Originally from Acolman, State of Mexico, El Compa Will began his career in 2020 under the stage name Will Frank, basing his music on rap. In 2023, he made a complete shift, changing his stage name and embracing cumbia, tropical rhythms, and *sonidero* culture to develop what he calls “cumbia ñera.” Since then—and despite a two-year hiatus—El Compa Will has established himself as a key figure in urban rhythms, drawing inspiration from neighborhood identity and communal celebration.
Now, the musician discusses his goal of achieving artistic independence, as well as his new musical project—an album likely to be titled *La Lotería*—which grew out of the 2023 single “La Chamba”:
— What is your take on the phrase “cumbia is the new punk”?
I view it as a statement of fact. I’ve seen a lot of movement in the cumbia scene over the past year, and for me, cumbia has always been a revolutionary space. It hasn’t gained popularity for the wrong reasons, but for the right ones—even though there have been attempts to associate it with negative values.
— I think things started to change with Celso Piña; then came electro-cumbia, and now bands like Son Rompe Pera are revitalizing the genre.
To me, Son Rompe Pera represents a perfect example of cumbia transitioning into modernity. I’d never seen a cumbia group incorporate a marimba before; plus, their show is excellent. I’ve noticed that even within the same genre, there are so many different musical approaches. It’s inspiring to see what other artists are doing with cumbia or how they experiment with tropical rhythms; it proves there is still so much unexplored territory in these genres.
— What is El Compa Will bringing to the table with this comeback?
I took a two-year break, during which I dedicated myself to learning about culture in general and exploring who I am as a person. The project used to be called Will Frank, but we later changed it to “El Compa Will” because people relate to it more in Spanish. Right now, I’m working on an album titled *La Lotería*; it’s not strictly cumbia—we’re including many genres native to this region, like huapango and rancheras. My goal is to treat cumbia with respect, convey its festive spirit, and get people to appreciate these rhythms more.
