Description
Anamaria Sayre | April 24, 2025Grupo Frontera, which was headlining backyard bailes well before stadium shows, feels perfectly made for Tiny Desk. Beneath the glow of fluorescent office lights and backed against trinket-stuffed shelves, the match feels divinely ordained.Normally, jazzy vocal trills and norteño cumbia rhythms are star-crossed lovers, but not at the Tiny Desk. At the center of a pop-infused reinvigoration of traditional Mexican sounds, the members of Grupo Frontera are masters of unlikely pairings. Mega-producer and songwriter Edgar Barrera discovered Grupo Frontera at a quinceanera in his hometown, enthralled by the band's authenticity. He encouraged the band's Texas-bred beats, killer melodies and contemporary lyrics.There's no better space to highlight the impressive musicality of the group and stunning vocals of Payo Solis than in a stripped down setting. "Yo nací pa' querer a la que no me quiere (I was born to love the one who doesn't love me)," Payo coos. But it's hard to feel heartbroken when desamor sounds so smooth.SET LIST"un x100to""Hecha Pa' Mi""Ángel""Por Qué Será""EL AMOR DE SU VIDA"MUSICIANSPayo Solis: vocalsJuan Cantú: accordionJulian Peña: congas, bongosBeto Acosta: bajo quintoCarlos Guerrero: drumsDaniel Uribe: pedal steel, guitarPatricia Ligia: bassMonty Rivera: keys, background vocalsCatherine "Cathia" Ochoa: background vocalsMJ Songstress: background vocalsElla Bric: trumpetTINY DESK TEAMProducer: Anamaria SayreDirector: Joshua BryantAudio Technical Director: Josh NewellHost/Series Producer: Bobby CarterVideo Editor: Maia SternVideographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Grace RaverAudio Engineer: Josephine NyounaiProduction Assistants: Ashley Pointer, Dora LevitePhotographer: Michael ZamoraTiny Desk Series Editor: Lars GotrichExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSeries Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen ThompsonVP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins