AUSTIN (KXAN) — What started as a group of friends trying to make an extra buck playing gigs at quinceañeras and weddings turned into Grupo Frontera — one of the biggest names in Latin music today.
“It stopped being regional Mexican music to just Mexican music. Not just for us but for everybody that we have done collaborations with,” Julian Peña Jr, the band’s conga player, said.
In 2022, the group exploded in popularity after they went viral on TikTok for their cover of “No Se Va.” Months later they hit number one on the Billboard global charts for their collaboration with Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny.
“Carin Leon, Peso Pluma, everybody stopped being just regional music and it just became Mexican music,” Peña Jr said.
Grupo Frontera took its love for “Cumbia Norteña” — a form of music popularized in the 80s and 90s — and added their own twist to the style that helped them win over fans beyond South Texas.
The Rio Grande Valley group is currently playing in arenas across three countries for their “Jugando A Que No Pasa Nada” tour. The album was released on May 10, 2024.
“We are a Texas group, we are a Texas band, so for us to know that it is not just in the valley, where we are from, it spreads across all of Texas,” Adelaido “Payo” Solis, the band’s lead singer, said.
As Grupo Frontera continues to grow and perform on big stages like Coachella or playing for the president of Mexico, the members remember to always stay true to themselves.
“I don’t think we have changed at all, I think that the culture has moved forward, and I think that it’s helped a lot for everybody to grow together,” Peña Jr said.
Grupo Frontera said they reflect on what it’s like being a Hispanic artist in America and they are happy to represent their Mexican heritage.
“Because we represent part of it, we love giving our music to everybody. For us to be part of the culture, it is amazing, and it means a lot to us. So September, you’re my month,” Juan Javier Cantú, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, said.