Tejano Nation

Emerging artist Lydia Castillo released the official music video for “Que Se Grabe En Tu Mente,” the latest single for the San Antonio singer.

“This song is actually based about my life experience, you know, losing people and just getting over it and going on with life and making myself happy,” Castillo tells Tejano Nation. “Something that I want people to listen to and maybe relate to and maybe heal from it as well.”

The singer with a strong voice and passion for music believes music is food for the soul and worked with iconic songwriter Humberto “Beto” Ramon, who has written many hits song for the biggest names in Tejano music including Jimmy Gonzalez and Mazz, Jay Perez, and Gary Hobbs, to name just a few.

Castillo was honored to work with the Tejano legend. “I was so excited,” she said. “You know Beto, he’s amazing. He’s an icon, so being able to work with him as been really a dream come true. Being able to record one of Beto’s songs is just an honor to me. I’m really excited about that.”

The song was written by Ramon based on Castillo’s life experience and was produced by another Tejano icon, Hugo Guerrero, who produced her earlier singles. The track features on Fabian Hernandez on saxophone and Aaron Holler on drums.

The visual was filmed by Ryan Bazan at various locations around San Antonio, Texas including the iconic Riverwalk.

“It was a little something that we came up with just to show more feeling to the song so they can relate more to what the song is talking about,” said Castillo.

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Castillo is following her dreams with her music career. Throughout her life, she has used music to heal herself from the tragedies she has experienced and wants to do the same for others. She plans to release a few more singles before releasing her highly-anticipated debut album before the end of the year.

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G5 is set to premiere the official video for the Florida-based group’s upcoming single “No Es Igual” exclusively with Tejano Nation.

The song is about hope and hurt, along with the balance of emotions they create. “A bond that is broken will never be the same, but there is still hope,” G5 vocalist Ricky Garcia tells Tejano Nation.

The single will be part of the group’s upcoming as of yet untitled album featuring mixes mastered by Art of Holler and tracks produced by Jonathan Espinoza and the late Mario Vigil, who was a big part of their musical endeavors. “He was such an inspiration to us and he is greatly missed,” said Garcia.

G5 was formed in 2001 and inspired by their late father Fidel Garcia, who was a drummer, bajo player and later became the lead singer for a band along with his brothers and brothers-in-law. Coming from a migrant family, the group of five brothers, Fidel Jr, Roel, Erik, Joey, and Ricky, were constantly moving about every six months. Going to school, working in the fields picking tomatoes and in their spare time they turned to what followed them everywhere, their father’s music.

Make sure to catch the official video premiere of G5’s new single “No Es Igual” exclusively at Tejano Nation, this Monday, October 12!

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The Mavericks trumpet player Lorenzo Molina Ruiz is recovering following an alleged assault in a Franklin, Tennessee bar.

In a social media post, the Grammy-winning band claims Ruiz and a friend, fellow musician Orlando Morales, were attacked on Sunday, October 4 after they were overheard speaking Spanish.

“It saddens us to no end to learn of the assault on our bandmate Lorenzo Molina, and his friend & fellow musician Orlando Morales, reportedly for speaking Spanish amongst themselves in a public establishment. For this assault to occur as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” according to a tweet shared with photos on Tuesday.

It saddens us to no end to learn of the assault on our band mate Lorenzo Molina, and his friend & fellow musician Orlando Morales, reportedly for speaking Spanish amongst themselves in a public establishment. For this assault to occur as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month… pic.twitter.com/lX5aosezlU
— The Mavericks (@MavericksMusic) October 6, 2020

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In a post on Instagram, Betty Malo, wife of bandleader Raul Malo, writes that Ruiz and his pal were waiting in line for the restroom at Tony’s Eat & Drink when two men approached them to “speak f**king English, you’re in America”.

“The bar… did nothing about it. They actually kicked Lorenzo out and his friend,” Malo adds. “They begged for help or at least for the bar to call the police but the bouncers refused and threaten to beat their a**es if they didn’t leave (sic).”

“Lorenzo is fine but his friend Orlando is horrifically hurt. He has a broken nose, orbital bones, internal bleeding, and concussion. They filed a police report but it still has not been posted online.”

Malo reveals the band’s lawyers are looking to file legal action “to hold the group of racist individuals accountable”.

She adds: “Tony’s Eat and Drink are complicit too. Shame on you. We will be setting up a #gofundme account for both Lorenzo and Orlando. I’m terrified! @the_mavericks just put out a Latin record! Is @raulmalo01 going to get beat up for singing in Spanish? Will the venue let the assailants get away with it? Ugh! This sucks!”.

