Del Alhelí is not just Inez Leon’s most ambitious EP to date—it’s her most personal. Written during a year she spent living in Mexico, the record documents a period of deep emotional and cultural reconnection. The Mexican-Korean artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, turns that time into five understated but resonant songs that make full use of her background in classical guitar, production, and songwriting.
This is an EP made by someone who clearly understands how to use stillness. Nothing is overdone. The guitars are present but never overwhelming, allowing Inez’s voice—sung entirely in Spanish—to sit right at the center. On Tan Lejos, one of the lead singles, her vocal delivery leans into restraint, turning distance into something you can almost physically feel. Dios A Ella is more exposed emotionally, but still doesn’t try to dramatize what doesn’t need it.
The title track Del Alhelí, named after the street she lived on during her final six months in Oaxaca de Juárez, opens the EP with a quiet clarity. It sets the tone for the rest of the record: intimate, reflective, and rooted in real experience. She worked with guitarists and composers Pablo Langaine and Eric Barrita, and their contributions are felt in the arrangements, which carry a strong sense of precision and patience. Nothing feels like filler. Every moment has a place.
There’s a calm confidence throughout the project. Songs like Lo Que Quieras and Gratitud rely on small shifts and detailed playing, which gives the music a more personal touch than most modern EPs aiming for a wider sound. This approach makes Del Alhelí well-suited for scenes in film or TV that require emotional subtlety—especially those that deal with personal change, nostalgia, or romantic loss. Its cinematic potential doesn’t come from production effects, but from the emotional clarity of the songwriting.
Inez Leon has been building toward this kind of work for a while. With over 15 years of classical guitar and a decade of production under her belt, she’s not searching for her voice anymore. She knows exactly what she wants to say, and how she wants to say it—quietly, fluently, and without compromise.
Del Alhelí is a reflection of a very specific place and time, but it doesn’t shut anyone out. The emotion is clear whether you speak the language or not. It’s a quiet kind of power, and Inez handles it with complete control.
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