia’s rhythmic foundation with modern trap percussion and electronic textures. As a DJ, he performs live sets that blend classic Tejano and cumbia favorites with newer, club-ready remixes.

Some of the key elements of his career include:

• Producing original tracks that merge cumbia with trap and electronic elements
• Performing as a DJ at live events and festivals
• Working as a sound engineer on various projects
• Co-founding creative projects like Royal Highness alongside DJ King Louie
• Contributing to Kumbia All Starz recordings and performances

His willingness to experiment rather than simply repeat his father’s formula has helped him carve out a lane that feels current, even while staying connected to his roots.

A closer look at how his career activities compare to earlier generations of the Quintanilla family shows both continuity and change. The table below highlights some of these differences.

Aspect	A.B. Quintanilla III (Father)	Savani Quintanilla (Son)
Primary Era	1990s to 2000s Tejano and cumbia boom	2010s to present, modern fusion
Core Genre	Traditional cumbia and Tejano	Cumbia blended with trap and electronic
Notable Group	Kumbia Kings, Kumbia All Starz	Royal Highness, Kumbia All Starz
Signature Sound	Classic Tejano production	Screwmbia and modern remixes
Public Profile	High profile, mainstream crossover	Lower profile, niche and growing

This comparison shows that while Savani draws heavily from his father’s foundation, he has deliberately shifted the sound to reflect current listening habits, particularly among younger audiences who grew up on hip-hop and electronic production rather than the radio-driven Tejano era of the 1990s.

The Screwmbia Project

One of Savani’s most notable contributions to modern Latin music is Screwmbia, a genre he helped develop alongside his creative partner DJ King Louie. Screwmbia combines traditional cumbia rhythms with the slowed-down, bass-heavy sound of Houston’s chopped and screwed style, along with hip-hop and electronic influences.

The goal behind Screwmbia was straightforward: take a genre with deep cultural roots and reintroduce it to a younger audience raised on hip-hop and electronic music. By slowing tempos and layering in heavier bass, Savani and his collaborator created something that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

This project is closely tied to Royal Highness, the musical duo Savani co-founded with DJ King Louie. Through Royal Highness, the pair have become known for reviving classic Selena songs with a modern twist, including reworked versions of tracks like “Como la Flor” and “Amor Prohibido.” These tribute remixes have helped introduce Selena’s music to listeners who may not have grown up with the originals, while also giving longtime fans a new way to experience songs they already love.

Connection to the Quintanilla Legacy

There is no separating Savani’s story from the broader Quintanilla family legacy. His father, A.B. Quintanilla III, was Selena’s brother, producer, and primary songwriting partner during the years that made her a global icon. That means Savani is not simply a fan of Selena’s music. He is her nephew, tied to her story by blood and by the family business that shaped both of their careers.

Being born into this legacy came with obvious advantages, including access to industry connections and firsthand musical knowledge that most aspiring artists never get. At the same time, it came with real pressure. Selena remains one of the most beloved figures in Latin music history, and any relative working in the same space is bound to be compared to that legacy, fairly or not.

Rather than trying to replicate the exact Tejano formula that made his aunt and father famous in the 1990s, Savani chose a different path. He leaned into evolution instead of imitation, using tribute work and remixes to honor Selena’s memory while building sounds that reflect where music is today. This approach has allowed him to pay respect to his family’s history without being trapped by it.

Musical Style

Savani’s sound sits at the intersection of tradition and innovation. At its core, his music is built on cumbia and Tejano rhythms, the same foundation that defined his family’s earlier success. Layered on top of that foundation are elements of trap, electronic music, and the chopped and screwed sound associated with Houston hip-hop.

This blend gives his work a distinct identity. It is recognizably rooted in Latin music history, but it does not sound like a straightforward continuation of the Kumbia Kings era. Instead, it feels like a natural progression, shaped by an artist who grew up between two musical worlds: the traditional sounds of his family and the contemporary genres popular with his own generation.

Key characteristics of his style include:

1. Slowed-down tempos inspired by the chopped and screwed technique
2. Heavy bass and modern electronic production layered over traditional rhythms
3. Tribute remixes that reinterpret classic Tejano and cumbia songs
4. Collaborative production work that blends multiple genres into one cohesive sound

Public Image

Compared to many public figures connected to famous families, Savani maintains a relatively low profile. He does not court constant media attention, and most of what the public knows about him comes from his own social media posts and occasional features in entertainment coverage.

On platforms like Instagram, he tends to focus on his professional life, sharing updates about music projects, performances, and behind-the-scenes studio moments. He also shares personal glimpses, particularly involving his daughter, but he generally keeps deeper personal details private.

This balance between visibility and privacy has become part of his public identity. He is present enough that fans of the Quintanilla family can follow his work, but private enough that speculation about his personal life rarely dominates the conversation around him.

Media coverage of Savani tends to fall into a few recurring categories. Some outlets focus on his family connections, framing him primarily as A.B. Quintanilla III’s son or Selena’s nephew. Others focus more directly on his creative output, covering his role in Screwmbia and Royal Highness as standalone achievements. This split reflects the broader challenge he faces: being seen as both part of a legendary family and as an artist with his own voice.

Fans who follow him closely often describe his online presence as approachable rather than curated for maximum publicity. He does not appear to chase viral moments or controversy, which fits with the generally understated approach he takes to his public career.