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Late Saturday night/Sunday morning @molinalorenzo and his friend were jumped and brutally beaten while waiting in line to use the bathroom. Their friends who were waiting at the table were approached by 2 men and said “Speak Fucking English. You’re in America”. The bar TONY’S EAT AND DRINK located in Cool Springs, TN did nothing about it. They actually kicked Lorenzo out and his friend. They begged for help or at least for the bar to call the police but the bouncers refused and threaten to beat their asses if they didn’t leave. Lorenzo is fine but his friend Orlando is horrifically hurt. He has a broken nose, orbital bones, internal bleeding, and concussion. They filed a police report but it still has not been posted on line. We retained an attorney and will proceed forward trying to hold the group of racist individuals accountable! Tony’s Eat and Drink are complicit too. Shame on you. We will be setting up a #gofundme account for both Lorenzo and Orlando. I’m terrified! @the_mavericks just put out a Latin record! Is @raulmalo01 going to get beat up for singing in Spanish? Will the venue let the assailants get away with it? Ugh! This sucks! #useyourvoice #stophatecrimes #trumpet #trumpetplayer #themavericks

A post shared by Betty Malo (@officialbettymalo) on Oct 5, 2020 at 4:06pm PDT

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A representative for The Mavericks confirms a statement about the incident will be forthcoming, meanwhile, Ruiz adds: “We didn’t do anything to anybody and got beaten up badly. My friend is in bad shape. Any support would help while we proceed with getting justice for this hate crime.”

A spokesman for Tony’s Eat & Drink has released a statement via social media, calling the incident “an unfortunate event”.

“We would like to send our deepest condolences to the individuals affected by the altercation that occurred,” the statement reads. “We want to be clear that we do not support racism or condone hate crimes at our establishment and are taking this matter seriously. We do not nor have we ever allowed for violence to perpetuate for any reason and in this specific instance, our security staff acted quickly and reasonably to bring the altercation to an end… We do not condone bad actions.”

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Ruiz is a member of The Mavericks’ backing band, The Fantastic Five. He also appears on the group’s new Spanish-language album En Español. A GoFundMe page has been setup to help Ruiz and Morales.

Finding their own path while ignoring the norm is nothing new for La 45 and that is no different when it comes to figuring out how to deliver music to their fans during this pandemic.

In a genre dominated by keyboards and accordions, this 10 piece band armed with a rock-solid rhythm section and a five-piece horn section that blows the walls off of any room they are in, continues to claim their space and make a name for themselves across the country as the new orquesta sensation! As the world came to a halt, La 45 has managed to release not one but two full albums during the course of the last seven months and they are releasing their brand new single “Cascarita de Limón,” the lead single off of their yet untitled, next studio album due out in early 2021.

Dubbed “The Music Mavericks,” this band is unstoppable and continues to challenge the status quo by releasing this much music in one year! The band released their second studio album, La 45 II, on March 1, 2020. The #NextGenChicanos released their second live concert album, Influenced, the group’s second tribute album on Sept. 8, this time paying homage to one of the most influential and prolific artists in Chicano culture, Sunny Ozuna.

Now, one month later La 45 shares their latest single. “Cascarita de Limón” was not originally intended to be released as a single. In early August, the band met for rehearsal and were remembering iconic Mexican singer Tony Camargo, who passed away on August 5. As an intimate personal tribute, the band starts playing some of the songs popularized by Camargo in the 1940s and 50s. It was clear after the jam session that the entire band had a different kind of reaction to playing “Cascarita de Limón” and they knew what they had to do…record it!

“This was a tune that he help popularize back then, the song goes back even further than that, The Latin Breed did a version of it and a lot of other bands did a version of it,” said Torres. “We were just kind of having a jam session, rehearsal, he passed and we started jamming some of the songs that we knew he made famous and we did this one and everyone kind of looked around afterward and were like, wow that was really cool, let’s see what we can do with that.”

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2020 has proven to be a prolific year for La 45 and they show no signs of slowing down with 45HQ Studios in full production for the band and many other artists, and their newly formed record label NextGen Records set to announce the signing of more artists in the very near future. You can expect to hear a lot more from the “Music Mavericks” as they continue to ride this wave into 2021!

Veronique Medrano | Photo: Norma Red / Tejano Nation

Veronique Medrano has signed on as the first female solo artist with NextGen Records, the San Antonio, Texas-based record label announced on Thursday (Oct. 8th).

