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Taking a regional Mexican music route has led Thalia — often referred to as the Queen of Latin Pop — back to her roots, as she embraces the resurgence of música mexicana on her latest EP, A Mucha Honra.
“This album was created at the source from which this [new corridos] movement comes and emanates,” the superstar tells Billboard Español. In collaboration with Jimmy Humilde of Rancho Humilde and music producer Edgar Rodríguez of Yellow Room, the singer dives deep into the musical heritage of her beloved home country.
She reflects on the power of songs like the timeless “Amor a la Mexicana” as a key inspiration for this project. “It’s the perfect circle of why I’m singing regional [Mexican] right now,” says Thalia about the classic 1997 Mexican cumbia-pop hit. “[This genre] evokes a nostalgia in me. It gets into the Mexican DNA and provokes a catharsis in you, this style, this sound, these chords.”
The 9-track EP, released on Friday (April 26) under Sony Music US Latin, includes the corridos tumbados of “Bebé, Perdón,” “Para Qué Celarme” and a remake of “Amor a la Mexicana.” There’s also the sierreño pop jam “Choro” featuring Estilo Sin Límite, the norteño song “Silencio,” and a nor-techno remix of “Te Va a Doler,” courtesy of Deorro, which she premiered last night at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards; the original version features Grupo Firme.
“For me it has been a pleasure to be able to create this music for such a long time, to be able to perform it”, the artist explains. “It has been incredible for me to release A Mucha Honra little by little. I always try to experience different things, new things, things that challenge me and add to me.”
Below, Thalia breaks down five essential songs from her new EP, in her own words.
“Te Va a Doler” (with Grupo Firme)
“Te Va a Doler” is a song that despite being regional [Mexican], has a little bit of both worlds. It has a little more of the Thalia universe, of my musical and interpretative style, but it still has the power and sonority of the new regional Mexican. For more than a year we have been talking with Eduin Caz [of Grupo Firme] about doing something, about working together, and for me this song was the perfect ring for this union. The truth is that our styles merged well, his voice sounds very powerful in this story, and it was spectacular.
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From the same song, “Te Va a Doler,” a more electronic version was done with Deorro, who since I heard his work I loved it, so I said: “You have to do something for me.” I love Deorro’s work, and he did the remix version of this song.
“Amor a la Mexicana”
It’s the perfect circle of why I’m singing regional right now. For me, singing to Mexico and singing in the styles of our musical [heritage] has been a constant in my discography. If you look for songs, videos and hits by Thalia that have a regional or Mexican sound, there are many, and the classic of my entire career is “Amor a la Mexicana.” So, it could not be missing in this album called A Mucha Honra. I feel honored to be Mexican, to celebrate what is happening with culture, with music globally at this time. And what more than with the icing on the cake, which is to sing a new version of “Amor a la Mexicana”, which really turned out spectacular. Without a doubt, it is one of my best versions of “Amor a la Mexicana.”
“Troca” (with Ángela Aguilar)
It is a song that has such beautiful lyrics, so pure, so simple, so much love, that I needed. It resonated with me to sing something with beautiful, with delicate lyrics of love. It made me feel good to pronounce these words and these lyrics. It was also a great opportunity to bring together two generations, two Mexicans, singing at this time. I feel that our voices came together very cool, and very velvety, like a cozy blanket around you. And that makes me very happy to be able to say how cool it is that two Mexicans from different generations coexist in a love song.
We made an animated video which is also something new and different for me. It’s super cute.
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“Choro” (with Estilo Sin Límite)
“Choro” features Dania from Estilo Sin Límite, an emerging artist who has incredible talent, and is a great songwriter with a very special voice. When I heard her, I said, “Let’s do the song, let’s work”, and we recorded “Choro.” The interpretation is super cool. I feel a responsibility, of someone who has already come a long way [in my career] to extend a hand and support new talents.
[Choro] is a very Mexican thing to say. I thought it was a good title, a good concept for a song. Later it made me laugh because in other countries it has different connotations.
“Para Qué Celarme”
I think it’s my favorite of the album. The arrangements are nostalgic, it does something to my heart. I love the lyrics, the story is so awesome, and it allows me as an actress to sing it and get into character. And that’s what I really like about this song. It’s a ballad with pride, with strength. It reminds me a little bit of that song of mine, “Equivocada,” in the subject matter. My fans likes to see the party Thalia, the Thalia who sings irreverent songs, dance songs, but also the romantic one, the one who sings songs of broken hearts, and intense ballads. This is the ballad of this album.
