La Séptima Banda

A 17-piece ensemble called La Séptima Banda performs an array of regional Mexican styles that range from bandas and cumbias to rancheras, with narcocorridos as its signature specialty. The musicians first assembled in 1994 as Banda San Luis, cutting two albums for Sony Mexico that failed to chart and led to their exit from the roster.

Following extended discussion, every member agreed to rename the outfit Banda la Aventurera. In the years that followed, Hyphy Music issued four independent albums by the group, three of them composed by Espinoza Paz; all four titles were later reissued under the La Séptima Banda name.

The ensemble adopted its current identity, La Séptima Banda, in 2014 and entered a recording agreement with Fonovisia. Its earliest release under the new banner was a guest appearance supporting Enigma Norteño on the single “Narco de Narcos.” The band’s own debut album, Segurito Segurito, appeared in spring 2015 after the lead single “Bonito y Bello.” The next year brought A Todo Volumen, which ascended to the top of the Latin charts. Micha y Micha—“half and half”—followed in 2017; as its title indicates, the album alternates studio recordings such as “Se Defiende” and “La Bruta” with live versions of tracks including “El Narco de Narcos” and “El Chapo Barrial.”