NPR Music editor and Alt.Latino host discuss exciting new albums out May 10, including Mexican regional fusion, R&B singer's reflective style, and a blockbuster indie artist collection for a 90s movie soundtrack. Dive into diverse genres and artist highlights in this episode.
Emerging artists in regional Mexican music blend traditional rhythms with modern influences, leading the genre resurgence.
Young Mexican Americans are driving the authentic revival of regional Mexican music by embracing cultural roots.
Deep dives
Grupo Frontera: Leaders in Regional Mexican Music
Grupo Frontera, emerging from McAllen, Texas, represents the movement in regional Mexican music. Their music, born from the border of Mexico and America, has led the resurgence of this genre. The band, initially not expecting a music career, has become the face of a growing movement. Their fusion of traditional Mexican rhythms with modern influences has contributed to the genre's recent success.
Authenticity and Organic Growth in Regional Mexican Music
The resurgence of regional Mexican music is marked by a more authentic and organic approach. Artists like Grupo Frontera and their producer, Edgar Barrera, focus on creating music that reflects their experiences and resonates with audiences authentically. This emergence is driven by young Mexican Americans embracing their cultural roots and contributing to the genre's evolution.
Cross-Cultural Influences and Unapologetic Expression
The current wave of regional Mexican music combines traditional rhythms and instrumentation with modern styles, creating a fusion that is unapologetically authentic. Unlike past crossover attempts that catered to industry demands, this new trend is driven by a genuine love for the music. Artists like Grupo Frontera and others are boldly blending diverse influences, resonating with a global audience.
Diverse Sounds and Experimental Collaboration in Regional Mexican Music
The regional Mexican music scene is experiencing a diverse creative surge, incorporating influences from various genres and regions. Collaborations with artists like Bad Bunny and Nicki Nicole bring fresh sounds to traditional styles. Producers like Edgar Barrera push boundaries by experimenting with new sounds and creating innovative musical experiences.
This week's episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered showcases artists stretching limits across a wide spectrum of genres. NPR Music editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre dig into the most exciting albums out May 10, 2024, from a juggernaut of the Mexican regional scene experimenting with song forms and sounds from across Latin America to an R&B singer getting loose after portraying a jazz icon to a blockbuster collection of contemporary indie artists pulled together for the soundtrack of a discombobulating movie rooted in the 1990s.
Featured Albums: • Grupo Frontera, Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada • Andra Day, Cassandra (cherith) • Various Artists, I Saw the TV Glow Original Soundtrack
Other notable albums out May 10: • Yaya Bey, Ten Fold • Les Savy Fav, OUI LSF • I. Jordan, I Am Jordan • Ryan Castro, El Cantante del Ghetto • Amen Dunes, Death Jokes • Arab Strap, I'm totally fine with it don't give a f*** anymore • Brad Mehldau, After Bach II • Brad Mehldau, Après Fauré • Chick Corea & Béla Fleck, Remembrance • Chief Keef, Almighty So 2 • Conway the Machine, Slant Face Killah • Dehd, Poetry • Gunna, One of Wun • How To Dress Well, I Am Toward You • Jim White and Marisa Anderson, Swallowtail • Kelsey Waldon, There's Always a Song • Kings of Leon, Can We Please Have Fun • Mick Harvey, Five Ways to Say Goodbye • Morgan Guerin, Tales of the Facade • Myriam Gendron, Mayday • Orville Peck, Stampede, Vol. 1 • Shannon & the Clams, The Moon Is In The Wrong Place