Grupo Frontera is breaking barriers yet again. This time, the group has been selected for Apple Music’s Up Next program after taking a huge part in helping Mexican music go global last year.
Groupo Frontera went viral last year with their norteño cover of the song “No Se Va” by Colombian band Morat. The Texas-based group kept the momentum going strong into this year, becoming the first regional Mexican music act to land multiple songs on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart. They teamed up with corridos tumbados act Fuerza Regida for the smash hit “Bebe Dame” and Mexican crooner Carin Leon for the heart-wrenching “Que Vuelvas.”
“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by the support and love we’ve received from fans around the world,” Adelaido “Payo” Solís III, the lead singer of Grupo Frontera, shares with LATINA. “We never expected this level of success, but our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for everyone who has helped us get here. We love sharing our music while representing our hometown and cultural heritage, and this is more than we ever could’ve dreamed of.”
Grupo Frontera reached a new level of success after collaborating with Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny on their genre-defying hit “Un x100to”. They were invited by Bad Bunny to perform the song with him during his headlining set at Coachella in April. “He’s an exceptional artist who has made a significant impact on the music industry, and the opportunity to work with him is a dream come true,” Solís adds. Later on, Mexican superstar Peso Pluma teamed up with Grupo Frontera for feel-good “Tulum” on his Génesis album.
In August, Grupo Frontera’s highly-anticipated album El Comienzo arrived. The group pushed Grupo Frontera norteño and cumbia music into the future, as heard in the colorful “Las Flores” alongside Yahritza y Su Esencia. The band also teamed up with Colombian heartthrob Manuel Turizo for the heartbreak anthem “De Lunes a Lunes.” Grupo Frontera is currently nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for “Un x100to.”
“Through our music, we hope to ignite a deep connection to our cultural roots while encouraging an appreciation for musical diversity,” Solís says. “We want our listeners to be inspired by the stories we share, moved by the emotions we evoke, and empowered to embrace their heritage.”
Now, Apple Music has selected Grupo Frontera as this month’s Up Next act. Apple just released a short film showcasing the band during their sold-out tour and downtime in Texas Valley as part of their program highlighting up-and-coming artists. The band is in good company among previous Up Next acts which include Bad Bunny, Natanael Cano, Omar Apollo, Ice Spice, and Yahritza Y Su Esencia.
Lucas Villa is a freelance music contributor for LATINA. His work is also featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Teen Vogue, MTV News, and W Magazine.