The four-time Tejano Music Awards nominee’s first project with the label is described as, “A listening experience. The styles, the stories, the performance…I think we are giving everyone some good ear candy!” according to Mike Torres III, CEO of NextGen Records.

This multi-tiered production between Medrano, Torres, and John Ontiveros is set for release this fall.

“We had a lot of conversations about music and the direction she wanted to go, the direction we wanted to take her, and what her goals were for the future. Ideologically, we were all on the same page with how we were going to make some noise and make some moves in the industry,” added Torres. “We decided to start the label to create a collective of artists who were on the same wavelength when it came to goals and outlook for the future of Tejano music. Once we knew that’s what we were going to do, she was the obvious first artist to sign!”

The lead single from the highly-anticipated album is “Hola y Adiós,” a cumbia, released earlier this year, that stretches the boundaries of Tejano in exciting new ways infusing Latin Pop and Rock creating Tejano Alternativo.

Veronique, a native of Brownsville, Texas, released her debut album Encantadora, in 2013 earning a Best New Female artist nomination at the 34th Tejano Music Awards. Her albums Mi Año Dorado and Lotería garnered her continued consistent nominations at the Tejano Music Awards and success in the market.

“I’m in such a different space now. I’ve learned so much with each record,” said Veronique. “Working and being mentored by extremely talented musicians, this project really showcases what I’m capable of and challenges me to do more. We’re in a place to really show what the next generation of Tejanos can do. I am excited to not only create new music but to also be one of the few artists who has the ability to own three of the four projects I’ve released. Not many people can say that.”

Torres and Ontiveros are co-founders of LA 45. Since their debut performance at the 2017 Tejano Music Awards Fan Fair in San Antonio, the 10 piece band, billed as the #NextGenChicanos, have been impressing music lovers of all ages with their high energy performances, superior musicianship, and ability to fuse the past and the present together while presenting an unforgettable show. Preserving the dying art of Chicano music with every performance, LA 45 carries on the tradition of Mexican American music pioneered in the 1960’s and 70’s, and has become its standard bearer for the millennial generation.

Torres said the plan is to add more artists to the NextGen roster, “We have a few other artists signing with us that we plan to announce before the end of the year, but I can’t spill the beans on all that yet. But I can say that 2021 is going to be a very exciting and very busy year for us, and for Veronique! This is only the beginning of what we hope will be a long and successful journey of making great music together!”

Tejano superstar Jay Perez will host the season 1 finale of web series Tejano America on Thursday, October 8.

The tenth and final episode from the show’s debut season will feature performances from Perez, Avizo, Joe Bravo, and Conjunto Califas with special apperances from music legend Litttle Joe and DJ Eddie Olivo.

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Tejano America is an online music and cultural lifestyle web variety series created by event organizers INGEÑUITY which takes a virtual journey of Tex-Mex music, food, and comedy in one entertainment-driven, cultural lifestyle series.

“The series is designed to raise spirits with Texas-sized spunk and backyard pizzazz,” said Sarah Ruiz Chavez, President of INGEÑUITY. ” It’s also a great opportunity to introduce the amazing humanity of Tejano celebrities along with the vibrant Tex-Mex culture.”

The Season 1 Finale of Tejano America presented by AARP will air at 7pm CT / 5pm PT at the Vegas Tejano social media platforms. Miss episodes #1-9 of Season one? Watch and subscribe to the Vegas Tejano YouTube channel.

Little Joe is a music legend with a career that spans more than 50 years and the iconic singer will celebrate his 80th birthday later this month in a special way due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The five-time GRAMMY winner made the birthday event announcement during the Season 1 finale of Tejano America, a Tejano music and cultural web series. “I’m pleased to share with you a special invitation on a momentous occasion of mine, my upcoming 80th birthday,” said Little Joe, who recovered from COVID-19 after testing positive this summer. “While we can’t celebrate in person due to coronavirus, I’m throwing a virtual epic celebration and this is your personal invitation to join the party.”

Little Joe’s 80th birthday party virtual celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, hosted by comedian Paul Rodriguez.

“It’s going to be a very special evening with a lot of my comaradas participating,” added Little Joe. “You also will be the very first to see some of my performances for an upcoming DVD release and we close with an all-star tribute performance.”

The epic virtual celebration will be part of the three-day Onda Live! Chicano Music + Culture Fest, co-hosted by Cheech Marin and Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez of La Santa Cecilia, with performances from Tierra, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, and more.

OndaLive! is an all-access pass to experience “the Chicano vibe” through uniquely produced Latino lifestyle and cultural time capsule segments, musical mash ups and artist revealing vignettes, TV/Movie cast reunions and screenings, and fan sessions & advocacy panels, all amplifying the Hispanic narrative.

