Carín León Says There’s Nothing ‘Regional’ About His Music

Of course, those musical traditions vary from region to region, and some of the traditional instrumentation might surprise gringo listeners. The tubas and accordions in Banda and Norteño music were brought to Mexico by German, Czech and Polish immigrants who came to build the country’s railroads starting in the 1860s. Yes, that is polka music you are hearing among the influences of Mexican Regional Music.

But León isn’t putting up with this gringo label. In his “F*ck Regional” manifesto, he says:

What does “regional” mean? An umbrella term? … We don’t fit in this term. We are much more than that. We are banda, corridos, mariachis. We are flavor, emotion, revolution, countless colors and feelings. Always badass.

F*ck “regional.” It is … a term imposed by others to put us in a corner. We are much more than this.

We are a musical and artistic revolution. They listen to us all over the world: on Mexican streets, in the Colombian hills, at U.S. schools, in Puerto Rican barrios, on Spain’s street corners, and in Tokyo skyscrapers.

We are a hundred-year history that hasn’t ended … We are much more than a label. We are a movement.

Impressive words. And León’s music backs up those words. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, his voice and his music will immediately grab you. I’m no expert on Mexican regional music, but it certainly grabbed me.

Carín León was born in Hermosillo in the Northern Mexican State of Sonora, a four-hour drive from Tucson, Arizona. He was exposed to a wide variety of Spanish- and English-language music growing up. He first found success with Grupo Arranke and their 2017 hit “A Través del Vaso” (“Through the Glass”).

In 2018, after seven years of playing with Grupo Arranke, León began his solo career. Since then, it has been a steady and prolific climb toward greater success. He has released 7 studio albums and several live albums. The two albums he released in 2024— Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 and Palabra De To’s—have 35 songs between them. León opened for the Rolling Stones and played at the Stagecoach country music festival, the Coachella rock music festival, and the Grand Ole Opry, all in 2024.

León has a smooth and soulful voice, with that ache that characterizes the best country, soul and, yes, Mexican regional music. His range is impressive, equally expressive from low notes to high notes. León’s music is rooted in Banda and Norteño, but you can hear the influences of country, pop, R&B, rock and all sorts of Latin music in there. He is part of a wave of Mexican artists rooted in traditional rural music that has achieved wide popularity in Mexico and the U.S., including Peso Pluma, Grupo Frontera, Fuerza Regida, Natanael Cano and Eslabon Armado.

León’s Grammy-winning Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 is a conscious attempt to broaden his influences. The album starts with “Cuando la Vida Sea Trago” (“When Life is a Drink”), a mid-tempo song out of the Banda/Norteño tradition, with electric guitars and keyboards replacing acoustic guitar and accordion. But halfway through the tuba appears, carrying the bassline with resurgent life. León sings in Spanish with regret, but no desire to change, about all the people he hurt by being a “bad boy” (he sings this phrase in English).

The next song is “Otra Vez” (“Again”) a straight-ahead mid-tempo pop song—no tuba or accordion anywhere!—that could fit comfortably on U.S. radio, apart from the Spanish lyrics. The song starts slow, but the instrumentation picks up speed and León’s pleading vocals become more urgent. The English word “baby” stands out. The song is powerful, though I think someone should talk to León about his wooing strategy. The line “How I miss your body in a bikini” is not likely to resonate with the woman León is trying to win back.

Several guest stars join him on the record, including Texas soul singer Leon Bridges and Mexican-American Mariachi singer Pepe Aguilar. My favorite song on the album is “The One (Pero No Como Yo)” a duet with U.S. country music singer Kane Brown. The song is a sort of Banda/country music fusion. I love the similarities and differences between León’s Spanish vocals and Brown’s English ones. As the song progresses, León ruffs up his voice, leaning into a higher, whining tone, to further contrast their voices. They are singing about women who left them, but it sounds to me like Brown wants his ex back more than León does.

León successfully covers a range of genres on the record, alternating between traditional Mexican Regional songs (sorry for the use of that label again, Carín) and songs more influenced by pop, R&B, rock and country music. He always sounds like himself, even when broadening his sound. Take, for instance,  his duet with the Argentinian singer Bolela on “Aviso Importante” (“Important Notice”) accompanied by the Hammond B3 organ. “Frené Mis Pies” (“I Stopped My Feet”) is a convincing rock song. “Bebé No Cambies Tú” (“Baby Don’t Change”) is a power ballad (think “Purple Rain”). He even sings a sort of Ska/Cumbia fusion with Mexican ska band Panteón Rococó.

For me, the songs that work best on Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 are the ones that keep more of the Mexican Regional sound and feel. The closing song, “Despídase Bien” (“Say Goodbye Properly”), starts out with electric piano that could be out of a 1970s Leon Russell record. A gospel choir comes in at key moments. But the rhythm of the song, and the quality of León’s voice, keeps the song rooted in Mexican Regional music, even when a groovy, space age organ comes in at the end. It is a powerful song.

Ultimately, León’s voice is what makes his music compelling, always connecting with his listeners, whether whispering, belting or pleading. There is a yearning in his voice that does not go away, even when his singing is at its most buttery smooth. That yearning quality transcends language, so you know what he is singing about, even if you don’t understand the Spanish lyrics.

León’s music truly transcends its regional roots without losing its specificity and its connection to a tradition. Carín León’s music is genuinely global. It is music for everyone.

Here is a playlist of some of my favorite songs by Carín León from throughout his career.

Lee WinkelmanMore by this author →

Lee Winkelman is a long-time community organizer and pop culture fan. He lives in Los Angeles.