Flor de Toloache is a trailblazing, all-female mariachi ensemble based in New York City, co-founded in 2008 by violinist and vocalist Mireya Ramos and vihuela player and vocalist Shae Fiol. As the city’s first and only all-women mariachi group, they have redefined the genre—honoring tradition while breaking boundaries. Their unique sound fuses classic mariachi with a wide range of genres including jazz, salsa, pop, and R&B, captivating listeners across cultural and generational lines.
The band takes its name from the toloache flower, a plant used in Mexican love potions, symbolizing their magnetic musical presence and emotional storytelling. Their members come from diverse cultural backgrounds—Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, Germany, Italy, and the United States—bringing a vibrant mix of influences that inform their innovative artistry.
Flor de Toloache began their musical journey performing in the subways of New York City, where their powerful harmonies and striking stage presence quickly turned heads. Their 2014 self-titled debut album earned them a Latin Grammy nomination, and just a few years later, they made history by becoming the first all-female mariachi group to win a Latin Grammy (Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album) for their acclaimed 2017 release Las Caras Lindas. Their third album, Indestructible (2019), marked a new era of collaboration and experimentation, featuring artists like John Legend, Miguel, and Alex Cuba, and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.
In 2024, Flor de Toloache released Motherflower en Nueva York, a bilingual album that continues their evolution. Featuring original compositions and inventive arrangements, the record reaffirms their mission to honor mariachi’s roots while pushing it into bold, uncharted territory.
The ensemble has performed on stages around the world—from the White House to global music festivals—and been featured by NPR, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. With every performance, Flor de Toloache challenges gender norms, uplifts diverse voices, and invites audiences to experience mariachi through a fresh, feminist, and fearless lens.
"Flor de Toloache stuns at the crossroads of fusion and mariachi girl magic "-- NPR