Savani Quintanilla: The Creative Force Behind Modern Cumbia and a Famous Musical Legacy
Savani Quintanilla, more commonly documented as Svani Quintanilla, is an American DJ, music producer and sound engineer known professionally as Principe Q, while his connection to A.B. Quintanilla III and the wider Quintanilla family has made him a subject of interest among fans of Selena and modern Latin music. Public records and music sources identify him as A.B. Quintanilla III’s son and Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s nephew, but his own musical path has developed through DJ culture, electronic production, cumbia, hip-hop and the Texas-rooted style known as Screwmbia.
Quick Bio
| Fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Svani Quintanilla |
| Common Search Name | Savani Quintanilla |
| Professional Name | Principe Q |
| Earlier Professional Name | Principe Cu |
| Profession | DJ, music producer and sound engineer |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth Date | November 27; public sources differ on the birth year |
| Birthplace | Texas, United States; Corpus Christi is strongly associated with his early career |
| Father | A.B. Quintanilla III |
| Mother | Evangelina “Vangie” Almeida |
| Sister | Martika Quintanilla |
| Famous Aunt | Selena Quintanilla-Pérez |
| Known For | Royal Highness, Screwmbia and Latin/electronic production |
| Daughter | Yvie Quintanilla |
| Public Status | Active music professional with a relatively private personal life |
Who Is Savani Quintanilla?
Savani Quintanilla is the spelling frequently used in online searches, although Svani Quintanilla is the form found more consistently in music credits and family references. He is the son of A.B. Quintanilla III, the musician, producer and songwriter associated with Selena y Los Dinos and later the Kumbia Kings and Kumbia All Starz. Rather than relying solely on his family name, Svani developed an identity of his own as Principe Q, working in DJ performance, music production, remixing and sound engineering. His most distinctive contribution is his association with Screwmbia, a hybrid approach that brings cumbia together with trap drums, slowed-down production and electronic or urban influences. The connection to Selena remains important to his public story, but available interviews show that he speaks about her not simply as a famous relative, but as an aunt he remembers with affection. In a 2025 CBS Texas interview, Svani recalled being about three or four years old when Selena died and said that she and his sister were treated with great love by their aunt.
Background in Music Production and DJ Culture
Music was already part of Svani Quintanilla’s environment because his father had established a major career as a musician and producer before Svani entered adulthood. His professional development, however, moved toward DJ culture and contemporary production rather than simply reproducing the musical formula associated with his father’s generation. Public music biographies identify him with the Principe Q name, while earlier material credits him as Principe Cu. The latter name was connected to cumbia and became part of the concept behind Royal Highness. His collaboration with DJ Luis Espada, professionally known as King Louie, became especially important because the pair explored how cumbia could be reshaped through the sounds of Houston and contemporary electronic music. In 2012, Royal Highness released the Screwmbia project, whose own Bandcamp description says it was created to integrate trap, cumbia and other sounds with an authentic Texas feel. The release credits Svani Quintanilla and Luis Espada as the artists.
Relationship with Evangelina Almeida
Evangelina Almeida, commonly identified as Evangelina “Vangie” Almeida, is publicly documented as Svani Quintanilla’s mother and A.B. Quintanilla III’s first wife. Public family records identify A.B. and Vangie as the parents of two children, daughter Martika Quintanilla and son Svani Quintanilla. Unlike her former husband and son, Vangie has maintained a comparatively low public profile, so reliable information about her personal life and activities is limited. This distinction is important when discussing the Quintanilla family because internet biographies sometimes repeat details without establishing their original source. The strongest publicly available family references consistently connect Evangelina Almeida with Svani’s immediate family, while more extensive details about her career, current activities or private life have not been reliably disclosed. For that reason, it would be inappropriate to add unverified claims simply to make a biography appear more complete.
Parenthood and Family Life
Svani Quintanilla has also entered the next generation of the Quintanilla family as a father. Public family records identify his daughter as Yvie Quintanilla, born in September 2017. Sources also associate Yvie’s mother with Chatty Celeste Cave, although Svani has generally kept his private relationships away from the center of his public career. This relatively reserved approach means that information about his family life should be treated carefully, particularly because entertainment websites sometimes publish conflicting claims about relationships, marriage and personal circumstances. What can be established from publicly available family references is that Svani has a daughter and that his family connection extends beyond being A.B. Quintanilla III’s son. His role as a father also places him within a younger generation of the Quintanilla family, a family whose musical history has continued to attract public attention for decades.
Life After Selena Quintanilla’s Death
Selena Quintanilla’s death in March 1995 became one of the defining events in the history of Tejano music, and it also shaped the family history surrounding Svani Quintanilla. Because Svani was only a small child at the time, his own memories are limited, but he has spoken publicly about the personal side of Selena rather than focusing only on her celebrity status. During a 2025 CBS Texas interview connected to the 30th anniversary of Selena’s death, he described her as a beautiful person and recalled the affection she showed toward him and his sister. His later musical work has also maintained a connection with Selena’s music. Royal Highness produced a Screwmbia version of “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” demonstrating how Selena’s songs could be introduced into a newer production environment while remaining recognizable to listeners. The relationship between his family history and musical work therefore exists on two levels: personal remembrance and creative reinterpretation.
