Somos: Voces

Genres may go out of style, but the signature sound of Mexico endures thanks to the centuries of balladeers, with violin, trumpet, vihuela and guitarrón soundtracking rich stories of heartbreak and despair. Exemplified by Jorge Negrete's "México Lindo y Querido", mariachi music is deeply rooted in the country's history. The emotion embedded in mariachi music—and throughout this playlist—lives on through the catalogues of greats like Pedro Infante and Lucha Villa as well as recent hits by rising stars Christian Nodal and Ángela Aguilar. A star of Mexico's golden age of cinema in the '40s and '50s, the Sinaloa-bred Infante incorporated what have become mariachi standards in his films. One that especially stands the test of time is the aptly titled "Cien Años". Similarly, Chihuahua's Villa graced the big screen in the '60s with her music; "Que Me Llevé El Diablo" remains a striking moment in her songbook. Mariachi music owes much of its success to another Chihuahua native, singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. From the '70s onwards, he brought to life the pain in his lyrics—like in 1974's "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez"—or drew that essence out of the countless artists that recorded his songs. Their reach extended beyond Mexico with the likes of Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal. Her haunting take on Gabriel's "Costumbres" lingers in the genre like the hope she had for an old flame's return. Family music dynasties in Mexico have kept mariachi music going in the bloodline. Jalisco legend Vicente "Chente" Fernández has belted out heartache like no other throughout his storied career, especially on the grito­-powered "Volver Volver". His son, Alejandro Fernández, followed in his footsteps and became a staple in the genre. Now, Chente's grandson Alex Fernández Jr. continues this legacy. Similarly, the Aguilar dynasty is thriving with Pepe Aguilar (1998's "Por Mujeres Como Tú" is a stunner) and now his daughter, 16-year-old Ángela Aguilar. Mexican culture and music are very much a part of the fabric of the US, of course, and that's reflected through generations of crossover stars. Before her death in 1995, Tex-Mex icon Selena dabbled in mariachi music with a chilling version of "Tú, Solo Tú". The late queen of banda music, Long Beach, California, native Jenni Rivera, also dug deep vocally to deliver the stirring "Ya Lo Sé" in 2009. Both artists made their mark in regional Mexican music while proudly representing both sides of the border. As for the future of mariachi music, Sonora's Nodal is the fresh face of the genre. With his unique mariacheño blend with norteño on the smouldering "No Te Contaron Mal", he's capturing a new generation of listeners. US stars like John Legend want in on the movement; he recently featured on the all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache's "Quisiera". The Latin Grammy-winning group is keeping things interesting with their refreshing jazz and alternative music fusions. Through these artists’ works and the preceding classics, mariachi music continues to move millions. —LUCAS VILLA