Over the course of a decade, Grupo Marca Registrada has earned a spot within the regional Mexican music scene by stamping their type on norteño music. In 2022, they launched hits like “Si Fuera Fácil”, “No Me Acuerdo” and “El Rescate” with Juniro H. However by mid 2023, their album Corleone had not gotten the response they anticipated: it solely spent one week on Billboard‘s Regional Mexican Albums chart, at No. 16, and one week on Prime Latin Albums at No. 50. And within the midst of the craze for corridos tumbados, the outlook was not encouraging.
Regardless of collaborations with Carin León (“Me Haces Tan Bien”) and Grupo Frontera (“Dí Que Sí”, which reached No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay and No. 3 on Latin Airplay within the spring of final yr), they felt one thing was amiss. So their frontman, Fidel Oswaldo Castro, set concerning the process of adjusting musical path and located rising expertise youthful than himself — corresponding to Octavio Cuadras, Joaquín Medina and Sheeno — who write, compose and produce with a singular contact and a “techno bélico” sound.
Then got here one other trilogy of songs with which they’d present a brand new face — “ELOVRGA” with Alex Favela and Joaquin Medina, which took them to No. 7 on the Scorching Dance/Digital Songs chart and whose music video has over 102 million views; “Alucin” with Eugenio Esquivel and Sebastian Esquivel, and the joyful corrido “Bling Bling” with Octavio Cuadras — launched late final yr; the latter with a remix that includes Colombian famous person Maluma.
As we speak (March 1), they’re premiering a brand new model of Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas’ 2003 Latin pop hit “Andar Conmigo,” and shortly one thing dance-driven with Belinda might be launched.
In an unique interview with Billboard Español, Castro spoke extensively concerning the wheel of fortune that has Grupo Marca Registrada’s spirits excessive and their upcoming initiatives with stars that additionally embrace Peso Pluma, Junior H and Xavi.
After a successful streak, issues didn’t work out the way in which you thought they’d. Have been you ready for that?
I’m all the time ready, in order that in case one thing doesn’t work out, I’ve a backup. It’s the starvation to maneuver ahead. You additionally should put intelligence into music, it’s a must to look the place nobody else desires to look.
Why did you resolve to offer very younger, virtually unknown artists an opportunity?
Everyone desires to report with large artists. I didn’t search for that, I regarded for high quality, I regarded for expertise; I had the numbers. I regarded for a product to promote, one thing good and of high quality that was not overexposed. So I began with Joaquín [Medina] and Alex [Favela] for the music “Elovrga”, then with the Esquivel brothers I did “Alucin”, which has been a success in digital music charts in Spain. Octavio [Cuadras], a Sinaloan like me, additionally got here together with a superb music, “Bling Bling”, and I gave him the chance.
These three songs labored and what I needed occurred: to show Mexican music as nobody else had finished. We launched them and folks accepted it extremely. Let’s simply say I really feel renewed musically. This led to different alternatives. The Maluma collaboration occurred and we went to Colombia to report a brand new model of “Bling Bling,” which right this moment is being listened to by tens of millions all over the world.
Has taking a musical flip in your profession affected your relationship along with your regional Mexican colleagues?
Quite the opposite, now I’ve already obtained calls from large stars who in some unspecified time in the future thought that Fidel had already sunk — however since they’ve seen the trail I’ve taken, they’re all for working with me. I’m not at odds with success, fame or cash.
You could possibly have stayed doing corridos, however you performed the ultimate card.
I’ve been doing this for 12 years, two by myself and 10 with Marca Registrada. The bottom line is to adapt to what gives you work. It has all the time labored for me to adapt to the brand new, however I don’t cease doing my very own factor.
Are you now working as a crew with these new abilities you found?
I made my group of artists with Sheeno and Octavio Cuadras, new abilities which have a really good respect for me. I’ve plenty of confidence in them, I would like them to work and put the music of Mexico very excessive. I’ve informed the fellows that it isn’t about saying that the songs are mine as a result of I’m the well-known one; we’re in the identical boat collectively. Octavio has his place, as does Joaquín (Medina), Alex Favela and the Esquivel brothers. Everybody will get what they actually deserve.
Are you working with them for the brand new Marca Registrada album?
Completely. The album, from RB Music/Interscope, known as The G.O.A.T (The Biggest Of All Time). There are 12 songs and an intro; it’s entice, it has nothing to do with norteño music. Within the earlier album, Corleone, I targeted on what the folks of Marca Registrada had been asking for.
This manufacturing could be very completely different — there are duets with guys that no one is aware of, corresponding to Angel Cervantes and Oslin, who co-wrote “Torai”, a music that I uploaded to TikTok and was doing very effectively when the label dropped the music. Nevertheless, one other one in all our producers, Marcelo Rivs, who was working with Belinda, confirmed it to her, she preferred it, we recorded it simply final week and it was an ideal expertise. It’s has a techno-bélico, dance vibe. Belinda is an important determine; she is all the time within the information and that is superb.
Did you ever think about your self making home or digital music?
Years in the past, once I used to hang around in nightclubs, I believed how great it might be to be as profitable because the reggaetón heads with their music. As we speak, I will be proud that my songs are sung and danced to in these locations.
You could have a brand new collaboration with Julieta Venegas, how did this method come about?
Julieta Venegas is a superb particular person, I’ve all the time been an enormous fan of hers. As we speak I can let you know that she is my good friend. I had already recorded “Limón y Sal”, however I had the dream of doing one thing together with her and, by way of my distributor, the contact was made, we despatched her the demo and he or she preferred it. Julieta informed me that she needed one thing within the type of Marca Registrada, very regional Mexican and he or she determined that it needs to be “Andar Conmigo.” We went to Buenos Aires [where she lives] to shoot the video, one other unforgettable second.
What different collaborations are arising within the quick time period?
There are collaborations coming with Belinda, with Peso Pluma and Junior H, with whom we have now recorded in 2022, 2023 and we have already got this yr’s music, so we have now nice expectations. Additionally with Xavi. Past the truth that he’s the artist of the second is that we join. I didn’t report with Peso Pluma at his second, it is going to be finished now. With Edén (Muñoz) one thing can also be coming, in addition to with Alfredo Olivas; they’re nice associates of mine and referents of regional Mexican music.
Do you continue to think about your self a regional Mexican artist regardless of all these new sounds and mixes you might be experimenting with?
100%, I all the time might be. The truth that I do new issues doesn’t outline me as an artist of one other style. All of the music I make will all the time be Mexican, proudly.
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