Career Highlights and Public Recognition
The most significant professional milestone associated with Svani Quintanilla is the creation of Royal Highness with Luis Espada, or King Louie, and their development of Screwmbia. Houston Press described Royal Highness in 2013 as a duo combining cumbia with electronic dance styles, while also identifying Svani as A.B. Quintanilla’s son and Selena’s nephew. Their 2012 Screwmbia release gave the concept a concrete musical identity, combining cumbia with trap and other contemporary sounds. Later artist information for Principe Q describes a broader career involving DJ performances, production and remix work, while music listings connect him with events and performances beyond Texas. His SoundCloud biography states that he adopted the Principe Q name in 2012 and has performed at events associated with the wider Latin and electronic music scene. A 2020 podcast description also identified him as one of the founders of Screwmbia and linked his work to the cumbia tradition of his family. These sources show a career that is best understood not as an extension of A.B. Quintanilla’s work, but as a separate attempt to modernize cumbia through contemporary production.
Why People Search for Savani Quintanilla
Search interest in Savani Quintanilla comes from several overlapping parts of his story. First, people encounter his name while researching A.B. Quintanilla III and naturally want to understand the producer’s children and family background. Second, Selena fans search for her nephew to learn about the relatives who knew her personally and about how her musical legacy continues through later generations. Third, music listeners discover Principe Q through Screwmbia, Royal Highness and contemporary cumbia projects and then look for information about the person behind the stage name. There is also a spelling issue behind many searches because Savani is commonly searched online while Svani appears frequently in music credits and family records. This means a useful biography needs to explain the naming variation rather than treating Savani and Svani as two different people. His appeal ultimately comes from the combination of family history and an independent creative career: he belongs to a famous musical dynasty, but his professional identity is closely tied to DJ culture, production and experimentation with modern cumbia.
Privacy, Accuracy and Public Information
Reliable information about Savani Quintanilla is considerably stronger for his music career and family relationships than for his private life. Public sources support his identity as Svani Quintanilla, his connection to A.B. Quintanilla III, his relationship to Selena as her nephew, his work as Principe Q, his role in Royal Highness and his association with Screwmbia. By contrast, claims about exact birth year, detailed education, current residence, relationship status and financial worth vary between online publications or are not supported by sufficiently authoritative sources. For that reason, this article does not present disputed personal information as established fact and does not assign a net-worth figure to him. His birth date is often listed as November 27, but publicly available sources disagree about whether the year is 1990 or 1991. The most responsible approach is therefore to acknowledge the discrepancy rather than manufacture certainty. This standard is especially important for biographies involving non-public family members, because a person’s connection to a celebrity does not make every detail of their private life public information.
Conclusion
Savani Quintanilla, more consistently identified in public music material as Svani Quintanilla, represents a younger chapter in the musical story associated with A.B. Quintanilla III and the wider Quintanilla family. His importance is not limited to being Selena Quintanilla’s nephew or A.B. Quintanilla’s son; through Principe Q, Royal Highness and Screwmbia, he developed a musical identity that connects cumbia with trap, electronic production and Houston’s chopped-and-screwed influence. His family background undoubtedly provides context for understanding his path, but his professional work gives the story its own substance. Public interviews also reveal a personal connection to Selena based on childhood memories of her kindness, while his role as a father adds another dimension to his place within the Quintanilla family. Because some biographical details remain disputed or undisclosed, the most accurate picture is one that separates documented facts from online claims and respects the privacy of people who have chosen to remain outside the spotlight.
More Read: Scott Morfee: Acclaimed Off-Broadway Producer and Kelly Curtis’ Husband
FAQs
Who is Savani Quintanilla?
Savani Quintanilla, usually documented as Svani Quintanilla, is an American DJ and producer known professionally as Principe Q and associated with Screwmbia.
Who is Savani Quintanilla’s father?
Savani Quintanilla’s father is A.B. Quintanilla III, the musician and producer associated with Selena, Kumbia Kings, Kumbia All Starz and Latin music.
Is Savani Quintanilla related to Selena?
Yes. Savani Quintanilla is Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s nephew because his father, A.B. Quintanilla III, was Selena’s older brother.
Who is Evangelina Almeida?
Evangelina “Vangie” Almeida is Savani Quintanilla’s mother and A.B. Quintanilla III’s first wife. Public records identify them as Svani’s parents.
What is Principe Q known for?
Principe Q is known for DJing, production and his work with Royal Highness, particularly Screwmbia, which blends cumbia with trap and slowed-down sounds.
Does Savani Quintanilla have children?
Yes. Public family records identify one daughter, Yvie Quintanilla, born in 2017. Further details about his private family life remain limited publicly.