OndaLive! Chicano Music + Culture Fest sponsored by AARP and produced by INGEÑUITY is a 3-day celebration of Chicano music and pop culture! The unprecedented, virtual gathering is scheduled for October 27-29, 2020, from 7:30pm-10:00pm CST– to watch FREE, register at LaOndaLive.com.

Krystal Diaz and Gabriel Mendez wed in San Antonio on Oct. 9. | Courtesy photo

Tejano singer and dance studio business owner Krystal Diaz tied the knot on Friday, Oct. 9 in San Antonio.

“La Reina del Baile” married Gabriel Mendez, a Texas-based musician and radio host, at the historic Little Church of La Villita, followed by an old New York-style reception with immediate family and close friends.

The couple fell in love on the set of her music video, “Te Metiste,” a romantic Cumbia produced by David L. Garza. Mendez portrayed the love interest for Diaz in the visual filmed in downtown San Antonio.

During the pandemic, Diaz planned her wedding, rebuilt her business of twelve years, Danzavida De San Antonio Dance Company, and is in the process of recruiting Latinas to compete in the Miss Reina Latina San Antonio Pageant.

She is currently channeling her musical energy on a new single that will be released soon and is excited to return to the recording studio and share her new music with her fans.

The singer would like to dedicate “Te Metiste” to all who have experienced fallen in love and marrying the love of their life.

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G5 premieres the official video for the Florida-based group’s latest single, “No Es Igual,” exclusively with Tejano Nation.

The track will be part of the group’s upcoming as of yet untitled album featuring mixes mastered by Art of Holler and tracks produced by Jonathan Espinoza and the late Mario Vigil, who was a big part of their musical endeavors. Vigil died of colon cancer in February. “He was such an inspiration to us and he is greatly missed,” said Garcia.

The visual features a relationship that becomes broken due to infidelity but the hope of a new love that comes from moving past a heartbreak.

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G5, or Garcia5, is a group of five brothers formed in 2001 and inspired by their late father Fidel Garcia, who was a drummer, bajo player and later became the lead singer for a band along with his brothers and brothers-in-law. Coming from a migrant family, the five brothers, Fidel Jr, Roel, Erik, Joey, and Ricky, were constantly moving about every six months. Going to school, working in the fields picking tomatoes and in their spare time they turned to what followed them everywhere, their father’s music.

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Andrea Michelle, the lead vocalist for New Mexico-based band Divino, has released her solo debut single “Las Cuentas Claras.”

The track, originally recorded by Mexican singer Chelo in 1978, is the perfect song to begin Andrea Michelle’s solo music career, who had put it on hold at a young age for marriage and a family.

“I feel that through time I have built on experience, which helps me as an artist to express a song and a message on a level that I hope speaks through the songs,” Andrea Michelle tells nmuniverso.com. “I understand heartache, love, and struggles. My goal hopefully is to create something that also reaches into the soul and speaks to the listener. Perhaps a story which they can find joy, or identify with as well. I would also like to be an example especially for a woman that age should not keep anyone from pursuing their goals and dreams. I feel I have definitely been able to experience the best of both worlds!”

The singer shared details on why she decided to record “Las Cuentas Claras” saying, “The song struck me for two reasons, one, because after years of working with victims of Domestic Violence, I realized how many women fail to find their voice in a relationship. And two, Chelo would be one of the many women I listened to as a young girl and admired because of her beautiful display and her strong messages. Her along with artists like Chavela Vargas, Lola Betran, and Yolanda del Rio were dynamic strong woman singing about love, life, passion, and heartache.”

Andream Michelle is in the process of recording exciting solo projects and collaborations with a full album expected be released by early 2021, but the singer is still performing with Divino.

“There are so many projects that we have been working on including a CD released in August of this year,” she said. “I am currently in the studio working on new songs as well.”

Before the current global pandemic, Andrea Michelle signed to a management company and she is planning to launch a website including a Vibe New Mexico podcast and YouTube channel where she will be working with many different artists.

“Although COVID has slowed down and even stopped many venues there is still so many exciting things happening,” she said. “I look forward to meeting new people and doing anything I can.”

Andrea Michelle — “Las Cuentas Claras”
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Featured photo credit: Lu Sanchez

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Ilyssa Saenz is making a return to Tejano music after pursuing a career in education and the talented singer released the official music video for her latest single, “Confía en Mí,” from her highly-anticipated comeback album.

