SXSW 2026: How the De Los Showcase Thrived Despite the Wind Gusts
No extreme wind gusts could overshadow the impressive talent showcased Sunday night at the De Los event during the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.
Five acts took the stage on the rooftop of Mala Fama in downtown Austin, braving 30 mph winds. Nezza, Eddy, Tropa Magica, Vanita Leo, and Hermanos Espinoza each infused their unique styles into the Texas musical landscape, highlighting the dynamic nature of Latin music.
For Colombian Dominican artist Nezza, performing at SXSW was a bucket list accomplishment. She premiered two exclusives: an unreleased acoustic track titled “Stop the Show” and a vibrant live performance of “Sweat.”
“The stage is my favorite place to be. If I could do that every night, I would,” Nezza remarked backstage. This past year has been pivotal for the R&B pop singer, particularly after her performance of the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, which inspired a short documentary, “La Tierra del Valor.” Nezza emphasized the importance of Latinos in the American cultural fabric, stating, “We’ve always been here,” and expressed optimism for the future, saying, “The future’s really bright for us.”
Eddy, drawing inspiration from legendary artists like Vicente Fernandez and Juan Gabriel, took the spotlight with his second public performance. Engaging the audience, he encouraged them to take part in the festivities. Although he has yet to release an album, he led the crowd in sing-alongs of popular corrido covers, including Banda MS’ “A Lo Mejor” and Alejandro Sanz’s “Corazón Partío.” “Musica mexicana has always been there, will always be there, and we are going to keep uplifting it,” said Eddy, reflecting on his contribution to the genre. “I don’t know if I add my own style, but I do add more sentiments.”
East L.A.’s Tropa Magica captivated the audience with their psychedelic cumbias, infusing the performance with spirited energy. Formed in 2018 by brothers David and Rene Pacheco, the group has observed a growing acceptance of Latin acts, moving from backyard parties to larger venues. “For us, we still do it at an underground level. We just show up, y le hechamos ganas, but now we sing, neither here nor there, but we’re here to stay,” Rene Pacheco stated post-performance.
Vanita Leo, a self-proclaimed “Hot Cheeto girl” from San Antonio, expressed pride in representing cumbia on the De Los stage. Accompanied by her father, Marco Jaime, she took the audience on a sonic journey with her synth-heavy track “Solo Tu Bb.” “Cumbia has played a huge part in my personal life and in my culture,” she shared. “I think that Mexican Americans, Latinos in general, make up a huge part of this industry; I’m just happy [we] are getting more flowers.”
Finally, Hermanos Espinoza, representing norteña music from the Rio Grande Valley, felt honored to perform, especially as they prepare to release their debut album on Friday. They began their hour-long set with “Dios Por Delante,” highlighted by a powerful accordion solo, which conveyed a message about striving for a better life. “We want to honor norteña music, regional music, more than anything to keep uplifting this movement that we’re experiencing right now,” vocalist Joel Espinoza remarked. “Right now we are experiencing a revolution in the Mexican regional music scene. It’s the present moment and the future.”
