By Natalia Rueda 
Carin León’s album, Colmillo de Leche, is taking the regional Mexican genre to a new frontier. León is no stranger to the genre, having been immersed in it her whole life, yet this album takes it up a notch. Featuring18 songs, the album has collaborations from some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Luis Mexía, Pablo Alborán, Kakalo, Los Hijos de Frank, Ángela Aguilar and Camilo.
León is determined to keep the essence of the genre while pushing its boundaries. For her, it’s about being grounded in the sound and having a realness and emotion that pulls in the listener. “Exploring these sounds has always generated things in my head,” she says, “and I realize that our popular genre has a language, although I think there is one that we all speak, because music is for everyone and I think that is what that he comes to show us.”
When it comes to her creative approach, León takes a loose approach. “I am very spontaneous,” she explains, “from moments, sometimes when I am perhaps in the bathroom, cooking or driving and ideas and songs arise.”
León also has a vast range of influences that inform her music. She is an avid listener to classic and modern artists, pointing to the likes of Argentineicons Luis Alberto Spinetta, Pedro Aznar and Gustavo Cerati as examples. As for her own songs, many are about heartbreak, though she hopes to instil a sense of relief in her audience. Her current single with Camilo, “You Don’t Owe Me, I Don’t Owe You”, has achieved just that, with León noting that “something was missing” until Camilo’s signature sound was added.
By merging tradition and innovation, León is bringing a new, diverse energy to regional Mexican covers. Her instincts have led her on a unique musical journey that is sure to keep moving forward.