Stephen Smith-Contreras (he/him/el)

Musician / Educator / Producer / Global Sound Selector

Yucasoul Música.

Stephen Smith-Contreras (he/him/el) is a cultural worker, educator, musician, and community advocate who brings over 20 years of experience in creative youth development, with a deep commitment to social and economic justice. He is passionate about using music and the arts as tools for transformation, dedicating his career to supporting young people and communities through education, cultural programming, and advocacy.

Stephen currently serves as the Director of Programs at Youth on Record, a Denver-based nonprofit working at the intersection of music, community, and mental health. In this role, he oversees programs that engage more than 1,500 young people annually and co-leads organizational strategy focused on creative education, wellness, and workforce development. Throughout his career, he has designed and led arts education initiatives in partnership with schools, universities, arts institutions, and grassroots organizations. Prior to joining Youth on Record, he worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA)—Gustavo Dudamel’s signature initiative—where he managed national initiatives and a range of community-based music projects.

As an artist, Stephen performs and creates under the name Yucasoul. A lifelong percussionist, producer, and DJ, Yucasoul explores the vibrant intersections of Afro-Latin percussion and electronic music. His work draws inspiration from the rhythms of the Afro-Latin diaspora and the soundscapes of cities like Lima, Santo Domingo, and Mexico City. Whether through crate-digging, live performance, or DJ sets, Yucasoul crafts soulful, high-energy journeys that move both body and spirit. Blurring the lines between live drumming and DJing, he uses music as a cultural bridge—connecting communities and celebrating rhythm as a shared language.

Stephen holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, and Music from the University of Colorado Boulder and California State University, Los Angeles.