The upbeat, guitar-driven cumbia was co-written by Joel Villarreal and Severo “Sevy” Contreras and Ilyssa tells Tejano Nation it’s a different sound for the Best New Female nominee at the Tejano Music Awards in 2010.

“I’m super excited about it because it’s something I’ve never really done before, it’s a little bit out of my element,” she said. “I wanted to do something a little bit different for this new single.”

“I fell in love with the tune,” Ilyssa said about her latest release. “I thought it had a little catchy tune, a little catchy groove. Once we added the electric guitar, it just took on this different kind of vibe just to do something different and something fun.”

The visual filmed by Ryan Bazan features various scenes of Ilyssa belting out the tune at locations throughout San Antonio, Texas, including a rainfall scene with the beautiful singer.

Ilyssa — “Confia en Mi”
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Patsy Torres is one of the most influential Tejano artists of our time and the singer, songwriter, and “edutainer” opened up about her relationship with her late father, her first new album in seven years, and much more with the Cruz Control with AC Cruz Podcast.

Dame Tu Corazon is the new album from Torres, released in July, and features eight tracks including an emotional song about her father, who had an estranged relationship for many years before mending it before he passed away. Torres opened up about that relationship and share details about the song “Papasito Mio”.

With a Ph.D. in Education and Organizational Leadership, Dr. Patsy Torres is an “edutainer” who blends her scholarly knowledge with her unique musical talents to offer one-of-a-kind programs that mix her dialogue with inspiring and uplifting shows.

Considered a pillar of the Hispanic community, Dr. Torres’ contributions include being a leader and a role model for Hispanics, educators, women, children, musicians, and an inspiration for anyone who strives to find purpose and happiness in their lives.

Listen to the full interview with Dr. Patsy Torres on the latest episode of the Cruz Control with AC Cruz Behind The Mic Podcast below. Hear previous episodes and get more details at CruzControlWithACCruz.com.

Can’t hear the audio? Click here to listen via Libsyn.

Patsy Torres on the Cruz Control with AC Cruz Podcast

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Veteran Tejano journalist and entertainment host Norma Mendez, known by most in the Tejano industry as Jina Ink, has joined Tejano Nation as a multimedia journalist.

Jina Ink has spent many years in the Tejano industry communicating and exploring the roots and culture of Tejano music and the legacies of musical historians past and present. She has traveled the country finding future rising stars and sharing their stories.

“Jina is deeply embedded in the Tejano community and her expertise in communicating stories of those involved in Tejano culture is a great asset to providing the best insight and information to share with TejanoNation.net,” said John Henry Medina, Digital Managing Editor at Tejano Nation. “Her entertaining content will help keep Tejano Nation the premier source for Tejano news and entertainment.”

She is the owner of Jina Ink Enterprises, which includes a full-service marketing and public relations company, based in San Antonio, Texas. Her many years of industry experience include editor and writer for Street Talk Magazine and associated with La Prensa De San Antonio.

“I’m beyond excited to be changing directions. Never expected it to be quite so BIG but it is,” said Jina Ink. “I needed to find a company that was going to suit the avenues that I needed to do for radio and entertainment news. I love that I can capture images of the crowd, do live interviews, have my own podcast. Tejano Nation is allowing me to create my skills and collaborating with me to educate music and our culture.”

Jina Ink is an active volunteer, supporting a variety of charitable events worldwide and has been an advocate for Tejano culture.

“The key to this Tejano industry is educating and expanding by learning the Tejano culture, and uniting the historical past and present for the legacy,” added Jina Ink.

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GRAMMY-winning musician and successful entrepreneur Chris Perez continues to celebrate and spread the word about his signature hot sauce landing in Perez’s favorite grocery store: H-E-B!

Perez spoke with Great Day SA on San Antonio’s CBS affiliate KENS-5 and has been making the rounds locally and regionally to talk about how Perez Pepper Sauce will debut on H-E-B shelves on Nov. 2, according to his Facebook page.

Chris Perez on Great Day SA
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In talking recently with SA Live on KSAT-12, San Antonio’s ABC affiliate, Perez said: “It’s been a labor of love and it’s been a dream come true getting it into my favorite store. I love H-E-B. I’m always there.”

“If I ever leave the house, like I don’t go out to clubs or bars or anywhere,” Perez continued. “If I do go out, it’s H-E-B.”

Chris Perez on SA Live
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Perez, who won a GRAMMY in 1999 at the 42^nd Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Performance for “Resurrection”, has increasingly made a name for himself as an author, musician, and now, businessman, and has become more open in sharing his story and experiences with the public.

