Credit: Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán
The Mariachazo 2026 | By Vanessa Torres – Editor-in-Chief | Cover Story – March 2026
If Vargasis the institutional weight of the crown, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán is its brilliant, cutting edge. Founded in 1965 by the Martínez brothers, this group redefined the “Guadalajara Sound” and exported it to the world with af erocity that changed the genre’s genetic makeup.
Angel Martínez, the force leading the group today, understands that tradition has to be loud to survive the noise of 2026. “The personality of Nuevo Tecalitlán is the joy of the music, the virtuosity of each of the elements,” he says. “The stamp given by the trumpet style is the seal that gives that brilliance to Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán. We base ourselves a lot on the discipline and the study of each of our musical scores; we focus on everything being heard with high quality. We bring that Guadalajara pride to every stage, ensuring that the legacy of my father and uncles continues to shine with that same technical perfection.”
“The stamp given by the trumpet style is the seal that givesthat brillianceto MariachiNuevo Tecalitlán. We baseourselves onthe disciplineand the studyof each of our musical scores.” – – Angel Martinez [Director, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán]
Angel is not content with Mariachi being a museum piece. He views the 2026 landscape with a disruptor’s eyes, intent on hijacking the playlists of a youth culture that has been fed a diet of disposable pop. “We believe there will be many songs that young people identify with,” he insists. “We invite them to listen to mariachi not only as the music of their parents or grandparents; we want them to have mariachi within their taste, that it be part of their music, that it be part of their playlist. Put mariachi there! Let Mariachazo be part of the youth’s daily rotation. We want them to see that our music is vibrant, that it can be upbeat and modern while still being deeply traditional.”
Their integrity is found in the discipline of the rehearsal room. In a world of Auto-Tune, NT relies on the absolute mastery of the score. “Nuevo Tecalitlán is based heavily on discipline,” Angelexplains. “We are going to play different musical genres… from huapangos to boleros, upbeat music, and corridos. We will even play music that is categorized today as Regional Mexican, but interpreted through the lens of the mariachi. We want the new generation to realize what mariachi music truly is—an experience that is unique and different every time. Whether we are playing a classic son or a modern corrido, we do it with the same technical rigor and the same heart.”
“Our goal is that they see our culture is thriving,” Angel concludes. “We are carrying the music of Mexico beyond borders, and we see the love from the public in every city. When we are on that stage with Vargas, it is about the music of all of Mexico. We want the final message to be that our music has no limits. We are ensuring that our essence remains untouchable by the passage of time or the shift in technology. This is our life, our study, and our pride.”
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