Personal Life

Savani Quintanilla is known to be a private person when it comes to his personal relationships. Publicly available information indicates that he has never been married and is currently single. He has occasionally been linked to figures within the music industry, but he rarely comments on his romantic life in interviews or on social media.

What he has been open about is his role as a father. Savani has a daughter named Yvie, and he frequently shares photos and small updates about their relationship online. The identity of Yvie’s mother has not been publicly disclosed, and Savani appears to prefer keeping that part of his life away from public scrutiny.

Fatherhood is often described as a grounding influence in his life, giving him a sense of purpose beyond his music career. Despite his busy schedule of production work and performances, he is regularly described as a dedicated and hands-on parent.

Net Worth and Income Sources

Estimating the net worth of an artist who keeps much of his financial life private is never an exact science, but based on available reporting, Savani Quintanilla’s net worth is generally estimated to fall between three million and five million dollars.

This figure is drawn from multiple income streams tied to his work in the music industry rather than a single source. The table below breaks down his primary sources of income.

Income Source	Description
Music Production	Producing original tracks and collaborations
DJ Performances	Live sets at events, clubs, and festivals
Sound Engineering	Studio work on various music projects
Royal Highness Project	Revenue from tribute remixes and releases
Kumbia All Starz	Involvement with his father’s established group

It is worth noting that exact figures vary depending on the source, since Savani does not publicly disclose his earnings. The estimates that circulate online should be treated as approximations based on his visible career activity rather than confirmed financial disclosures.

Challenges of Carrying a Famous Surname

Being related to Selena Quintanilla is not a neutral fact for anyone in the extended family. It comes with instant recognition, but also instant expectations. For Savani, carrying the Quintanilla name has meant navigating a career where comparisons to his aunt’s legacy are almost unavoidable.

Some of the specific challenges tied to this position include:

• Constant comparisons to Selena’s cultural impact and musical achievements
• Pressure to honor family tradition while still creating original work
• Public scrutiny of any project connected to the Selena name
• Balancing personal ambition with the responsibility of preserving a family legacy
• Building credibility as an artist independent of his father’s established reputation

His decision to work under pseudonyms early in his career, and later under the name Principe Q rather than his own surname, reflects an awareness of these challenges. By stepping outside the direct shadow of the Quintanilla name at the start of his journey, he gave his music room to be judged on its own merits before audiences learned about his family background.

There is also a cultural weight tied to preserving Selena’s memory specifically. Selena remains a symbol of pride for many Mexican-American and Latino communities, and any project connected to her name is held to a high standard by fans who feel personally protective of her legacy. When Savani and Royal Highness release tribute remixes of her songs, they are not simply covering popular tracks. They are engaging directly with a piece of cultural history that carries deep emotional significance for millions of listeners. Handling that responsibility with care, rather than treating it as a simple marketing opportunity, appears to be something Savani takes seriously in how he approaches his tribute work.

Recent Work and Current Status

As of the most recent available reporting, Savani continues to be active across his core projects. He remains involved with Royal Highness alongside DJ King Louie, continuing to release tribute remixes and original Screwmbia tracks. He also maintains his connection to Kumbia All Starz, staying involved in projects tied to his father’s group.

Beyond music, some reports indicate he has explored ventures outside the recording studio, including entrepreneurial interests. His social media presence remains centered on his professional output, with regular updates about new releases, performances, and studio work.

Looking ahead, Savani appears focused on expanding his reach within Latin music, continuing to blend traditional sounds with contemporary production techniques. Given his consistent output over the past several years, fans can likely expect continued releases and live performances that build on the foundation he has already established.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Savani Quintanilla?

Savani Quintanilla is an American music producer, DJ, and sound engineer, known professionally as Principe Q, and recognized as the son of A.B. Quintanilla III.

How is Savani Quintanilla related to Selena?

He is Selena Quintanilla’s nephew, as his father, A.B. Quintanilla III, was Selena’s brother and longtime producer.

What does Savani Quintanilla do?

He works as a music producer, DJ, and sound engineer, best known for co-creating the Screwmbia genre and co-founding the Royal Highness project.

Is Savani Quintanilla married?

No, Savani Quintanilla has never been married and is currently single, according to publicly available information.

Does Savani Quintanilla have children?

Yes, he has one daughter named Yvie, whom he frequently features in his social media posts.

What is Savani Quintanilla’s net worth?

His net worth is generally estimated to be between three million and five million dollars, earned primarily through music production, DJing, and related projects.

Conclusion

Savani Quintanilla’s story is one of balancing inheritance with individuality. Born into a family whose name is permanently woven into Latin music history, he could have easily leaned entirely on that legacy. Instead, he chose to build his own identity as Principe Q, developing a sound that respects his roots while pushing into new creative territory through projects like Screwmbia and Royal Highness.

His journey reflects the reality faced by many children of famous musicians: the name opens doors, but it also raises expectations that can only be met through genuine effort and originality. Between his production work, his tribute remixes honoring Selena, and his role as a devoted father to his daughter Yvie, Savani continues to shape a career that feels distinctly his own while staying connected to the family legacy that shaped him.

As his work continues to evolve, it is likely that both longtime fans of the Quintanilla family and new listeners discovering Latin music through modern fusion genres will keep an eye on where he takes his sound next.