In an era ruled by algorithm-driven love and TikTok breakup anthems, Gabito Ballesteros is making a bold move: bringing back the serenade. With his new album Ya No Se Llevan Serenatas, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter is leaning into romance, reflection, and emotional honesty in ways that feel rare—even radical—for música Mexicana today.
“I think we’ve all been through heartbreak or a great love story that left a mark,” Ballesteros told CREMA. “Ya No Se Llevan Serenatas is inspired by all those experiences. Not just mine, but also those of the people who listen to my music.”
The project is his most personal yet, a throwback in theme but grounded in the present. Across 19 tracks, Gabito invites listeners to cry, fall in love, and feel everything in between. And he does so with the same sincerity that’s defined his rise—from his early days singing in church choirs to sharing chart-topping hits with Peso Pluma, Becky G, and Fuerza Regida.
1Long before he became one of the genre’s most streamed stars, Ballesteros was a kid in Cumpas, Sonora, learning guitar from his mom and leading a children’s mariachi group at his local church. Those formative experiences still inform how he approaches songwriting and collaboration.
“I still have the same hunger and dreams I had when I started,” he said. “We’re still working just like back then, but now we’ve got more composers and producers on the team who’ve helped us achieve great results.”
It shows. Since his breakout with “El Rompecabezas” in 2020, Gabito has helped shape the sound of corridos tumbados and música Mexicana’s emotional resurgence, partnering with some of the genre’s biggest names while keeping his own voice grounded in authenticity.
2In a move that might surprise fans, Ballesteros hit pause on his musical career to earn a degree in industrial engineering. But that detour ended up being a creative advantage.
“My university training helped me strengthen my discipline, my commitment, and taught me to work until I reach the goal,” he said. “Those are values that still influence my artistic career today, and I apply them to every project.”
Gabito approaches his artistry like a craftsman. He’s meticulous, strategic, and intentional—traits that give him staying power in a fast-moving industry.
3At the core of the new album is a deep nostalgia for the days when people poured their hearts out through song—literally, under someone’s window. But this isn’t just a concept record; it’s a cultural reclamation.
“These days, you don’t see a lot of romance in the streets,” Gabito said. “With this album, I wanted to bring back that romanticism, and give people songs to fall in love to, cry over heartbreak, or dedicate to someone.”
It’s a move that feels both brave and necessary. In a landscape where música Mexicana is often dominated by bravado, Ya No Se Llevan Serenatas opens the door to vulnerability.
4When asked whether he sees himself as someone helping to broaden the emotional spectrum of música Mexicana, Ballesteros paused.
“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” he said. “But I’m really happy with the work I’ve done, and I hope people like the album and that it helps to continue expanding the emotional range of the genre.”
That humility may be part of what makes him so magnetic. Gabito isn’t trying to be a savior of the genre. He’s just trying to tell the truth, and in doing so, he’s opening up space for others to do the same.
