Story by Alex Brinkley
Photos by Franscisco Tafoya
Sonido de la frontera. These are the sounds of the border. Passionate songs of the heart
resonated on a recent evening through the airwaves of Las Cruces.
It was the sound of Papayas Con Chile, a local trio shaped by the rich culture of the border. The
street sounds of Ciudad Juárez, El Paso, and Las Cruces inspired their unique interpretations of
the polka, waltz, and cumbia, creating a rich and passionate style unique to them.
“I find it really interesting because Celina (Corral) brings such a flavor of Juarez and El Paso, Kayla (Martinez)
brings a northern New Mexico flair, and I lived in Albuquerque for about 10 years and grew up
here…I think about our playing a lot and how there is a lot of cross pollination,” said Israel
Chavez.
Papayas Con Chile, features founding members Corral on lead vocals and drums and
Martinez on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, followed on lead guitar by Chavez,
who joined the duo in 2024. They describe their sound as “Sonido de la frontera – a mix of
sounds from the border.”
“You should expect a lot of feeling,” Corral said. “Mucho sentemiento de corazon. Feeling from your heart.”
It was apparent within the first few seconds of their first song.
The “grito,” the cry, a burst of emotion expressing the heartbreak and joy, followed by “tu este bien”… you are OK.
Papayas Con Chile’s themes run deep. They explain the first song was a story of
heartbreak with a twist, a story of loss that turned into a moment of reclamation and that
heartbreak is a sign there was love and that is why it is necessary. Their set continued
through the evening, touching on themes of family, loss, life in northern New Mexico and cultural
empowerment.
They ended their set with their song “Mariposa,” a protest song emphasizing the importance of
human rights and the importance of standing with their people.
“We have to hold each other, hug each other, and create spaces in which we can exist with each
other…it’s OK to talk about these things and it’s OK to not be OK,” said Celina Corral.
The sound of melding cultures on either side of the border, bridging the gap becoming one, the
sound of Papayas Con Chile will continue to fill the air of Las Cruces. Their next performance will be
12-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Madelyn’s in Mesilla, located at 2588 Calle De Guadalupe,
followed by a set at Hatch High School 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30.
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