Cemented as a towering pillar in a thriving scene, Junior H and his stylised corridos are riding high together. Talking to Wonderland, he talks tour, growth and his latest single.
Junior H is a leader of the Gen-Z takeover of Mexican corridos. Before the recent música Mexicana explosion, the Mexican superstar was breaking ground years prior with his emo-infused corridos. In addition to pushing the music from his country to the forefront, Junior has also made a name for himself as the genre’s resident sad boy.
“It’s always an honour to represent Mexico, especially when I’m being seen as one of the country’s important artists,” he says. “That’s a privilege that I never want to lose. I’m taking this job seriously, and I will keep working hard to represent my country. That motivates me not to throw in the towel.”
Junior H, who was born Antonio Herrera Pérez, hails from Cerano, Guanajuato. After moving to the U.S. a decade ago, he absorbed trap and alternative music and infused those genres into his corridos. Alongside Natanael Cano, Junior H ushered in the corridos tumbados movement in 2020, which saw the age-old genre reinvented with a youthful edge. A year later, he carved out his own lane in the scene with the $ad Boyz 4 Life album. Junior H is known for corridos that are sentimental and sometimes heavy. He has collaborated multiple times with another artist that later rose in his wake, Peso Pluma.
Junior H solidified his personal brand and style with his last album, 2023’s $ad Boyz 4 Life II. With the sad boy persona being a way of life for the singer and his fans, he channeled that spirit into his streetwear line Sad Boyz Clothing. Now that corridos have become criminalised in parts of Mexico and politicized in the states, Junior H is joining his colleagues in pivoting into other genres. In his new single “Culpable,” he blends saxophone-driven pop that’s reminiscent of the eighties with elegant bolero. Junior H is also currently performing in arenas across the U.S. with his $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour. While on a break from the tour, he spoke exclusively with Wonderland about his legacy, taking a detour from corridos, and his foray into fashion.
Listen to the latest single…
Read the exclusive interview…
You’ve recently launched your $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour in the U.S. How would you describe the experience of this tour?
My fans in the U.S. are used to having a new album with each tour that I do, and this year, I haven’t put out a new album. My last album came out two years ago. I was having some doubts about whether they wanted a tour without a new album. I’m surprised by how my fans are coming out to see me still and filling up the arenas. It’s amazing to be onstage again. I always work hard to give them a good show. There’s fans I’ve seen coming to my shows for years and they don’t get tired of it and that’s very beautiful.
In the past few years, música Mexicana and corridos have gone global. As a young pioneer of that movement, what are your thoughts on the genre’s explosion?
After decades of artists before us, I believe we’ve finally made a major impact with música Mexicana. I believe that’s because of the movement that we created. It’s been very important because we’re seeing more rising artists from Mexico. Before, Mexico didn’t have that much influence or that many artists coming up. With everything me and my colleagues have accomplished, there’s been more new artists that have believed and trusted in what we built. It’s very beautiful to see that we’re putting more of Mexico on the map.
With over five years in the industry now, what have you learned about yourself as an artist?
It’s always been about the life lessons that keep shaping us. I’ve overcome so much on a musical and personal level. Above all, with my music, I’ve evolved so much. I believe me and my colleagues have added our own grain of sand to this música Mexicana movement. Because of that, we have what we have now like all of our fans. They’ve watched us grow and have been there for us. It’s beautiful to look back on everything I’ve accomplished over the years. Blessings are still coming my way.
It’s incredible to see you on top of the charts songs from your last album $ad Boyz 4 Life II. What’s been your reaction to seeing songs like “Mientras Duermes” still getting tons of streams?
I was just talking about that with my friends and we continued to be amazed. It’s very crazy that two years have passed since I released that album. Following the announcement of the tour, the majority of the songs from that album have returned to the charts. Now that I’ve put out a new single, it’s beautiful to know that my fans are with me and they’re waiting on me for new music. That motivates me to keep out more music. My fans deserve it all and I’m going to give that to them.
Speaking of a new single, what was the inspiration for your song “Culpable”?
It’s inspired by personal tastes in music. It’s music that’s been around for decades that we’ve grown up with. It’s about putting out music that’s more like the eighties and nineties. We used old instruments and a piano from that time. Everything is inspired by that style of music from before. It also comes from this moment of corridos being controversial with the Mexican and U.S. governments. With everything that’s happening with the genre, I want to show people that I don’t only know how to make corridos and música Mexicana. I’m showing that I can also make other styles of music. I’m not defined by one genre. I’m versatile.
You’re also branching out with your Sad Boyz Clothing line. How would you describe the experience of fusing the worlds of music and fashion?
It’s very special because my fans identify with the street style of Sad Boyz Clothing. We just launched the Sad Girlz Clothing line for my female fans as well. I’m always keeping my fans in mind, who are mostly young people. I’m focused on making streetwear. That’s what my fans like and that’s what they’re asking for. I never imagined that my clothing line would become this big. Now I’m happy to be working on collaborations with major brands in the fashion industry.
Words – Lucas Villa