Fans adore the multi-talented musician and will likely flock to H-E-B shelves come early November to grab up the award-winning Perez Pepper Sauce.

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“Vamos a Bailar” is the latest single from up and coming Austin-based group Maria y Cien Grados. Since their beginning back in 2016, listeners and fans have watched the band grow and mature, developing their sound into a Tejano cumbia machine in live performances and in the studio.

Maria y Cien Grados is fronted by vocalist and Victoria native Maria Villarreal-Fraga, who is following in the footsteps of her talented musical family by pursuing her dream of being a singer. The regular lineup for this percussion-heavy ensemble includes husband Jose on timbales, Mauricio Guzman on congas, Anthony Hernandez on drums, Isidoro Matamores on bass, Miguel Mancilla on keyboard, along with Roberto Mamalon as second vocals.

“Vamos a Bailar” is an original cumbia written by longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Juan Zea Garcia (who also served as co-producer) and Jose Luis Fraga, featuring special guest Xavier Mota on congas. Chris Garcia of Aim Records supported the project as executive producer.

And how does it sound, you ask? “Vamos a Bailar” lives up to its title and is an undeniably danceable delight that grabs the listener from the first beat and doesn’t let go. Maria’s voice floats above the rhythm, alternating with Mamalon’s hip-hop inspired second vocals from verse to verse, complimenting each other very well. Before you know it, three minutes have gone by and you feel almost hypnotized. So you play it again.

Maria Y Cien Grados — “Vamos a Bailar”
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On a personal note, this band has a lot of heart and they have had their struggles just as many bands have, especially those just starting out. However, this summer was especially difficult. Just after releasing this track, both Maria and Jose battled COVID-19 at the same time, requiring them both to be hospitalized for over a week each. They were in separate hospitals, both fighting for their lives, away from their children and family. Fortunately, they were eventually released from the hospital and continue to recover at home.

“Vamos a Bailar” is currently available for sale and streaming on all digital platforms under Maria y 100 Grados and will be released on the group’s debut album next year. Follow Maria y Cien Grados on Facebook and Instagram for more information and updates.

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Destiny Navaira hopes her new single, “Cruel Realidad,” will wake up listeners during these troubled times and inspire younger generations into positive action.

The song, which translates in English as “Cruel Reality,” premieres Friday, Oct. 16, and is unlike any other that Navaira has released.

“It was a song that was different for me because it wasn’t so much about love,” Navaira tells Tejano Nation. “That’s usually what we write about and I think that this one has to do kind of with everything that’s going on right now in the world and that’s been going on.”

The song, which she describes as a “new, modern Tejano song,” will address politics, cultural awareness, the Black Lives Matter movement, pollution and other issues facing the nation and Mexico, as well. The song was written along with her younger brother, Rigo Navaira, and Lalo Morales, the accordionist for her band, Remedio.

The song was a separate project and is not featured on Destiny’s solo debut album, La Preferida, but will be available for purchase on all digital platforms.

Destiny Navaira — “Cruel Realidad”
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The song’s style incorporates her and her brother’s country, rock, and even pop influences, according to Destiny, but keeps the accordion and bajo for that Norteño/Tejano sound. A video will be completed prior to Election Day on Nov. 3.

“It’s a song to wake you up and… the goal of it is to make you realize what’s going on,” Destiny said. “That’s why it’s called “Cruel Reality,” “Cruel Realidad.” You’ve got to open your eyes and see what’s going on and make a change.”

Destiny is excited for the public to hear “Cruel Realidad” and thanked fans for always supporting her and her family.

“(The song) is to bring awareness to everything that’s going on but it’s a song that’s supposed to inspire everybody,” she said. “To inspire people to wake up and to really pay attention that these things are going on. It’s not just another day when you wake up. A lot of people face hardships and I think “Cruel Realidad” is the perfect title for it and I’m very, very proud of it.”

“It’s a lot different from what we’ve let out before and I’m excited to see what people say because it’s a different kind of style,” Destiny added.

On the topic of these trying times and the COVID-19 pandemic, Destiny said she was not planning any live performances during this pandemic and while she is anxious to play her music, especially to promote her debut album, she does not want to place her fans at risk at this time.

Note: Navaira premiered a video of her acoustic version of “Suficiente Amor,” a hit from her famous uncle, Emilio Navaira, and which is part of an acoustic series that will honor him.

