"Mariachi Is Dead" is a a podcast about Mariachi music and how to change it. It's about being Mexican-American and celebrating life in two worlds. Episode 1 tells my story and defines Nuevo Mariachi. Episode 2 is about what happens when somebody's chocolate lands in someone else's peanut butter. I talk about Flamenco fusion and where …
Querida
I wrote Querida with Larry Bastian on an old guitar when my heart was breaking. Thank you Patrick A. Contreras, Jorge Luis Laris, Marisa Orduño, and Michael Monteiro for bringing the song to life.
I Love My First Hater
Yesterday was a good day. My video for Sabor A Mí hit 10,000 views on Facebook and I love my first hater! "You need vocal lessons... desperately. Just bad." Yes! Good art is polarizing. People have to love the work or hate the work. If they don't choose sides than the art is average. Average is for …
Vicente Fernandez Phone Call
Vicente Fernandez called me today and yelled "You're destroying Mariachi. All your ideas are crazy!" I told him, "Chente, Chente, how could I ever do what you did? You're the king of Ranchera. The KING! You drip Mexicanismo. I could never be you. I don't even want to try." "Well then, who are you?" he …
Why Mariachi? Why Sabor A Mí?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9r5l2xBFKw&feature=youtu.be About two years ago, I was talking to Noé Rodríguez. He's my friend from Mexico City. He loves what's current, especially in the Underground D.F. music scene. I asked him, "Noé, is there anything new happening in Mariachi?" He fell out of his chair laughing! He looked at me in the eyes and said, …
What is Nuevo Mariachi?
Mariachi was born in Jalisco. He crossed the Rio Grande as a bracero and started working in Texas. Later, he picked fruit in California and eventually brought his family to settle down in the Central Valley. After several years, he saved up enough money to buy a beautiful ranch. His sons grew up and became respected contractors …