Regional Mexican music can be many things: mariachi, banda, norteño, Tejano and more. But in Stanislaus County, it’s one thing: booming.
That’s how Modesto Sound Executive Director Mitchell Dill and Board President Brandon Jamal describe the regional Mexican music scene emerging from the Central Valley, particularly Stanislaus County.
So it’s probably fitting they’re working on a documentary about the musicians and groups who perform those diverse genres of Mexican music, while sharing their stories of culture and community.
“It’s like we’re Detroit and this is Motown,” he added, noting that the local music economy has become so profitable that teenage musicians are earning incomes that were completely unheard of when he was in high school.
The documentary is part of Modesto Sound’s broader mission to support and record local music culture. Founded in 2005 as a recording studio by Brenda Francis, the organization converted into a nonprofit in 2015.
Now located at 110 Santa Barbara Ave., just north of Yosemite Boulevard, the center focuses primarily on youth programs, offering workshops, recording space, and job training at little to no cost.
“We offer scholarships for our programs and we mainly focus on teaching job skills through music in an engaging way,” Dill said.
Jamal said the idea for a documentary about the region’s Hispanic music and culture came from his time working at a local music store. He was repeatedly asked if the store carried an instrument he had never heard of before: a tololoche. Often described as the Mexican double bass, this smaller, handcrafted upright bass provides the thumping rhythmic foundation for traditional genres like norteño.
“I said, ‘OK, there’s a trend here,’” Jamal said. “There is this large community of musicians here in the Central Valley…who are participating in this genre.”
That realization led to the development of the documentary project, which received $20,000 from the region’s nonprofit powerhouse, the Stanislaus Community Foundation.
The film will feature around a dozen participants, including both solo artists and bands. One of those spotlighted is local musician Marlene Dolores DeHerrera.
“I wanted to join this documentary to share my perspective as a female music artist and performer,” DeHerrera said.
At just 16 years old, DeHerrera joined her father’s band, Los Reales del Norte, after they found themselves in need of an accordionist. She took on the challenge, eventually mastering the group’s entire 24-album catalog of Norteño music.
For her, the regional Mexican scene is about far more than just the music. It is a deeply rooted cultural experience. Shows can include local musicians, dancers, fresh food and more for celebrations and even for memorial services – bringing Mexican traditions to the Valley.
She noted that the music creates an atmosphere where time seems to stand still.
“Con música la luna se desvela, al sol se le hace tarde pa’ salir – with music the moon stays up late and the sun is late to rise,” she said, translating the sentiment into English. “Our festivities nearly stop time. We love to enjoy those special moments where the community gathers.”
Filmmaker Jamal has been documenting live performances at quinceañeras, weddings and other events, as well as rehearsals and the day-to-day lives of the musicians.
“We’re also documenting…different struggles that they face between balancing a work life and a performance life,” Jamal said.
DeHerrera has watched this scene evolve, noting that the “booming” local economy Jamal described hasn’t always been so visible.
“As a young musician, it wasn’t popular to show this side of our culture,” she said. “Then social media boomed during COVID and many things that were kept near the heart began to get shared, and it’s a joy to see the next generation’s pride grow and share with the world.”
When asked what advice she has for young musicians who are just picking up an instrument, DeHerrera emphasized the importance of honoring the greats.
She cited classic mariachi legends like Vicente Fernández, Antonio Aguilar, Pedro Infante and José Alfredo Jiménez, as well as classic northern accordion masters like Ramón Ayala, Cornelio Reyna, Juan Villarreal, and Los Alegres de Terán.
“Each one gave countless hours of practice and presentations. But they all had to start somewhere,” she said.
While telling stories like DeHerrera’s, instead of following a strict script, Jamal said, the project takes a “wait for the story to show up” approach.
They hope the result will bridge gaps in awareness between different parts of the community.
“We’re all one community,” Jamal said. “But when access isn’t given to a certain group of people, the people who are not included make their own way.”
For Modesto Sound, that idea connects directly to its work in underserved areas of Modesto, where the organization provides a space for young people to develop skills and express themselves through music at its sites on Santa Barbara Avenue near the Airport District. The organization also extends its reach into west and south Modesto through mobile recording programs and community partnerships.
Dill and Jamal hope the documentary will not only bring light to the growing music scene, but also inspire both aspiring musicians and new audiences.
Production on the film is about two-thirds complete, with much of the story expected to form during post-production.
Once finished, they plan to premiere the documentary locally, possibly at the State Theatre. It could also be made available online.
For Dill and Jamal, the goal is to ensure regional Mexican musicians’ contributions across the Central Valley are no longer overlooked.
“We’re really just trying to capture the story,” Jamal said, “and bring that to an audience that might not be aware of what’s going on right in front of everybody here.”
Teisy Zavala-Cortez is a recent graduate of Stanislaus State and a spring intern with The Modesto Focus.