Destiny Navaira — “Suficiente Amor” (Acoustic Sessions)
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Lorenzo Martinez (center) was inducted into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in San Antonio, Texas, in May 2019 by Cristina Balli, Executive Director of Guadalup Cultural Arts Center, and Juan Tejeda, creator of Tejano Conjunto Festival. | Photo: Mariaelena Arocha / Tejano Nation

Conjunto Music Hall of Fame musician Lorenzo Martinez passed away on Saturday (Oct. 17) from complications of cardiac arrest. He was 80 years old.

Martinez was known as a very humble and brilliant Conjunto music teacher, artist, and accordionist, passing on the tradition of the squeezebox to anyone that wanted to learn at the Conjunto Heritage Taller since 2004.

He came a long way from what first started as a dare from his grandfather.

Martinez was born on December 6, 1939, in San Antonio growing up on the westside. At just 10 years old, he was on his way home when came upon two men playing music in front of a large crowd on Saltillo and 19th street. Those two men were Flaco Jimenez and Joe Ponce. From that moment on, the sounds of the accordion intrigued Martinez and he knew right then and there that he wanted to learn how to play the acoordion. He mentioned the idea to his grandfather, Epifano Gamez, and his grandfather agreed to buy him an accordion but also told him for every song he learned he would pay him $1. He went on to earn $7 the first week.

Martinez’s parents were not very supportive in the beginning because they didn’t believe he could learn the accordion.

“My mother’s doubtfulness in me learning the accordion actually made me work that much harder and I believe she did this on purpose, sort of a reverse psychology that worked,” Martinez said in an interview with Street Talk Magazine in April 2019.

As Martinez got older, he would take his accordion everywhere with him, and soon other parents were asking him to show their children how to play the accordion. Often times he would stop and help other children his age get through a song on the accordion. Although he did attend elementary and junior high, he did not attend high school because he wanted to follow his accordion dreams and that he did!

Lorenzo Martinez (center wearing cap) with students from Conjunto Heritage Taller
Photo: Mariaelena Arocha/Tejano Nation

As time passed, Martinez had a family of his own and was now a father, he took this time away from music to concentrate on providing for his family and worked as a custodian at MacArthur High School for over 30 years.

When Martinez retired he wanted to get back to what his childhood dreams were, to teach Conjunto music to anyone that wanted to learn, not just children but anyone, any age and specifically he desperately wanted to learn how to read music. Leo Green would teach him how to read music and Martinez would study for hours and hours and he found great joy in learning new songs and most of all being able to read the music he loved.

In 2004, with an invitation from Rudy Lopez from The Conjunto Heritage Taller, Martinez would begin teaching accordion lessons at the Taller, and did until his passing. He has taught so many students how to play the accordion that he couldn’t possibly name every student. His students loved and adored him like no other. He dedicated his entire life to learning and teaching Conjunto music and was recognized by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center with an induction into the Conjunto Music Hall Of Fame in May 2019.

Martinez cared nothing about being famous or recognized, his whole being was concern about the students he taught. He spoke so lovingly about his students, “If my life ended today, I would want everyone to know how proud I am of all my students.”

“His dedication to Conjunto music is an inspiration to all of his students and friends,” read a post on the Conjunto Heritage Taller Facebook page announcing the passing of Martinez. “We will continue to hold him in our hearts and cherish his immense contributions to Conjunto music.

The last album released from Martinez was Old School Polkas Del Ghost Town, produced by SpringFed Records, John Fabke, Dan Margolies, and Greg Reish, featured are Martinez on accordion and Ramon “Rabbit” Sanchez on Bajo, truly an album for any music lover and Martinez was very proud of the album.

The legacy of Martinez will live on through his students and music.

Lorenzo Martinez | Photo: Mariaelena Arocha / Tejano Nation

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Emilio Navaira IV of The Last Bandoleros, and son of late Tejano icon Emilio Navaira, married his beautiful fiancee Briana in San Antonio, Texas on Oct. 17.

Congratulations to the happy couple were engaged in May of 2019.

Emilio IV is a guitarist and vocalist for The Last Bandoleros, a Tex-Mex pop rock band with sounds of hyper train beats, distorted guitars, Beatlesque harmonies, and blazing accordion solos.

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LÜM expands to Web and Android; Announces new tools for independent artists to collaborate and make money

MADISON, Wis., (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LÜM, the “Home” for independent artists, announced their expansion to Web and Android today. LÜM is a social network and music discovery platform that allows artists to collaborate with other music creators, share content, and manage relationships with fans.

