“Cumbia Legendaria” is a richly textured track from El Cañón del Sonidero that reflects the group’s deep grounding in Mexican cumbia and their ongoing interest in expanding its possibilities. Based in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, the ensemble formed in 2019—initially performing norteñas before shifting focus to cumbia in response to local demand. Led by guitarist Ángel Osorio Espinosa, accordionist and vocalist José Pablo Mejía, and Erick Urbina, the group has developed a sound rooted in traditional rhythms but shaped by psychedelic textures, rock energy and the raw spirit of the sonidero tradition. Their name pays tribute to the nearby Sumidero Canyon, one of the region’s most iconic natural landmarks.
Built on a steady cumbia groove, “Cumbia Legendaria” introduces guitar-driven flourishes and swirling synths that lend it a cinematic character, without sacrificing the grounded, percussive momentum central to the genre. Written by Mejía and released on Penca Records, the track also features on the soundtrack of El Halcón, a recent Mexican film—an apt placement, given the music’s evocative pacing and layered atmosphere.
The song is also part of a visual trilogy directed by Pablo Chavarría Gutiérrez. Its accompanying video follows the character Legendaria as she moves through the Fiesta Grande of Chiapa de Corzo—one of Chiapas’s most significant annual celebrations, recognised by UNESCO for its cultural importance. The project is a collaboration between El Cañón del Sonidero, the band Cazafuego, and the creative collective known as la Tía They.
El Cañón del Sonidero approach cumbia with a quiet restlessness, adding new textures, adjusting the frame, but keeping the foundations intact. With “Cumbia Legendaria,” they offer a version of cumbia that’s rooted in tradition but open to psychedelia, surf, and cinematic influences, revealing how adaptable the genre remains when approached with imagination and care.
You can follow El Cañón del Sonidero on Instagram to keep up with their latest releases, collaborations and live appearances.