New Video: Rita Indiana y Los Misterios

The first time I heard Rita Indiana y Los Misterios I thought they were from another planet—they’re just too original, blending merengue with electro, and mambo, and reggaeton, and house, and. . .I can keep going. Well, their new video proves me right! Rita Indiana y Los Misterios are from another planet, and there they’re singing “La Hora de Volve,” line dancing, playing air instruments, and floating on vinyl records and other objects. Check it out. One of my favorite videos and songs of the year.

Celso Piña con Natalia Lafourcade

Celso Piña delivers a slow cumbia while Natalia Lafourcade flowers it up with her vocals. This comes from Celso’s “Sin Fecha de Caducidad” where you can also find Ely Guerra, Lila Downs, and Alex Lora (from El Tri) dueting it with el gran Celso.

Kumbia Queers Cover The Cure’s “Lovesong”

We’ve been missing in [blog] action for a few weeks now…but no worries! We’re back—back with the Kumbia Queers !

Kumbia Queers

And who are they? In their own words: “Seis locas punk and rollers aburridas del rock actual deciden autoexplotar su lado Kumbianchero y Queer haciendo canciones de chicas para chicas…” For those who had a rough time understanding that, it’s: six crazy punk and roller girls bored with rock music, that decided to exploit their own Kumbianchero and Queer sides to make songs by girls for girls.

Kumbia Queers – Kumbia Dark (The Cure \"Lovesong\" Cover) (MP3)

Kumbia Queers – Kumbia Dark (The Cure “Lovesong” Cover)

¿Viste? Las Corregidoras

Las Corregidoras

Las Corregidoras (Amandititita, Aurora y La Academia, Cecilia Toussaint, Ely Guerra, Natalia Lafourcade, Regina Orozco and Susana Zabaleta) were on tour together in Mexico, sharing the same stage in a public transportation bus. Yes, they performed in a street bus that was fully decked out with the same lighting and sound that you’d get at one of their concerts. We’re mad we missed that bus, but their performances are now up on Las Corregidoras’ Youtube Channel. Here are some of our favorites:

Amandititita:

Ely Guerra

Natalia Lafourcade

Brownout: Aguilas and Cobras

Brownout

Brownout gets down y’all! Out of Austin, Texas, this eight-piece band bring soulful funk with percussion, brass, ear grabbing guitar riffs, and flutes. Yeah, flutes! I love flutes and you love flutes (you just don’t know it yet). You can dance to Brownout, or cruise with this new album, Aguilas and Cobras. The slow jams will surely gangster out anyone’s Hybrid—no doubt about that. Check ‘em out. Album just dropped. Get it!

Brownout – Olvidalo (MP3)

Brownout – Olvidalo (Youtube)

Rita Indiana Y Los Misterios

Rita Indiana y Los Misterios are a breath of fresh air in this current pollution of Indie music. Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of the Indie music that’s being produced in Latin-America. My only beef is that a lot of those Indie acts make music with a gaze to The United States and Europe. There’s nothing wrong with that per say, but with such rich music traditions in Latin-America you’d think we’d get more Indie music with Latin-American roots. Instead we get a bunch of young artists that are looking more out than in to inspire their own music and fashion.

Rita Indiana y Los Misterios

But Rita Indiana y Los Misterios ain’t going that route. These Dominican cats have found a perfect balance. Sure they have Indie’s lasers and synths, but they apply them to one of their island’s most beloved musical genres—merengue. Sounds a little strange, but it works. While the music is playful, Rita’s heavy vocal’s demand seriousness. Those same vocals make for a nice laid back Afro-Beat/Latin-American folk track that we’re giving you today, titled, “Jardinera.” Yes, Rita and her band can slow it down too.

Rita Indiana y Los Misterios – Jardinera (MP3)

Rita Indiana y Los Misterios – Jardinera (Youtube)

¿VISTE? Natalia Lafourcade and Los Amigos Invisibles Perform Their Single “Vivire Para Ti”

Natalia and Los Amigos perform a bossa acoustic version of their single, “Vivire Para Ti.”

PBS Presents “Latin Music USA: It’s Gonna Move You”

Is it gonna move us? I don’t know.

Take a sneak peek yourself. So far it looks like PBS did their homework in order to get across that our music is diverse. I caught glimpses of Hector Lavoe, Los Tigres Del Norte, El General, El Flaco Jimenez, and Carlos Santana.

Natalia Lafourcade and Hello Seahorse!

Looks like Natalia Lafourcade has become good friends with Hello Seahorse! They’ll be playing together at Chicago’s Logan Square Auditorium on November 13. What a treat!

Chi-Town friends, don’t miss this show! Natalia’s playful sounds and Hello Seahorse’s catchy tunes will have you feeling like you’re rocking out inside a cloud. To purchase tickets go here.

Here’s a look at what could happen:

Natalia Lafourcade with Denise LoBlondo from Hello Seahorse!

To hear more of Hello Seahorse please check out our previous post on them. It includes three tracks (MP3s). Click here.

Los Amigos en NPR

Los Amigos Invisibles

Los Amigos Invisibles talk with NPR about being commercial and liking it, how they got started, and about the music industry in Venezuela. The interview includes live versions of “Mentiras,” “Plastic Woman,” and “Ultra-Funk.” Click here to check it out.