Our night with Christian Nodal

Mexican music superstar Christian Nodal sat across from us on the edge of a tour bus sectional couch, one of which had plush cushions more comfortable than those found on some people’s furniture. five star hotels. Just over his left shoulder was a tray of snacks on a counter, mostly granola bars and trail mix, next to a few bottles of Don Julio Tequila Añejo, as if they were the perfect culinary pairing.

My ESPN radio show and podcast, Vinyl Voices, had booked a 20-minute interview with Spotify’s 235th-ranked artist in the world — just behind Outkast and a few spots above Luke Combs — and my co-hosts and I were hooked every time you listen to Nodal. word, spoken in Spanish and English.

We had reached a pivotal moment in our interview, the part where he delivered the most wholesome lines, saying they came from a tour bus since Penny Lane told that kid Almost known“You are House.”

“I feel really proud of my culture,” he said, so proud that he switched easily from his new language to his native language to share some of the many reasons why his music resonates with millions. Mexican and non-Mexican listeners. “For me, it was really important to make this change in music, so that younger people – without being Mexican – could get an idea of ​​the culture. It just seems badass. They want to drink, they want to have fun. Or it helps them know they are not alone.

There’s so much more to it, but this love for one’s culture and need to connect with others is at the heart of Nodal’s Latin Grammy-winning brand of music, which has been dubbed mariacheñoa mix of mariachi and norteño it’s as intoxicating as a good margarita. Nodal had come to Houston not only to interview our upstart podcast, but also to perform at POST Houston as part of the “A Summer of Mexicana” concert series, presented by Sony Music Latin and, yes, you guessed it , Don Julio Tequila.

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Nodal and his band captivated a lucky invitation-only audience

Photo by @plural_co, courtesy of Hunter PR

Our band Vinyl Voices and Nodal’s entourage of family and friends also got along well, thanks to their exceptional hospitality and the space of Nodal’s luxury tour bus. We shared a few laughs and yes, a cocktail or two, but we focused on the work Nodal does because it seems more important than just a handsome young man singing songs about love and heartbreak. Regional Mexican music is the fastest growing genre on music platforms like Spotify. Last year, it topped the Billboard charts “with consumption up 42.1% so far in 2023, outpacing every genre except K-pop,” according to Billboard.

The music has a few megastars, like Peso Pluma and Banda MS, but Nodal’s mariacheño the style sets it apart. That much was evident when he later played an hour-long set for a few hundred lucky fans who had been invited to the private party, a much more intimate setting than his concert last fall at the Toyota Center.

As Nodal ran through his hits, fans sang along, sometimes so loudly that they nearly drowned out his very talented (and perfectly equipped) mariachi band. Watching couples embrace closely during his love songs or spilling over each other during party anthems, everything Nodal had told us about the bonds his music creates was playing out, in real life, before our eyes .

In a bit of shameless self-promotion, I’m holding on to some of his ideas and especially my ideas about how funny, warm and humble this 25-year-old sensation is, hoping you’ll listen to the radio show for learn more or watch our exclusive interview when we post it on our YouTube channel later this week. You’ll want to know what he looks for in a good collaboration, teams like the ones he had with the legendary Maná, Grupo Frontera and other young phenoms like Ángela Aguilar and Peso Pluma. Since our show is the only music programming on a sports talk station, we asked Nodal about his favorite sport – boxing – and he smartly explained why his songs might not be the best musical choices for gladiators about to compete. enter the ring. What do you mean for a teaser?

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Nodal explained how pride in his Mexican culture infuses his unique style of music

Photo Photo courtesy of the Vinyl Voices radio show and podcast

What I can and will share is how Nodal’s charm and love for his Mexican culture affected the Vinyl Voices team. Part of A Summer of Mexicana’s mission is to share the beauty of modern Mexico and its inspiring creatives. For my cohorts, mission accomplished.

“I had heard of Christian Nodal but I didn’t know his music. After the first 30 seconds, I was a fan,” said co-host Jon Denman. “Having grown up in Houston, I know this style. I listened to his music for two days straight, in the car, at home. Upon meeting him, I was impressed by his relaxation and his sincere interest in our interview. It all came together when he performed with his mariachis and the rest of the band on stage. I don’t know exactly what he sings in each song but you can feel it. It also helps that everyone attending the show sings along with us.

Nayeli Plata was a guest host on the episode, who skillfully asked Nodal questions in Spanish to make the episode bilingual. She’s an aspiring journalist who helped me interview Ha*Ash – “Las Reinas del Sold Out” – in the past and she and her husband, Jonathan, were instrumental in introducing me to new bands. Latin music favorites like Inspector and Mägo de Oz. . Unlike Denman, Plata was familiar with Nodal’s music, not only aware of it but also as a fan. As a Gen Z listener, she shared what she believes sets her music apart.

“I think it’s relevant, there’s a feeling of freshness. Like, not your mom and dad’s music,” she noted. She also shared some of her favorite tracks: “No Te Contaron Mal” And “Botella Tras Botella.” Of the latter, she said: “I’ve never had a broken heart, but it seems like the perfect way to get through the five stages of grief. »

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Plata (left) asked Nodal questions in Spanish to make the experience fully bilingual

Photo Photo courtesy of the Vinyl Voices radio show and podcast

Plata said she was impressed by “how smart, humble and honest Nodal was” and the show’s video producer, Jason Esparza, echoed those sentiments.

“Honestly, I’ve always had a thing for Latin music, especially traditional, but I have to admit that when I heard about this guy and saw how young he was and how was popular, I just assumed it was the new style of Mexican music that was so popular. popular these days,” Esparza said. “I was quite shocked when we met him and found out how grounded he was and how he connected to old traditional music.

“He kept talking about the fundamental things that made music special, like love and heartbreak. When we saw him perform and I saw the mariachi band that accompanied him, it really brought out the old school side of his music. I can honestly say I’m a fan now and have been listening to this record since I got back.

Recently, the Almost known writer/director Cameron Crowe conducted an interview with rolling stone and the stars of the film. They discussed the movie and that famous tour bus scene. As we created our own memorable tour bus scene for a sort of short film aimed at YouTube viewers, Crowe’s feelings about his film resonated in my mind. He called it “a love story about music,” and it occurred to me, sitting a few feet from Nodal, that he, too, is writing and directing his own captivating love story about music , one with a killer. mariacheño soundtrack.

“It’s all about love,” he said. “I love what I do. I believe I have the best job in the world because it’s all about feelings, passion, music and good times.

Christian Nodal on the Vinyl Voices radio show and podcast, 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM in Houston and worldwide on ESPN’s Listen Live app. The episode will also be released on all major streaming podcast platforms and can be viewed on the Vinyl Voices YouTube channel this Friday.