There is a clear distinction between warm and cool in the world of Ivan Cornejo. Headlining the Kia Forum on the first of two sold out nights at the Los Angeles arena, the música mexicana artist and Southern California native appeared on stage Saturday night through a bold gleam of orange light that wrapped around his silhouette. Opening with “Atención,” from his Billboard 200-charting (No. 17) “Mirada” album, Cornejo’s first interaction with his audience is overwhelmingly optimistic — “I have an idea, I don’t know if it’s good or bad,” the 21-year old sings in the guitar ballad.
Color plays an important role throughout the progression of the “Mirada” tour setlist, constructed mostly of songs from the 2024 album, and streaming favorites like “Está Dañado” and “La Curiosidad” from his sophomore LP “Dañado.” The lights switched to a marine blue for “Llamadas Perdidas,” from his 2021 debut “Alma Vacía,” a color that would come to signify heartbreak. If the song was about losing yourself by losing your first love, the glow was blue and starry. To represent hope and a revived outlook on life and relationships, the stage became the sun, and the arena of teenage hopefuls radiated yellow and orange. The only color that deviated from that spectrum was pink for the “I’m currently in love” songs. In the audience, more than a few fans carried signs with the same slogan: “You healed hearts you didn’t break.”
By the time he signed his first major label record deal with Interscope at the age of 19 (the result of a bidding war), Cornejo was already known as a defining voice for Gen Z Latinos thanks to his emotive songwriting and unique blend of regional Mexican and alternative rock music. Some of these influences were showcased in the pre-concert playlist of Billie Eilish, the Marias and Tame Impala, and nostalgic classics like Bobby Pulido’s 1995 hit “Desvelado.”
You wouldn’t necessarily identify Cornejo as a rock star, but there are certainly commonalities. Throughout the hour and thirty minute show, he leaves a lot of room for guitar solos and power chords, especially for the electric guitar, which is at the core of his three-album catalog. You can easily recognize a song is his by the twangy inflection of his voice. A defining quality of the best música mexicana artists is their ability to sing clean register breaks with a whining tone and with great force (Vicente Fernández was known for his intense vibrato) — Cornejo is no different.
The night went without long speeches but he did take the time to address his L.A. fans directly, emphasizing the importance of community and to “stay strong during these rough times.” Proceeds from the show are going to helping raise funds for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), who are supporting families impacted by the Trump administration’s raids and mass arrests of migrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). The crowd erupted in ceiling-shaking shrieks and applause with his point proven: “Los Angeles, you guys are the loudest!” he shouted.
Cornejo is fulfilling the end of the North American leg of his “Mirada” tour — which started with his debut at Coachella — on Sunday night. He will perform continue performing in cities across Latin America starting July 5 in El Salvador.