Fuerza Regida

Fuerza Regida Biography by Thom Jurek Fuerza Regida are a Mexican regional quartet from Sinaloa who are currently based in California. Alongside Rancho Humilde labelmates Legado 7, they are progenitors of the "requinto urbano" style: acoustic music played in rural vernacular with gritty urban lyrics. Fuerza Regida's songs focus on the hardships, joys, and sufferings of urban Latinos. Their debut long-player, En Vivo Puros Corridos, was issued in 2018. 2019's Pisteando con la Regida was released in two EP installments, with the album Del Barrio Hasta Aquí following in November. The conceptual Adicto was one of four releases in 2020; the others included Otro Pedo, Otro Mundo, and the 19-song Pisteando con La Regida, Vol. 3. On December 31, 2021, they surprised fans with the charting Del Barrio Hasta Aqui, Vol. 2. The following March, the single "No Le Aflojo" charted, as did April's "La Bicicleta." Fuerza Regida is fronted by the charismatic, outspoken Jesus Ortiz Paz (aka JOP), they create sweet melodies but also offer raps atop funky dance tunes played by spiky requinto guitar vamps. Though originally from Sinaloa, they reside in California. The band's sound is unique, but so is their approach to creating a public image: Long before playing together, Fuerza Regida developed a sophisticated social media strategy centered around YouTube. The quartet formed in 2017 with the lineup of vocalist Paz, lead guitarist and second vocalist Samuel Jaimez, rhythm guitarist and harmony singer Khrystian Ramos, and the tuba player known only as José. Ortiz's evocative baritone is at once declamatory and vulnerable as he relates believable tales of urban life. The band began posting videos to YouTube almost immediately and registered millions of views before releasing a record. By year'es end, they signed with Rancho Humilde, a label at the forefront of the requinto urbano sound. Their debut album, En Vivo Puros Corridos, appeared in January of 2018, followed by a slew of video and digital singles including "Radicamos en South Central" and "Ya Se Fue Manuel" that garnered 100 million views between them. Fuerza Regida toured Southern California and Northern Mexico, and their bouncy, outlaw stage presence, consummate musicianship, and youthful good looks got the quartet massive exposure on radio, television, Instagram, and Twitter. Their video for the song "Sigo Chambeando" also included musicians from Legado 7, and it racked up more than 100 million views on its own that November. Fuerza Regida kept the flow of videos and streaming singles up as 2019 commenced. In the spring, they delivered the six-track Las Romanticas Favoritas, followed by the seven track EP, Pisteando con la Regida. In July, Rancho Humilde issued the band's sophomore long-player, Del Barrio Hasta Aqui. It debuted at number one on Billboard's Regional Mexican Albums chart and peaked at number eight on the Top Latin Albums list. Though recorded in 2019, January 1st of 2020, saw the quartet release Pisteando con la Regida Vol. 2, followed by their third full-length, Adicto in April, that included featured performances from Grupo Codiciado, Natanael Cano, and Herencia de Patrones. The LP again bowed at number one on the Regional Mexican Albums chart and debuted at number four on Top Latin Albums. In September they issued the ten-song Otro Pedo, Otro Mundo and in December the holiday EP, Feliz con Feurza Regida as well as Pisteando con la Regida Vol. 3 containing 19 songs. All were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic while in quarantine. After a year away from stages, Fuerza Regida were keen to tour again in 2021 and did whenever possible. They issued the single "No Esa Pa Presumir" in February. In March, they appeared as featured guests on Adriel Favela's hit "Al Millon" and followed it with their own "Que Esta Pasando" featuring Calle 24. "Lo Vieron Pasar (09)" followed in August, the ballad "Descansando" in October, and the revue-style "Los Mire con Talento" with Calle 24 and Luis R. Cornriquez at year's end. They shocked fans and industry critics alike with the release of Del Barrio Hasta Aqui, Vol. 2 on New Year's Eve; it entered the Regional Mexican Albums chart at number three and peaked at two during the first weeks of 2022. Following the release of "No Le Aflojo" with Los Gemelos de Sinaloa in March, Fuerza Regida issued six singles before July 1. Both "La Bicicleta" and "Chingas Du Madre" charted. So did several collaborations, including their co-billed appearances with Aldo Trujillo on "La Despedida" and Victor Cibrian on "Mi Porvenir." In June, Del Barrio Hasta Aqui, Vol. 2 entered the Top Latin Albums chart at number 14.