Thalia fans, rejoice! The Mexican pop star and actress is celebrating the music that influenced her throughout her life in an upcoming music docuseries, Thalia’s Mixtape: El Soundtrack De Mi Vida.
Partnering with Paramount+, the three-part music docuseries will premiere exclusively on the platform Tuesday, May 2, in the U.S. and Canada. On May 3, it’s slated to launch throughout Latin America, Australia, the U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The release will also complement the star’s upcoming album, Thalia’s Mixtape, due April 28 via Sony Music.
Thalia, who is also executive producer and creator of the upcoming docuseries, takes viewers to her musical foundations, uncovering the classics that inspired her and a generation of fans. She is seen rocking out alongside Charly Alberti, the fiery drummer of the timeless Argentine band Soda Stereo, and Roco Pachukote, frontman of ska-rock group Maldita Vecindad. The series then evolves where she entrenches herself into the current, booming Latin music landscape, meeting up with new Mexican pop stars Kenia Os and Bruses.
“This has been my most personal project,” Thalia said in a statement to Billboard Español. “Four years ago, the idea and concept of the mixtape of my life was born in my mind and heart. This docuseries goes through the songs that influenced my path, forging my destiny. I talk to my lifelong idols, the artists behind these legendary songs that marked entire generations with their music. In this series we delve into the stories and origins of these compositions, and as an absolute fan of these great artists, I have the honor of performing these musical gems with them. It’s an incomparable gift.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KObfELic21k
Through interviews, raw footage and modern renditions of classics with veterans and contemporary artists, the show promises to “revisit the history of Latin music and uncover its future in an intimate way not yet seen before.” Thalia has been a longtime supporter of emerging talent, and she continues to shed a spotlight on the most riveting sounds today. She is also an honoree at Billboard’s premiere Latin Women in Music event, taking place May 6, and broadcasted via Telemundo the next day.
“This has been a labor of love for Thalia — to relive and bring to life the music and the most popular songs of her teenage years, and to document and perform in the film with the original artists is a lifelong dream,” said executive producer and entertainment mogul Tommy Mottola, also Thalia’s husband.
Ntertain Studios executive producers Lex Borrero and Santiago Zapata added: “Collaborating with people you admire will always be a dream in whatever your line of work. Thalia’s Mixtape is the perfect blend of documentary and musical, yet another example of the timeless impact Thalia has had and continues to have on music and culture.”
Thalia’s Mixtape: El Soundtrack De Mi Vida is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Sony Music U.S. Latin.
Brazilian powerhouse singer Anitta, Puerto Rican hitmaker Luis Fonsi, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and Mexican superstar Thalia are enlisted to host the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards. The telecast will air from the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. ET.
This marks the first time the Latin Grammys will have had four or more co-hosts since the inaugural broadcast, in September 2000, which had five — Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Garcia, Jimmy Smits and Antonio Banderas.
To date, Anitta has earned a total of eight Latin Grammy nominations, and she is currently in the running for record of the year and best reggaeton performance for her viral hit “Envolver.” (See the full list of 2022 Latin Grammy nominations here.) The same song charted on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 70.
Fonsi, best known for his record-breaking hit “Despacito,” alongside Daddy Yankee, has won five Latin Grammys, while Pausini has won four Latin Grammys and one Grammy Award. Thalia has been nominated six times at the Latin Grammys, and in 2003, the Mexican actress and singer entered the Hot 100 with “I Want You,” featuring Fat Joe, peaking at No. 22.
Prior to the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy will honor Mexican icon Marco Antonio Solís as Person of the Year. The gala in his honor will take place the day before, on Wednesday, Nov. 16. “Marco Antonio Solís is a living legend and one of the most emblematic figures in Latin music,” Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, said in a statement.
Last year, the ceremony was hosted by Ana Brenda Contreras, Carlos Rivera and Roselyn Sanchez. Tom and Caetano Veloso won the 2021 record of the year award for their piano ballad “Talvez,” and in 2020, that award was given to Alejandro Sanz for his romantic love song “Contigo.”
The Latin Grammy Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of the categories are awarded, will precede the telecast and will be announced at a later date.
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