This year, LÜM became the first music streaming platform in the US to allow for direct-to-artist financial support through virtual gifting technology. In the company’s first year on iOS, the platform has drawn over 80,000 creators and surpassed 25 million Notes (LÜM’s in-app currency) gifted to artists across the United States. The value of the Note is equivalent to the average royalty payout per stream on alternative music streaming platforms. While the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited artists’ ability to make money, virtual gifting is directly helping the development and profitability of independent artists in the music streaming industry.

LÜM recently closed a $3 million Seed II round of funding. To fuel continued work on the platform, the company has also partnered with multi-Grammy-award winner NE-YO and Compound Entertainment co-founders and music executives Tishawn Gayle and Rynell “Tango” Hay.

“Being able to share your art with the world no matter how big or small is a gift in itself. Being able to get paid for sharing your art is the cherry on top, and every artist deserves that opportunity,” says NE-YO. “Every so often a product or tool emerges that disrupts the status quo. In the case of social music streaming and discovery, that product is LÜM. Artists and creators of all sizes can monetize their hard work from the second they upload their content to the platform. No more waiting on quarterly payouts, no more wondering who exactly your fanbase is, and no more wondering how to directly build and speak to your fans. LÜM checks all the boxes and in time will be the new status quo,” added Gayle.

“We live in a world where artists have hundreds of tools that are designed to gain exposure, but the foundation of the business model for music streaming is broken, rendering those tools largely useless,” says Max Fergus, CEO and co-founder of LÜM. “The future of music needs to be built around tools for artists that allow them to maximize their most important assets, their fans, and all of the content they create. LÜM is excited to be leading that charge for independent creators.”

LÜM’s primary goal is to build tools for independent artists to foster closer relationships with artists and fans that also allow them to make money. Along with the expansion to Web and Android, LÜM is also announcing the launch of a new platform for artist collaboration and monetization — The LÜM Exchange. Launching later this year, the Exchange will allow music creators to buy and sell music services including mixing and mastering, beats, vocals/songwriting, and music reviews. This is the first music-specific marketplace for artists to network, collaborate, and monetize their skill sets on a social network where collaboration is already prominent.

The new Web platform can be accessed at https://lum.fm/
The new Android platform can be accessed at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fm.lum.lum

MORE ABOUT LÜM:
In a move that is important for emerging artists, LÜM launched virtual gifting, a direct-to-artist financial support system. LÜM’s virtual gifting service is available without a minimum threshold of followers or video views. In contrast, platforms like TikTok maintain high thresholds, which makes this revenue channel unavailable to independent artists. Overall, the mission of LÜM is to allow artists to monetize their skill sets and fans throughout their entire careers, whether they are just getting started or on the verge of stardom. In essence, LÜM is the best platform for all emerging artists to “connect, collaborate, grow, and make money.”

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Oscar De La Rosa and Armando Lichtenberger Jr. of La Mafia work in their Houston studio.
Photo: Facebook/La Mafia

The iconic recording studio where Tejano supergroup La Mafia recorded countless hits and albums and hosted iconic singers like Selena, José Feliciano, Marc Anthony, and Duran Duran will be demolished for a highway expansion project by the city of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

El Diario reports studio co-owners Óscar de la Rosa (vocalist) and Armando Lichtenberger, Jr. (keyboardist, accordionist and producer) are sad and in low spirits, because several months ago the Grammy-winning group was notified that the land where their Urbana Recording Studio is currently located is part of the planned expansion for Highway 45 North, the highway that leads to Dallas.

The Houston Chronicle reports the I-45 project’s toll on local property owners would be unprecedented for TxDOT in Houston, potentially relocating hundreds of families and businesses. Estimated to cost at least $7 billion, the project will rebuild I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, and change how it connects with other downtown freeways.

“They have been talking about this for about five years, but suddenly we received the official letter from the State asking us for permission to come and take photos of the studio and make an estimate of the value,” Lichtenberger told El Diario. “They have been talking about this for about five years, but suddenly we received the official letter from the State asking us for permission to come and take photos of the study and make an estimate of the value.”

According to La Mafia, they will receive the first offer from the state of Texas for the property soon but the group is worried that the history of the recording studio and type of business will not be taken into consideration for the property’s value.

The studio opened in 1994 as Houston Sound Studio and the first album recorded by La Mafia was the Grammy-nominated Vida. The studio evolved into Urbana Recording Studio in 2004.

La Mafia plans to fight for the true value of the studio that has been the group’s home for 26 years.

“The houses that used to be worth $50,000 are now worth $400,000. The price has risen a lot,” added Lichtenberger.

La Mafia received a Latin Grammy nomination for the album Live In México, which was recorded live in Monterrey and is competing for Best Tejano Music Album next month.

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