Eslabón Armado returns with Nocturno, the group’s ninth studio album, where its signature regional Mexican sound stays front and center, now joined by vocal turns from guests including Peso Pluma, Gabito Ballesteros, Clave Especial and Calle 24.
Released Friday (June 26) via Interscope, the 16-track set includes songs like “Ojos de Diabla,” “Corta Venas,” “Siempre, Siempre,” “Nunca He Llorado” and “Que No Se Apague.”
“Most of the lyrics are mine, and the music came from my bandmates Brian and Damián,” singer-songwriter Pedro Tovar tells Billboard Español. “Before, I used to be a little more involved in the studio with them, but this time I gave them full freedom to do whatever they wanted. We really loved how it turned out.”
Nocturno moves from requintos to charchetas, through corridos and all the way into urban sounds. Lyrically, while the songs draw from everyday situations and colloquial expressions, the band continues to steer clear of the explicit language that defines much of música tumbada. “That’s what got us to where we are — always singing about love, and of course pain too, for fans going through tough times. But we’ve never disrespected women,” Tovar says. “Never.”
Tovar wrote and produced “Ella Baila Sola,” his global hit with Peso Pluma, which spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs and six weeks atop the Billboard Global 200, and reached No. 4 on the Hot 100. The group’s 2023 album Desvelado, which included “Baila,” topped both Top Latin Albums and Top Regional Mexican Albums, and hit No. 6 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
At the time, many gave Peso most of the credit for the song’s success, even though it was an Eslabón Armado track. Tovar felt sidelined when the Mexican star’s fame exploded — especially when Peso performed it solo on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “There were some tense moments, but over time everything cooled off. It wasn’t until a year later that I realized just how massive the song was, when I heard it in so many countries during a trip,” he says. “Peso and I have been messaging for a while, and that’s how the new collab happened.”
That new collaboration is “Amigos con Derechos,” a corrido tumbado about a love triangle.
Eslabón Armado is now gearing up for its Amor Nocturno Tour, a 28-date U.S. run promoted by Live Nation that kicks off July 24 in Phoenix and wraps Dec. 5 in San Diego. On Aug. 7, the group will play YouTube Theater in L.A., where Peso Pluma is expected to join as a guest.
The band also has 12 shows lined up across Mexico, including a Sept. 6 performance at Mexico City’s Festival Arre. There, they’ll cross paths with collaborators Gabito Ballesteros, Calle 24 and Clave Especial — and plan to share the stage with them at the event.
Below, Tovar breaks down five essential songs from Nocturno.
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“Amigos con Derechos” (feat. Peso Pluma)
This song came to me really easily, just like “Ella Baila Sola” did. Peso Pluma and I had stayed in touch, and we’d talked about doing something together. He called me about a month ago, and I told him I had a song for the album. He asked me to send it, and then didn’t reply. A few days later, he asked me to come by his studio. He played it more than 20 times and started dancing. Right away, he laid down his vocals, and that was it.
It’s about a somewhat toxic relationship, because the girl has a boyfriend. I think it’s a great song, and a lot of people are going to relate to it. Musically, it sounds very tumbado and full of energy. I gave it an intro that hooks you from the jump.
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“Bésame” (feat. Calle 24)
Diego and I have known each other for a while. We’d always wanted to do something together. This is a love song, but not a romantic one — it’s possessive love. “No me importa que me beses en público o a solas, solo bésame“ (or “I don’t care if you kiss me in public or in private, just kiss me”), the song says. Musically, it’s very energetic — I’d call it upbeat. It makes you move from head to toe, very much in Calle 24’s lane. You could say it’s a little wild. Imagine that whole urban and trap vibe they do so well — all of those elements make it a song people are definitely going to connect with.
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“Así lo Quiso Dios 2” (feat. Clave Especial)
That was one of the last songs to make the album — we recorded it two weeks ago. I called Damián, who lives in Phoenix, and had him come to California, and we cut it in one take. I was originally going to record this one with Luis R. Conríquez, but he couldn’t do it, so I offered it to Clave Especial. They liked it, and it came out excellent.
Musically, it has a lot of changes in rhythm and tempo, and that gives it a ton of energy. I don’t think anyone is going to expect what happens when the first part ends and it shifts into something totally different — that’s the magic of the song. The transition and the chorus are key parts of the melody.
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“X Ti” (feat. Gabito Ballesteros)
This is one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s pure heartbreak. Jerry Valeria wrote it, and I added the harmonies. When I showed it to Gabito, he immediately said “yes.” All of the duets came together very naturally — there wasn’t a single song where anybody wanted to change the lyrics or the music.
It’s sad in both the lyrics and the music — the kind of song for a night of memories or pain. It’s definitely a melancholic track, and both Gabito and all of us put a lot of feeling into it.
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“Safaera” (feat. Jorsshh)
In this case, I still needed to finish the chorus. I already had the verses, and I told Jorsshh about it. This was at the beginning of the year — we got on a video call, I showed him the melody, and he finished it right away. Honestly, I really like the way he writes. He sent it over, I recorded it, and weeks later he recorded his vocals.
It’s another one of my favorites. The rhythm is also a great mix of regional and urban, and just like the title says, the lyrics are kind of crazy — with all the potential to become a fan favorite.