Originally conceived as a reimagining of Mexican folk music, El Balcón have evolved into a genre-spanning ensemble. Their sound layers the jarana and tarima—staples of Mexican folk traditions—with the oud and violin, infusing microtonal melodies into the mix. Their arrangements are anchored by upright bass and rhythmically charged percussion, including the cajón and the unique timbre of the donkey jawbone. El Balcón experiments by arranging songs from the Son Jarocho repertoire, folk music from Veracruz, Mexico, with rhythmic, harmonic, and globally-influenced melodies.

Rooted in lead vocalist Valeria Del Marre’s Mexican heritage, the band has built its identity on celebrating and reinventing tradition. With the strength of their first two productions of traditional covers and compositions released in 2020 and 2021, La Bruja and Contracorriente, their first album consisting entirely of original compositions, El Errante (which translates to “The Wanderer”), explores themes of movement, migration, and cultural exchange, reflecting the collective’s focus on creating music that transcends borders.