Mexican music star Luis R. Conriquez has released his 12th studio album, Muchacho Alegre, on Friday 10 July under K Music, marking a shift away from the corridos bélicos that made his name towards the tumbado sound. The 16-track record pays tribute to the determined young dreamer who worked his way to the top, and represents a more personal project for the Sonoran artist, who says he spent a year and a half selecting the songs and taking full control of production for the first time.

The album features collaborations with artists including Netón Vega, Peso Pluma, Óscar Maydon, Tito Double P, Grupo Frontera, Fuerza Regida and Puerto Rican urban star Anuel AA, and blends guitars, trumpets and charchetas. Standout tracks include the title song, "Qué Gacho", "Bandida", the women-honouring "Salma Hayek" and the solo heartbreak number "Al Chile Pega". Alongside the release, Conriquez is preparing his first European tour, which begins on 24 September in Madrid, takes in Barcelona, Bilbao, Berlin and Paris, and wraps up on 4 October in Amsterdam.