Interview

Chino Pacas (Cristian Humberto Ávila Vega, Guanajuato, 2006) is undoubtedly the Lamine Jamal of Mexican music. Despite not yet reaching adulthood, he has become one of the leading names in corridos tumbados, the subgenre of regional Mexican music that has entered the mainstream by blending urban music elements with traditional rhythms. This style has been popularized by major stars like Natanael Cano and Peso Pluma.

From Guanajuato, he has emerged as a promising figure in a new wave of young Mexican talents, which includes artists like Junior H, Gabito Ballesteros, Oscar Maydon, and Iván Cornejo. His debut single, «El Gordo Trae El Mando,» a nostalgic and catchy track, debuted at number 84 on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100, making him the youngest Mexican artist to achieve this. He also hit the same milestone on our LOS40 USA chart.

 

Interestingly, the origin of his first hit is noteworthy. “This song is a corrido for someone… when I started in music, I would sell corridos for money and sold this one for about 50 dollars. The text he sent me on WhatsApp became the start of the song, I just put it to the rhythm. ‘por todo el bulevar, con mi compa flaco arremangado…’ and that change happened,” he explains.

His short but impactful career has positioned him as one of the genre’s innovators, attracting new generations. He mentions that he has only been singing for two years. Now, with over 18 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms, he is about to release his debut album.

The Meaning of ‘Chino Pacas’ and the Release Date of His Upcoming Album

It’s curious that a Mexican artist is named Chino Pacas, so we had to ask about the origin of his name. “Before we made it in music, I had that name on my Instagram. So, it just stuck. It doesn’t mean anything; I used to be called ‘chinito’ (laughs), but it really has no meaning,” he assures.

Regarding his highly anticipated debut album, the artist has been working on its composition for a long time. “We’ve been working on it for quite some time, more than a year. I’ll almost get it as a birthday gift; my birthday is in October, but the album comes out in August. I’ll release it with my brother, who helped and collaborated on the musical production of this album… I’m very eager for people to hear it,” he says. The excitement grows with the potential collaborations on the album.

“A song is coming with my buddy Junior H and one with my buddy Jesús Ortíz Paz [Fuerza Regida], who we are signed with. My blood brother, my producer, and another writer from Extremo Records, Mike Armenta, are also on it,” he indicates.

On Working with Feid and Peso Pluma

When asked about future collaborations, Chino doesn’t hesitate: “I’d like to do a song with Ferxxo, with my buddy Feid. We’ve been in touch and he’s a great person. I met him at the awards, asked for a photo, and a week later it happened. He started following me and said he liked my style a lot,” he reveals.

Regarding other big names in the industry, he highlights his collaboration with Peso Pluma, currently the top global representative of Mexican music and one of the 10 most listened-to Latin artists worldwide, with over 48 million monthly listeners. They worked together on ‘Mami,’ part of Doble P’s latest album, ‘Éxodo,’ a captivating romantic corrido.

“About two months ago, [Peso Pluma] asked us to go to California, to Anaheim, to the Prajín [Peso Pluma’s label] studios. That’s where we met my buddy Peso. I’m very grateful for the respect he has for our work and how much he likes our style. The song turned out great. When I arrived to record, I hadn’t been sent anything. I went to the studio, and they showed me the track. My buddy Tito Doble P wrote it, and I liked the lyrics a lot. When I heard it, I knew it was the one,” he notes.

Besides this collaboration, Chino Pacas also delves into other love songs, such as his hit ‘Que Onda,’ and his latest ‘Mami Chula.’ “The only love song I had until then was ‘Que Onda,’ and this last one complements it more. It’s the only love song I got to compose with my buddy Jonathan Caro, and I really like it because of its rhythm changes,” he expresses.

The Explosion of Mexican Music and Succeeding at 17

Mexican music is experiencing unprecedented global success. Consumption of this style, which encompasses various genres like norteño, mariachi, sierreño, and the popular corridos, has increased by 42.1% in the United States alone during 2023. These figures surpass those of Latin music in general, country, dance/electronic, rock, and pop. Chino attributes this success to certain key figures in the field. “My buddy Jesús Ortiz Paz and Peso were the pillars. Right now, I think Junior H and Peso Pluma are the strongest in the regional genre,” he clarifies.

In the Mexican scene, as we mentioned earlier, Chino Pacas is undoubtedly one of the youngest figures. “I’m very happy, it’s gone by quickly, but I feel blessed by the support from all the fans. I never imagined this, but I knew something big would happen with the people, and here we are, working hard,” he explains.

For Chino, the most important thing to continue succeeding in music is persistence. “I think you have to be persistent to stay relevant. And I think that’s something many artists fail at, being satisfied with their first achievement is a mistake,” he advises.

The young artist from Guanajuato has not yet confirmed upcoming show dates in the United States, but we’d be delighted to see him here, just like many of his fans!