“Great fun throughout … a musically defiant riposte to the virulent separatism of Donald Trump.”
— The Independent
“Sergio Mendoza is probably my favourite musician of this time. He has the cumbia and mambo in his DNA, but he has the power to make it sound like today. His Orkesta is as punk as the Sex Pistols and as violent as Perez Prado” — Camilo Lara, Mexican Institute of Sound
“Orkesta Mendoza is one of the best live bands out there. Their music delves into a myriad of directions, rhythms and moods, big band orchestrations mixed with lo fi electronica, vocals en Español together with moving instrumentals.”Vamos a Guarachar” is epic and soulful, it captures that positive spirit of the Southwest” — Joey Burns, Calexico
Orkesta Mendoza is the brainchild of Tucson-based producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Sergio Mendoza — a Latin music pioneer whose sound is rooted in the place that made him. Raised on the international border in Ambos Nogales, Sergio grew up absorbing the eclectic mix of music spilling from Bordertown radio stations, and that sense of place has never left his work.
The result is a bold blend of Indie Rock and Latin music that has become a cornerstone of Tucson culture — and a sound that continues to evolve through Mendoza’s gift for global collaboration. From arranging Esto Sí Es Cumbia for Los Ángeles Azules to co-producing albums with Calexico’s Joey Burns and John Convertino, Orkesta Mendoza brings together musicians from across regions and genres to create something entirely its own.