It makes perfect sense that veteran Mexican singer Pepe Aguilar would release the most thoughtful and ambitious album of his career during a tumultuous time in his life. Art has the capricious tendency to thrive on conflict and uncertainty. “It’s the one album that best defines my personality,” Aguilar says over Zoom about “Que Llueva Tequila,” an elegant, mournful collection of música mexicana love songs punctuated by deep — and almost experimental — rock ’n’ roll undertones.
Released earlier this summer, it was met with critical acclaim, but the numbers on streaming platforms have been tepid. “This is the first time that I delve into elements of rock and psychedelia that don’t normally show up in mariachi music,” he explains. “I owed this record to myself, and I’m happy with the end product.
But I’m not naive. I knew that streaming services wouldn’t exactly be jumping at the chance to add these songs to their playlists,” he adds with a hearty laugh, punctuated with a tinge of cynicism. At 56, Aguilar stands as one of the most respected maestros in contemporary Mexican music.
The son of late golden era icons Antonio Aguilar and actress Flor Silvestre , he is part of a singing dynasty that now includes his daughter Ángela , 20, and son Leonardo, 25. Pepe and his children recently appeared together on the Jaripeo Sin Fronteras tour — a traditional cross between concert and equestrian spectacle. “Working with Pepe on his ‘MTV Unplugge.