BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN ALBUM
Bordado A Mano ANA BÁRBARA
The Mexican singer-songwriter opens Bordado A Mano with “La Jugada,” a momentous collaboration with late ranchera star Vicente Fernández. The romantic mariachi ballad sets the tone for the 14-track set, a musically rich and lyrically poignant project that is a testament to Bárbara’s artistry as a singer-songwriter. Featuring collaborations with Paquita la del Barrio, Christian Nodal, Cristian Castro and Bronco, Bordado A Mano is an emotions-first album where Bárbara pours her heart into every verse as she sings about love and heartbreak — to the beat of grupero, norteño and mariachi.
La Sánchez LILA DOWNS
Perhaps Downs’ most personal album yet, La Sánchez is an introspective 10-track set that finds the Mexican singer-songwriter exploring solitude (“Solita Solita”), relationships (“Toda la Noche”) and the process of healing (“La Curación”). It was also the last album that Downs worked on with her partner, saxophonist Paul Cohen, who had also been her manager and producer. (He died in 2022.) On La Sánchez, which takes its title from Downs’ mother’s last name, she shares the nuances and layers of her story with an array of regional Mexican subgenres — from cumbia to banda and norteño — as her canvas.
Motherflower FLOR DE TOLOACHE
Flor de Toloache’s fifth studio set is as defiant as it is genre-bending, telling the stories of women who live unapologetically. Produced by Manuel Jalil, the sonically detailed seven-track project centers the women-powered band’s storytelling as the members sing about their experiences navigating love and loss. With lyrics in both English and Spanish, Flor de Toloache — led by Mireya Ramos and Shae Fiol — stays true to its signature New York mariachi style while infusing it with folk, ranchera, banda and cumbia.
Amor Como En Las Películas De Antes LUPITA INFANTE
The granddaughter of iconic Mexican entertainer Pedro Infante, this is Lupita Infante’s second nomination in this category following the singersongwriter’s nod for La Serenata in 2021. On Amor Como en las Películas de Antes, a gorgeous 12-track mariachi set, the 36-year-old artist yearns for an old-fashioned type of love with delicate yet striking vocals that pierce through every song. One standout: “Besarte Así,” a dreamy track with Lupita’s powerful vocals at the forefront singing about a movie-worthy romance.
Génesis PESO PLUMA
The most commercially successful album nominated in the category this year, Peso Pluma’s Génesis heralded a new era for not only the música mexicana star but also the genre overall. The 14-track set thrives on the Mexican artist’s core sound, punctuated by trombone and tololoche, and includes the swaggy “77,” featuring Eladio Carrión; the provocative “Carnal,” with corridos tumbados pioneer Natanael Cano; and the blunt, attitude-heavy “Rubicon.” To prove his versatility, Peso slows things down on “Luna” and “Lagunas” — featuring Junior H and Jasiel Nuñez, respectively — to sing of love and heartbreak and reveal a more vulnerable side. Génesis made history with a No. 3 debut on the Billboard 200, the highest ranking for a regional Mexican album on the chart.