VOLUME 36 | ISSUE 2
WEEK OF JANUARY 11, 2024
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A Cumbia New Years celebration
Republicans react strongly as Boebert wades into 4th Congressional District battle BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Although the origins of Cumbia Sonidera are not well known, many say that the subgenre of music took flight in the neighborhoods of Mexico City. Cumbia Sonidera keeps growing in terms of fans and in style.
In a move that stunned many of her fellow Republicans, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert said she would leave her seat on Colorado’s Western Slope and instead run in the state’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Douglas County and most of Eastern Colorado. The reactions indicated the race will be combative, with some saying Boebert’s actions put Colorado Republicans at risk of losing even more ground to Democrats in 2024. In a Facebook video posted on Dec. 27, Boebert said she would withdraw from the race in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, which she currently represents. “I did not arrive at this decision easily,” Boebert said. “A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my children’s future.” The 4th District is represented by Windsor Republican Ken Buck, who announced in November he would retire from the seat. Several south metro area Republicans are eyeing campaigns to replace Buck, including former state lawmaker Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, who had harsh words regarding Boebert’s sudden move. “Boebert has failed the conservatives in (the 3rd District) to such a degree that they will no longer vote for her,” he told Colorado Community Media.
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The DJ keeps the Cumbia Soniderio coming Dec. 30 at Denver’s Salon Ocampo
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Latin dance genre a hit at Salon Ocampo BY JACKIE RAMIREZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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The New Year didn’t arrive quietly at Denver’s Salon Ocampo, which gave the old year a loud goodbye with lights, screens, dance and music. Salon Ocampo is no stranger to the Mexican music scene. The event center brought four Sonideros who joined Denver-based performers the Grupo Kaoba to give a bright welcome to the New Year Dec. 30. As owner of Salon Ocampo Ivan Sosa, who performed at the event as DJ Barrio Sonidero, was excited to host the final event of the year featuring Cumbia Sonidera. Sosa manages two to three Cumbia Sonidera events per year, aside from hosting quinceañeras and weddings at Salon Ocampo. His preparation for the Cumbia Sonidera event
started a week and a half before the event, and Sosa worked with his peers to set up screens, speakers, lights, and audio to ensure a strong party atmosphere for the end of the year. The inspiration behind having an event of Cumbia Sonidera came from Sosa’s love of the music of Mexico. “I love the Sonidera music, especially here in Denver, Colorado, I have given it my all with the audio. Music has been my life and the audio too since I was a kid. I’ve always done it,” Sosa said. The Cumbia Sonidera subgenre has a long history. Cumbia comes from Colombia but has expanded over time to different regions of Mexico and the United States. This expansion allows different people to discover Cumbia and give their unique twist to the genre of music. Rene Perez, who has been a Sonidero for 42 years and is a part of Amistad Caracas, explains that the Sonideros themselves set Cumbia Sonidera apart from other types of
PHOTO BY JACKIE RAMIREZ
Cumbia. The Sonideros are a crucial and distinct feature of this subgenre. “The DJ doesn’t speak, but a Sonidero does. The DJ mixes the Sonidera music and brings in different types of music that the DJ dedicates himself to,” Perez said. “With mixed music, you need to learn the beats and mixing, but the Sonidero doesn’t. He feels the music, and we are used to the bass.” The Sonidero speaks and sends shout-outs on their behalf or from requests of the people, he said. It helps create a sense of community in the music, which is important to the neighborhoods in Mexico City. “We try to transmit what the people like,” Perez said. Sonidera around the globe
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