Sammi Torres & The New Image Tease Sophomore Single ‘Dame Tu Calor, A Sensual New Chapter for Rising Tejano Stars

Sammi Torres & The New Image are turning up the heat.

The rapidly rising Tejano band from Lubbock, Texas, recently dropped a teaser for their highly anticipated sophomore single, “Dame Tu Calor,” giving fans a glimpse of what frontwoman and songwriter Sammi Torres describes as a more “sensual” and danceable evolution of the group’s signature sound.

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Scheduled for release on July 17, “Dame Tu Calor” follows the success of the band’s breakout debut single, “Capturada,” which earned significant regional airplay and helped propel the group into the national Tejano spotlight. Led by U.S. Army veteran Sammi Torres, The New Image has quickly built an impressive resume, becoming the first female-led Tejano group from Lubbock to receive widespread major award recognition.

Speaking with Tejano Nation Radio host Romeo, Torres revealed that “Dame Tu Calor” is the second original song she has written and represents a bold new creative direction.

“Ultimately what I wanted for ‘Dame Tu Calor’ was that it was a little bit more sensual,” Torres explained. “That’s the word we’ll use, sensual. It kind of told a little bit of a story.”

While she describes the song as romantic, Torres noted it intentionally walks a fine line between passion and accessibility.

“This one’s not really so much about love. It’s more of a sexy song,” she said. “But I also wanted it to be danceable and because I advocate for a lot of veterans and I still go to kids’ schools, I had to make sure it was still appropriate.”

The inspiration for the song came during a late-night studio session with producer and music director Chris Calderon. Torres recalled hearing a short keyboard intro Calderon had created years earlier and immediately finding inspiration.

“I heard that little intro and I got to writing,” Torres said. “I wanted it to be very romantically driven.”

The single showcases a collaborative effort from some respected names in the Tejano community. Guest musicians include Aaron Holler on drums, Miguel Hernandez on bass, and Jesse Villarreal on guitar. Calderon handled production, arrangements, and keyboards, helping shape the song’s nostalgic yet contemporary sound.

“What we wanted for the single was that it stayed nostalgic toward what the Tejano sound is, but it also has a little progression to it, a little modernization,” Torres said. “The goal was to keep that classic, nostalgic kind of Tejano sound.”

She added that developing a distinct musical identity remains one of the band’s primary objectives.

“Our goal is to develop our own sound and not sound like anybody else,” Torres said. “I want people to hear the first notes of a song and know it’s The New Image.”

The project was nearly a year in the making as Torres and her team meticulously refined every detail.

“The ultimate goal was for this single to kick the last single’s butt,” she laughed. “I think that’s important for any artist. You should get better with each thing that you put out.”

Additional contributors to the project included Jeremy Ramos, who assisted during the demo phase, Jai Sterling, who provided vocal recording guidance, Tejano Highway 281’s Chris Rodriguez, who helped refine lyrics for broader audiences, and veteran Tejano legend Dee Burleson of Culturas, one of Torres’ longtime mentors.

Fans can also expect the band’s first official music video alongside the single release. Unlike the creative video accompaniment used for “Capturada,” Torres said this production will feature the band front and center. The video is being filmed by Lawrence “DJ NDO” Casarez.

“It’s been a year since I put out ‘Capturada,’” Torres said. “This one, I’m going to put out an actual music video with.”

The teaser has already been released across social media platforms, giving listeners an early taste of the ranchera-style track that Torres believes will be perfect for clubs, weddings, bars, and dance floors.

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“I think it’s going to show people what we’re made of a little more,” she said. “The first single was a balada, but this one is a ranchera. We want to see people dance out there.”

Beyond the new music, Torres continues to make an impact through her podcast, Capturada with Tejano Artist Sammy Torres. Originally focused on highlighting West Texas artists, the show has expanded its reach in 2025 to feature performers from across the Tejano landscape.

“I still advocate for West Texas,” Torres said. “I still have the Capturada show, but I opened it up this year to artists that weren’t from West Texas as well.”

The podcast, which streams through YouTube, Facebook, and Tejano Television, continues to showcase emerging and established artists while helping preserve the cultural legacy of Tejano music.

Meanwhile, The New Image’s performance schedule continues to grow. Torres said the band has one to three performances scheduled nearly every month through December, including a milestone appearance in New Mexico.

Among the dates she is most excited about is the group’s first-ever out-of-state headlining performance at Eastern New Mexico University’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Portales on Sept. 25.

“That for me is a big deal,” Torres said. “Not only are we going to another state for the first time to perform as a band, but it’s a headlining gig at a pretty major event.”

The band will also celebrate its second anniversary in August by returning to the Shallowater Jamaica, the site of its very first performance together.

With a growing list of accolades, a dedicated fanbase spanning multiple generations, and new music on the horizon, Sammi Torres & The New Image appear poised to continue their remarkable ascent in Tejano music.

As Torres puts it, “It’s a new kind of image for The New Image.”

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