KANM had the privilege of attending and covering the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on October 19th, 2024. Our team got the chance to see all the fair grounds had to offer; carnival games, livestock grounds, chili making competitions, various kinds of deep fried balls of food, you name it. However, as KANMers, there was one aspect of the fair we were hoping to cover in particular: the music. 

Sabor Puro, a Dallas based cumbia band, generously spent some time with me before their performance on the State Fair’s main stage. The band is comprised of Paola, the band leader and vocalist, Pancho, the music director and saxophone player, Spencer, who plays the bass as well as composes, Ethan, who drums and is also one of the band’s composers, Ran, who does percussion, Alejandro, who plays the trumpet, Laura, on the trombone, and Beto, who plays guitar. While I only got to speak in person with Paola, Pancho, Spencer, and Ran, the entirety of the band’s robust and talented ensemble performed that afternoon at 4:00 PM.

Paola, the band’s primary vocalist and leader, said that Sabor Puro looked very different when it first started. While it took some time and friction to find the right people for the group, the pieces eventually fell into place and the band has been performing together since late 2017. An alumni of Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, Paola, like many of the band members, received lots of support and encouragement from her teachers and parents. She really focuses on her community and her audience. Her bandmates describe her as the “life of the stage” and claim she has a “magical ability to connect with people.” Paola was formerly an educator, spending 5 years as a music teacher. While both teaching and performing music are her passions, they are both incredibly taxing professions. The face of Sabor Puro felt God put her on the right path, and Paola dedicated everything she could into the band. The feeling is mutual among her bandmates, and Pancho mentioned that it is rare to have every single member of a band be so committed to putting “their life force, their energy,” and “their storytelling” into what they do.

The member’s informed me that Dallas has a very lively and prominent cumbia resurgence, which they are at the forefront of. For those interested, they mentioned that some other great bands and artists from the area are Los Gran Reyes, Son de Las Cumbia, and Monica Saldivar. Spencer and Ethan are the band’s main composers, and often lay down the foundation and beat for the tracks they create. While Selena Quintanilla is most likely the band’s biggest influence, Spencer mentioned that he has a multitude of artists he pulls inspiration from. The harmonies of Joni Mitchell are very influential to him, and the band has a very diverse and unique style. Even in those early days when the band’s setlist was just 8 covers, Sabor Puro would perform for 3 whole hours; using their talent to improvise, expand, add, and revamp what they already had in their wheelhouse.

That improvisational talent was apparent at Sabor Puro’s performance at the State Fair. This was their fourth year performing at the festival and their first time as a resident artist. The band opened with a cover of Mil Horas, and right off the bat I was amazed. Paola’s vocals are incredible, with a wide range and so much power. The multitude of instruments onstage were outstanding and provided such a beautiful, well rounded sound. Horns pierced the air, a bongo danced along with the crowd, flute notes glided through the atmosphere, and even a wind chime came into play at one point. My favorite instrument they incorporated was a synth. My jaw dropped when the first note rang out. Sabor Puro is doing exactly what they spoke about, the diversity of style and unique influence I could hear with each and every song was executed perfectly, and made for such a fun experience in the crowd.

Speaking of the crowd, the love and support for Sabor Puro was overwhelming. Paola mentioned how many people had stuck with them from day 1, and the evidence was impossible to miss. A few fans held signs and cheered the band on at the end of every song. The group certainly has a strong, home-grown fan base, and has done a considerable job creating a community surrounding cumbia in Dallas. Paola’s ability to connect was apparent, and she thanked all of those in the crowd who had been with them from the beginning. It truly felt like she knew everyone in the audience as she greeted and said hello to so many of their listeners, even remembering one of her fan’s birthdays and shouting them out. Her stage presence was electric, and even the most rigid of all the non-dancers out there wouldn’t have been able to resist a slight shimmy or head bob. Paola even came into the crowd and joined the dancing, injecting the audience with so much energy and life. No one at that stage was standing still, and Paola even started a conga line. Pancho was rolling around the stage on his wheelies while playing sax, and you could see all the members moving around and having a great time.

A very notable aspect of the performance was when Paola honored Selena, who had actually performed on the same stage 30 years ago to that day. I could think of no better way to honor the legacy of Tejano, just as they intended. The audience was asked to join the band in a seance to ask Selena to dance with us, lifting our hands up as Paola cried magnificent, haunting vocals. Amongst their covers, many original songs were played. These all had a bit more synth and unique influence incorporated than the covers, and all sounded stunning. Currently, their first and only streaming single has been released. Estrellas Brilliantes is streaming on all platforms now with an album coming soon. Judging from the sound of their originals, you won’t want to miss it. 

To listen to the full interview, you can click this link and hear it on KANM’s soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kanm-student-radio/saborpuro-2024?in=kanm-student-radio/sets/tsf24&utm_source=mobi&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Check out Sabor Puro’s latest single on all streaming platforms, including their spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1B21kOxiFRWE0gwHVkJHjw?si=fEg6Rr-TTWOmP2RBZiYXFg

Make sure to follow them on instagram as well, and catch them at a live show in Dallas if you can! https://www.instagram.com/saborpurocumbia/?hl=en 

Thank you so much to the State Fair of Texas for this incredible opportunity, and to Sabor Puro for being so generous with their time.