LUIS R CONRIQUEZ
“I want to conquer more places. You’re lucky I don’t sing in English because I’d take over that too.”
Amidst música mexicana’s pop crossover, Luis R. Conriquez conquered the industry with his corridos bélicos. Now he talks bold forays into EDM and dembow and empowering a new generation of Mexican songwriters.
“Growing up, music was my everything. If I didn’t have my headphones in, I was probably blasting music directly from my cell phone,” says singer and música mexicana savant Luis R. Conriquez, reminiscing from his home in Guadalajara. “I wrote my first songs in the shower, doing mental rewinds of my days working in supermarkets and gas stations. Oh yes, this whole thing started from the bottom.”
Hailing from the city of Caborca, in the Mexican border state of Sonora, the 28-year old hit-maker and father-of-two speaks with the confident drawl of a cowboy who understands that bliss can be an ice-cold drink under the blistering desert sun. His first taste of fame came in 2019 with “El Búho,” a gritty rags-to-riches tale echoing the exploits of classic narco-corridos while mirroring his own heroic leap from blue-collar hustle to deckedout opulence.
“In my mind, [bélico] relates to the instruments I use,” reflects Conriquez. “That’s the cannon fire of corridos bélicos. We experienced a brief censorship thing and I was careful for a while, but I also need to stay current and sing about what’s happening on the street. It’s what people want to hear, and I can’t let anyone stop me.”
Conriquez knows exactly how to rally his base, and ahead of the January release of his latest album, Corridos Bélicos IV, the Internet lit up following the reveal of a Sgt. Pepper’s-esque cover stacked with genre juggernauts. From new school chart-toppers Fuerza Regida and Junior H, to long-time allies Gerardo Ortiz and Peso Pluma, and even a head-turning crossover with Colombian reggaeton dynamo Ryan Castro–the album delivered blockbuster fan service.
“Regional Mexican music is united, and that cover inspires confidence,” he says poignantly. “When else have you seen all the superheroes together? Collaboration in music is a matter of inertia, of the heart, of friendship, and I hope to contribute something special and long-lasting to the culture. I’ve also opened songwriting opportunities to many young composers,” he adds, noting his fruitful partnerships with Roberto Laija and Joel Portillo.
With his finger on the pulse and an eye on the horizon, Conriquez teases that more dembow is on the way. A deluxe edition of Corridos Tumbados IV is hitting streaming platforms later this year, with more guests joining the already biblical liner notes. He also remains an active partner in Kartel Music’s A&R dealings, recruiting young talent and championing rising label stars Tony Aguirre and Los Novillos de la Sierra with buzzy features on his albums. Luis R. Conriquez understands that building a community is the key to expanding his empire, and every ally brings him one step closer to his humble dream of global domination.
“I want to go to Colombia and hear people singing my songs in a stadium,” he says excitedly. “I know that’s reggaeton country, but I think my music could really [pop o ] there. I want to conquer more places. You’re lucky I don’t sing in English because I’d take over that too.”
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