Tino Acosta, frontman for Tino Acosta y Su Nuevo Imperio, is one of the new generation of corrido grupera singers and songwriters. His band, since first appearing on the scene in 2013, has been making waves and drawing favorable comparisons to other great bands and solo artists including Regulo Caro and Alfredito Olivas (longtime friends) as well as Calibre 50.nnAcosta was not initially interested in music, but mathematics and Mexican history, two subjects he excelled in throughout his elementary and high school years. He was introduced to the guitar during high school and enjoyed it. After learning some rudimentary chords, he discovered a knack for the instrument and was soon writing his own songs. He began a band with some school friends called Los Ahijados de Sinaloa. His songs stood out and music became an obsession, and he made the decision it was to be his vocation. After high school he moved to Ciudad, Obregon where he met and was befriended by Caro and Olivas. He got together with the pair at night to compose. One of the fruits of this informal workshop was his first big corrido "Los Tres Mandos." Issued as an independent single, it received major radio airplay.nn Encouraged by its success, he began writing corridos for other artists including Caro, Julion Avarez, Gerardo Ortiz, and Banda MS.nnAcosta formed Su Nuevo Imperio and returned to singing and recording his own songs on his independent debut long-player, 2013's La Suerte Esta Mi Lado. The simple but moving ballad, "Sin Ti Moriría," showcased another aspect of his talent, and the title track, the album's second single, was showcased with a video and via digital release -- both became regional hits. He followed these with the single "Te Cambie por Dos" a year later, a track that garnered such strong radio play, it attracted the attention of several managers and A&R personnel. Hi signed with Morra Recordz in 2015. The label released the single "Huevos del Toro" and followed the next year with two pre-release tracks, "Habilidad y Destreza" and "El Broncon" -- both hit on various digital and streaming Latin and Mexican Regional Music charts and placed on several various-artist compilations. The latter song is the title track to Acosta's summer 2017 sophomore album. ~ Thom Jurek