Nortec Collective
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Tijuana , Mexico |
| Products | Music albums, performances |
Nortec Collective was a Mexican musical group composed of several individual one- or two-person production units originating from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Their sound merges electronic music with influences from tambora and norteño traditions, resulting in the unique nortec style (a fusion of "norteño" and "techno"). Beginning around 1999, these projects created and performed music within this genre. In 2001, they secured a contract with Palm Pictures and released their first album, Tijuana Session Volume 1, which included contributions from Bostich, Clorofila, Fussible, Hiperboreal, Panoptica, Plankton Man, and Terrestre; the last two exited the Collective in 2002.
Their follow-up album, Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 (released by Nacional Records), was met with critical praise and garnered two Latin Grammy nominations in 2006.
By 2008, Nortec Collective disbanded as a single entity, with members focusing on individual careers. The group's Myspace page announced that future outputs and shows would be undertaken separately, pausing bookings for the full ensemble.
Following this split, members continued to release music independently. Of particular note is Bostich and Fussible’s 2008 album Tijuana Sound Machine (Nacional Records), which earned a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
Nortec Collective infused aspects of the Banda music subculture into their tracks such as "Narcoteque" and "Almada," as well as their visual identity.
Performances and projects
Since its inception in 1999, Nortec Collective has performed extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Japan, and Latin America. Key venues include Central Park SummerStage and Irving Plaza in New York, Miami's Winter Music Conference, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., London’s Royal Festival Hall, and Paris’ Elysée Montmartre.
At the invitation of former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, Nortec provided the soundtrack for the Mexican pavilion at Expo 2000 held in Hannover. The group has also crafted remixes for artists such as Beck, Calexico, Ennio Morricone, Kronos Quartet, Leigh Nash, and Lenny Kravitz.
In 2006, Nortec appeared at the LA Weekly Detour Festival alongside acts like Beck, Queens of the Stone Age, and Basement Jaxx. They contributed the song "Que Bonita Bailas" to the AIDS benefit compilation Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin Redux, produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Their music has been featured in advertisements for brands including Volvo, Dell, Fidelity Mutual, Edwin Jeans (with Brad Pitt), and Nissan. The track "Tijuana Makes Me Happy" was included on EA Sports’ 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany video game soundtrack and served as the title theme for Dylan Verrechia’s film of the same name.
The interactive publication Paso del Nortec: This Is Tijuana, dedicated to exploring the Nortec phenomenon, was launched across the US, Mexico, and Europe in 2004.
In 2005, Nortec Collective released Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3, regarded as their most successful album. It received two Latin Grammy nominations and substantial rotation on prominent radio stations such as KCRW (Los Angeles), KEXP (Seattle), and KUT (Austin). The omission of Volume 2 referred to an incomplete project rather than a deliberate marketing choice.
Alejandro L. Madrid’s 2008 study Nor-tec Rifa!: Electronic Dance Music from Tijuana to the World examines Nortec’s creative process alongside its connections to traditional Mexican genres like norteña and banda.
Later releases include Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible: Tijuana Sound Machine (2008), Clorofila’s Corridos Urbanos (2010), and Bostich + Fussible’s Bulevar 2000 (2010), all under Nacional Records.
In 2008, Nortec unveiled a music video for "Polaris," produced by The Masses—the film collective founded by Heath Ledger.
Their final studio album, Motel Baja, was released on September 16, 2014—coinciding with Mexican Independence Day.
In April 2015, Nortec Collective: Bostich+Fussible performed a live DJ set for Boiler Room in Mexico City.
As of 2020, Bostich+Fussible remain the most active partnership from the original collective, appearing at major festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury, PortAmerica, Vive Latino, along with numerous international events.
Recognition
In 2006, Nortec Collective's album Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 received two Latin Grammy nods, including "Best Alternative Music Album" and "Best Recording Package." Later, the 2008 release Tijuana Sound Machine by Bostich and Fussible was shortlisted for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.
Discography
- Nortec Sampler (1999)
- Nortec Collective: The Spaced TJ Dub EP (1999)
- Bostich+Fussible: Nortec (2001)
- The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 (2001)
- Nortec Experimental (2001)
- Panoptica: 01 * 02 * 03 * 04 (2001)
- ¡Terrestre vs Planktonman! (2003)
- The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3 (2005)
- Nortec Collective Presents Bostich+Fussible - Tijuana Sound Machine (2008)
- Nortec Collective Presents Clorofila: Corridos Urbanos (2010)
- Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible - Bulevar 2000 (2010)
- Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible - Norteña Del Sur (2010), included in Kinect Adventures!
- Nortec Collective: Hiperboreal - Border Revolver (2012)
- Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible - Motel Baja (2014)
Bibliography
- Paso del Nortec. This is Tijuana. José Manuel Valenzuela. Trilce Editores, 2004
- Rockin the Americas. The Global Politics of Rock in Latin/o America. Deborah Pacini, Susana Ascencio. University of Pittsburgh, 2004
- Loops -una historia sobre la música electronica-. Javier Blánquez. Reservoir Editores, 2005
- Nor-tec Rifa Electronic Dance Music from Tijuana to the World. Alejandro L. Madrid. Oxford University Press, 2008