El Amor es el significado ultimado de todo lo que nos rodea. No es un simple sentimiento, es la verdad, es la alegría que está en el origen de toda creación. ~Rabindranath Tagore

I have been super fortunate to have met and interact with incredible performers. Each and every interview has been significant. There have been interviews that have blown me away, and there have been interviews that left me blissful. One April day in 2014 I sent a message to a banda on instagram. I figured I wouldn't get a response, I figured I wouldn't get the opportunity to interview them. I figured.......

Eh sido muy afortunada; por aver tenido la oportunidad de convivir y platicar con tantos grupos, cantantes. Cada entrevista a sido significante. Entrevistas que me han dejado sorprendida, y unas que me han dejado muy feliz. Un dia de Abril 2014 mande un mensaje a una banda por instagram. No pense que alguien me contestaria, y pense que no tendria la oportunidad de entrevistarlos. Yo pense.....

I was surprised that I had a response quickly, and that they said YES!! I was so nervous. I hadn't interviewed a banda, mostly singers and small groups.

Me sorprendio que tuviera una contestacion tan inmediata, y que dijeran que SI!! Estava super nerviosa. Nunca habia entrevistado a una banda, solamente a cantantes y grupos.

We agreed to meet at their hotel and go to a designated spot on campus. I drove to the hotel, and picked up four guys. Please forgive my ignorance. I didn't do my homework....so I had no idea who I was picking up and who was doing the interview..... yikes.

Acordamos en que yo pasaria por ellos en el hotel, y de alli hibamos a ir a una locacion cerca de la universidad. Desafortunadamente y ignorante no hice mi tarea, asi que no sabia ni tenia una pista de a quien recogia o quien haria la entrevista. !!

I also didn't know then that I was picking up the most incredible human beings I would meet in my research. Once we did interviews I found out the three men were the three singers Efrain, Tony, and Luis, and their road manager Julian.

Tampoco sabia que ese dia recogia a unos ser humanos tan incredibles, que por mis estudios conocia. En cuanto empezamos la entrevista supe que habia recogido a Efrain, Tony, y Luis los tres cantantes de el grupo y su manager Julian.

They were so respectful, sweet, funny, lively. They answered all my questions, told me a lot about the genre, and even let me give them a little tour of the University of Arizona campus. 

Eran respetosos, cariñosos, lindos, chistosos, y animados. Contestaron todas mis preguntas, me contaron mas sobre el genero.Y hasta me dejaron darles un mini tour de el campus en la Universidad de Arizona.

If I could tell you how special these guys are.....I don't think I could do it in a simple blog posting. I had no idea that day that I was picking up my future best friends. Friends, who would open their spaces for me. Friends who became brothers. Kind hearted, and super talented brothers. With humble hearts. 

Si les dijera que tan especiales estos muchachos son....no creo que pudiera hacerlo en un simple blog. No tenia ni la menor idea que ese dia estaba recogiendo a mis futuros mejor amigos. Amigos que abrieron sus espacios para mi y me aceptaron en ellos. Amigos que se convirtieron en mis hermanos. Con corazones nobles, y super talentosos. Y con corazones humildes. 

I love them. All of them. Each one in that group, from the three singers who are my best friends. To the staff....each one is such a special person to me. 

Los amo. A todos. Cada uno del grupo, los tres cantantes que son mis mejores amigos. A cada persona del staff.....cada uno es muy especial para mi. 

On those occasions that I have been pressured, tired, angry, or sad....and even heart broken. I have had a shoulder to lean on, to cry on. To my Tony and my Mr. Cheek (Efrain) who selflessly became such important people in my life.Thank you Luis for being a great person and sharing with me your troubles being undocumented.  Thank you, for being there and giving me so much. I don't know if they realize how important they are in my life. I can't imagine how fortunate I am to have been able to cherish and share beautiful moments, and to see them growing and becoming more successful. 

En esas ocasiones que eh sentido presion, eh estado cansada, enojada, o triste...o desolada. Eh tenido un hombro en que llorar, platicar o se que esta alli. A mi Tony y mi Mr. Cheeks (Efrain) que se convirtieron en personas tan importantes en mi vida....GRACIAS, por estar alli, y por darme tanto. A Luis por decirme su historia de undocumentado. No se si saben que tan importante son en mi vida. Y lo afortunada que soy al aver tenido la oportunidad de convivir tan gratos y bonitos momentos. De poder verlos seguir adelante, y que sigan arrazando en sus carreras. 

I might finished this masters thesis, end interviews, complete my documentary. But one thing I know for certain is that I will always support, cheer, and love these three men and this amazing group.

Terminare este thesis, terminare mis entrevistas, y finalizare mi documental. Pero una cosa se por seguro, siempre apoyare, harre porras, y amare a estos tres hombres, y a este grupo tan increible para siempre.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."~J.K Rowling

My most difficult interviews were the ones that left me completely drained and exhausted. It should come to no surprise that interviewing Regulo Caro was one of these interviews. I had tried for 2 years to conduct an interview with him, but was never able to. I didn't get the courage until I had done interviews with a hefty list of his colleagues.

My first attempt was in Tucson, AZ. It was a nice evening, he arrived from Mexico and literally had no time but to hit the stage. I remember how tired he looked. I wanted to put him in a bedroom, give him fluids and home made soup and give him rest.

Coincidentally Mr. Caro is my age. In a weird way his darkness is quite like my darkness. Regulo is the only one I have never been uncomfortable with.....WAIT....it isn't because he's odd, an asshole, or anything of the sort.

I feel a sense of deep respect for him. And that has never allowed me to speak to him in any way but respectfully.

 I prefer to call him The Dark Lord. I love his darkness, his leather jackets, his love of heavy metal. That and he wears all black so much....he shall forever be The Dark Lord to me. I was fortunate to have my colleague and camera/director/producer friend help me film him. After the concert he told me "He IS The Dark Lord!!!" His darkness is what makes him amazing.

I see the appeal he has with his audience. He is very charismatic, and super shy. He's a walking juxtaposition....amazing talent has a performer and a composer and yet he is shy and reserved.

I must confess that as much as I have had criticism on two of his songs, incidentally somewhere, somehow I became a fan of his music. He really has wonderful songs. In particular I enjoy his romantic songs. His albums "Mi Guitarra y Yo volumes 1 and 2" are some of my favorite songs of his I like.

There is something wonderful about Regulo. Perhaps it is his devotion to being a family man, his love for his daughter, or his stance when it comes to social injustices to his peoples on both the Mexican side and the US side that makes him a humble, understanding human being,

Because of time constraints we didn't get to do the interview in Tucson, it wouldn't be until almost 8 months later that I conducted his interview in Phoenix.

Sitting down with him was well worth the wait. I knew he was loved by his fans. Following him on instagram shows all the support, admiration and love they have for him. Being an outsider I have been privy of his posts, and in those moments that an uproar ensues in his posts there is nothing but backing and support for him.

Seeing the love these fans have for him first hand gave me a deeper understanding. Regulo might be shy, and he might be The Dark Lord of the narco corrido genre....but he is a sweetheart with a heart of pure humbleness and kindness.

Seeing him perform while being a regular fan did not disappoint. He puts on a great show. The only regret I have is not having had a longer interview with him. To hear more of his opinion (s) on many other subjects.

Thank you to Regulo Caro and his manager Juaquin Caro for the interview.