Leonel García has no use for gimmicks or marketing ploys when it comes to releasing music as a solo artist. Speaking from his home in Mexico City, where shelves of vinyl records, vintage hi-fi gear, and a timeless calm set the scene, the acclaimed singer-songwriter sat down for an intimate, revealing conversation with The LatinTimes.
There, the Mexican artist and part of the Sin Bandera duo, he opened up about "El Show," his latest album, recorded entirely live and free of digital retouching. The record features collaborations that, in his words, "are felt, not manufactured."
The album, released unexpectedly on Thursday night, is a counter-current gem. Recorded on analog tape with musicians performing together in real time, no autotune, no digital polish,"El Show" is a declaration of faith in the human, the imperfect, and the deeply emotional. Among its twelve tracks, one stands out from the very first listen: "Desierto," a powerful collaboration with Natalia Lafourcade that García describes as one of the most intense moments of the entire session.
"We filmed looking into each other's eyes," he recalls, his smile tinged with both pride and vulnerability. "It was a single take, like they used to do. Three attempts, and we chose the second. Natalia arrived with that mystical energy she always brings that timeless elegance and she gave it her all."
The song is not what one might expect from two artists who had previously joined forces, he as a songwriter, she as the voice behind "Hasta la Raíz." This time, the creative approach was completely different. "I don't like repeating formulas. People are smart. They notice. This time, I wanted the song to feel like a tango, a bolero—something more dramatic, rawer, less folkloric, and more emotional."
The result is devastatingly beautiful: a track that speaks of emptiness, of the silence after love, of that emotional terrain that, as the title suggests, is as arid as it is profound. "Desierto" needs no embellishment—it's simply two voices, stripped bare, suspended in a haunting atmosphere.
The heart of the album
For García, The Show isn't just a title. It's a statement. "Life is a show. We go on stage every day, showing what we want others to see. But when someone important leaves, that show falls apart. It doesn't continue the same. Or it changes completely."
The title track, a collaboration with Arath Herce, reflects that idea. But it's also reflected in the way the entire album was conceived: unfiltered, unalgorithmed, and unstrategic. "I wanted people to experience the same sense of surprise as when you went to the store and discovered your favorite artist's new album had been released." No spoilers."
Leonel doesn't just talk about music. He talks about emotions, wounds, and grief. And he does so with disarming honesty. "This album isn't for dancing or partying. It's for listening alone, calmly, maybe with a glass of wine. It's music for reflection."
The Gift of Edén Muñoz
Another collaboration that surprised everyone was "Solo lo llama ," the song with Edén Muñoz, former vocalist of Calibre 50 and one of the most recognized voices in regional Mexican music. But this isn't a fashion experiment or jumping on any trend. It's, like everything on El Show , about a real connection.
"Edén is an artist who feels deeply, who sings from the heart. And that's what I was looking for. I didn't want to do regional music for the sake of it. He came into my world, and I into his, but without forcing anything. We met in the middle," says García.
Muñoz not only sings, he also plays the accordion on the song. "He gave it that Mexican flavor that the piece has, but it remains a ballad with its own soul. It's like a long night, with drinks, talking about the love that has passed away. Very Mexican, yes, but also very universal."
Music without filters or fears
During the conversation, Leonel repeatedly returns to the idea of making music without fear. "At this point in my life, I no longer have time for fear. I want to make the most of my time and feel as much as possible. I don't want people to hear something perfect; I want them to hear something that moves their soul."
The album has no overproduced arrangements or digitally tuned vocals. "What you hear is what you get. There's no autotune, no editing. Just musicians and emotions. I think that's what's missing today."
For him, it's also a form of resistance. "We live in a world where everything is on display, everything is outward-looking. This album is an invitation to look inward, to connect with what we truly feel. Not with what we show on social media."
What's coming
Although "El Show" is a deeply personal work, the time to present it will be brief. Leonel is still touring with his previous album, "Pausa," and in November he'll be returning to Sin Bandera , his iconic duet with Noel Schajris, who also released a new solo album the same night. "Noel and I didn't plan it that way; it just happened. But it's okay. We each needed to say something of our own before singing together again."
Sin Bandera 's new tour will include a new album and will tour Latin America for a year. Meanwhile, García hopes that those who listen to "El Show" do so with an open heart.
"I grew up listening to records alone in my room, reading the lyrics and crying. I hope someone hears this record like that. I hope it helps them visit their inner selves. Because that's what it's all about. Letting go of the act. And really feeling."
