NYT EXPLORES CARIN LEÓN'S COUNTRY CROSSOVER

Música Mexicana star Carin León's fascinating crossover into the mainstream country-music world is detailed in a new New York Times profile by HITS' very own Craig Marks, which also serves as a preview of the three albums the artist plans to release before the end of the year.

The first of those projects, Boca Chueca Vol. 1, is due Friday (6/1). It includes a song called "Frené Mis Pies," which is described by Marks as "a transmission from a 1980s heartland rock CD."

Elsewhere in the piece, which can be accessed online by NYT subscribers, León mentions an as-yet-unreleased duet with rising country star Lainey Wilson, while Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville Chairman/Chief Executive Troy Tomlinson recalls the buzzy aftermath of León's Spanish-only performance at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in February.

“I can’t tell you how many people in the industry called me the day after they saw my photo with Carin from the Opry and said, ‘Tell me more about this,’” he said.

León has remained steadfastly independent throughout his career, but he and manager Jorge Juárez are considering lucrative offers from several major labels. Stay tuned.