When Maximo Grado’s Christian Felix made up our minds to make a duet album of the band’s largest hits, Somos Leyenda, or We Are Legends, he knew there’d be an extended line of música mexicana stars prepared to hop on.
“We needed to pay tribute to the crowd’s historical past, but in addition recognize how we’re your favourite Mexican crew’s favourite Mexican crew,” says Felix from his Guadalajara house. “That’s what they let us know, no less than.”
Felix was once proper. He had no factor discovering the likes of Grupo Firme and Carin Leon to Natanael Cano and Fuerza Régida to hop on 15 reimagined variations of Máximo Grado’s signature accordion-backed corridos that date again over a decade. Lots of them credit score the crowd with pioneering the style’s takeover.
“When Christian invited me to be part of this album, I mentioned, ‘Why no longer?’” Eduin Caz of Grupo Firme tells Rolling Stone. “I’d do it with my eyes closed.’”
Felix playfully dramatizes the takeover within the album’s daring, Jacques-Louis David-inspired art work. Within the middle, a cool animated film model of Felix holds a flag, surrounded via the 15 artists who joined him at the album. Natanael Cano‘s photoshopped arm raises a gun, whilst Carin León moves a pose with a rifle. In combination, the album turns out to represent the triumph of Mexican tune.
“The corrido area was once beginning to really feel a little bit monotonous and that’s once we began with our motion,” he says. “I believe that helped spawn what’s introduced us to nowadays. All of it makes me in point of fact glad.”
Máximo Grado led the album rollout with a brand new model in their 2014 tune “Gallos y Caballos” with Cano, who’s persistently cited the band as an inspiration early in his occupation. The tune hears the tumbados big name step clear of his moodier sound; as an alternative, he shall we his voice glide over the accordion. “He’s the sort of hard-working teen and has one-of-a-kind aura,” says Felix of Cano. ”Nata had by no means dabbled in norteño and other folks beloved it.”
Like with Nata, becoming a member of Máximo Grado at the album was once a no brainer: Tito Double P, who joins “El 08,” says he recalls visiting Mazatlán as a child “understanding the phrases of each one in every of their corridones.” Erick Aragón known as Maximo Grado Codiciado’s “largest affect.” Edén Muñoz highlights the “nice reputation and appreciate” the band has earned from everybody within the Mexican tune trade. “This is among the collaborations that has made me happiest,” he says.
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For Felix, it’s an honor to obtain reputation from his colleagues and he accepts the acknowledgment with open fingers. The Grado have an effect on, as noticed via the artists featured at the file, has been basic around the spectrum of música mexicana.
Félix may discuss for days about sharing chelas with JOP of Fuerza Régida’s circle of relatives or getting a couple of laughs out of the “reserved” Junior H whilst recording their collaborations, however the tale that moved Félix maximum was once listening to from Carín León who recounted how he was once in a position to live to tell the tale via taking part in covers of Maximo Grado’s songs.
“You fed me for a few years,” Felix recalls León telling him. “Your songs saved me afloat. Why wouldn’t I give a boost to you in this?”
“It’s stunning to keep in mind the ones dream-filled days, looking for a possibility out there,” León tells Rolling Stone. “And now to collaborate with other folks you’ve admired and who very much influenced your musical construction makes me mirror on the place we at the moment are.”
Felix sees the growth of Mexican genres as a continuation of the evolution that his tune, like that of the overdue Ariel Camacho, helped pioneer. Alternatively, one of the conversations in regards to the tune round its debatable lyrics about drug trafficking and the idolization of narcos have remained. “There are individuals who have a morbid fascination round this subject,” he says candidly. “Those are the tales of el pueblo and completed with a large number of appreciate.”
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On Somos Leyenda, Felix duets with Marca Registrada about El Chapo Guzman’s son on “Iván el Chapito” and he sings with Tito Double P about Jalisco New Era Cartel chief Javier Guerrero on “El 08.” Felix doesn’t thoughts being requested in regards to the subject — he’s been fielding those questions for years. “Preventing narcocorridos isn’t the primary approach to finishing violence and drug trafficking problems that experience affected the rustic for see you later,” he continues. “Censoring unfastened speech isn’t the approach to any drawback.”
He does have his local Sinaloa in thoughts even though, and reveals it unlucky that a few of his collaborators, together with Grupo Firme, have not too long ago been compelled to cancel presentations at a Mazatlán competition over loss of life threats. The cartel problems are deeper than simply leisure. “I’m from Culiacán and know what existence is like there: Persons are so hardworking there and it’s the sort of vital state of affairs to peer such a lot of other folks and companies affected. It’s a frightening state of affairs,” he says.
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In spite of the problems hanging his house state, Felix hopes his new album will function a party of the expansion of Mexico’s tune on a world level general. The sounds of the accordions and drums from their songs proceed to soundtrack carne asadas and circle of relatives events nowadays. However Felix is already eager about the long run. Somos Leyendas ends with “8,000 KM” that includes pop big name Belinda, who not too long ago forayed from bubblegum pop to heavier, corridos bélicos — the pop singer in reality requested Máximo Grado if she may sign up for the album.
“I do know Belinda didn’t concentrate to our tune rising up, nevertheless it labored out superbly,” he says. “It’s necessary to step from your convenience zone,” he says. “We need to refresh this and stay evolving this motion.”
