Carín León Brings 16-Piece Mexican Band to Tiny Desk Concert

Carín León is the latest Latin star to perform his very own Tiny Desk concert for NPR Music. The Mexican superstar went all out for his set, which included a 16-piece band that helped him bring to life “Ese Vato No Te Queda,” “Lado Frágil,” “El Amor de Mi Herida” and “Por la Suave.”

León exuded Mexican pride with instruments like charchetas (alto horn), tololoche, tuba, trumpets and trombones, which give regional Mexican music that rich and nuanced sound. After opening with “Ese Vato,” León expressed a few words. “Thank you for having us here, que viva la música mexicana,” he said.

A man of few words, León went on to serenade the crowd that gathered there to see him, showcasing his signature vocal-ranging abilities and his musical palette, made up of a fusion of genres, including R&B, country and pop.

During the 15-minute set, he also premiered his new song, “Por La Suave,” that is set to be part of his upcoming Palabra de To’s – Seca out on May 22. The new album is a deluxe version of León’s 2024 Palabra de To’s. Most recently, the Sonora-born artist teamed up with fellow regional Mexican music star Alejandro Fernández for “Me Está Doliendo,” a stripped-down pop ballad with a bit of a twang. The collaboration will also be part of the new LP.

Other artists who have recently performed a Tiny Desk concert include Bad Bunny, Grupo Frontera and PJ Sin Suela, who became the first artist to incorporate a sign language interpreter as part of the performance.

Watch Carín León’s Tiny Desk concert below: