Latino Life Summer 2022

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I S S U E N0 . 2 9 Au t u m n 2 0 2 2

2 Welcome to

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RECLAIMING THE STREETS An Interview with Ryan Castro LATINOLIFE IN THE PARK Festival Guide

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I LOVE BRAZIL STAGE The Best of UK Brazilian Music & Dance

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LA CLAVE STAGE Latin Music via Africa, Europe & Asia

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CANDELA STAGE The Urban Latin Stage

VIVA - DJ CITY STAGE Sizzling Sounds for a Perfect Summers Day

What’s On Latin Things to do in London

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It’s that time of year when all we can think about is one thing…the chance to party in the park this summer at the UK’s largest Latin music festival, LatinoLife in the Park, back for its 6th year on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August in Finsbury Park. Recently chosen as ‘one of Europe’s 10 most inclusive festivals,’ this year it expands to two days, with two stages on each day...a unique, feel-good celebration you won’t want to leave and all for FREE! On Saturday, you’ll find the Candela Stage - Britain’s only festival stage dedicated to Urban Latin music and the I Love Brasil Stage with the best of UK Brazilian music and dance. On Sunday 21st August, you’ll be treated to La Clave Stage, with exciting new bands showcasing Latin music’s innovative journey through Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia. On the VIVA-DJ CITY Stage the Los Angles-based platform for the world’s leading DJs joins our UK team of award-winning Latin DJs from Viva London, delivering sizzling sounds for a summers day. Find more info on the wonderful artists in these pages.

AURAL NOSTALGIA An interview with Cafe Tacvba

PRODUCED BY Editor Amaranta Wright Music Editor Jose Luis Seijas • Designer Antonella Perreca

Amaranta Wright, editor amaranta@latinolife.co.uk

www.latinolife.co.uk • issuu.com/latinolife • FIT @latinolifeuk

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Reclaiming The Streets

Ryan Castro is the latest in a string of Medellin music sensations to reach global fame, with hits such as Jordan, Wasa Wasa, Malory and Mujeriego. Just as Colombia’s ‘City of Eternal Spring’ has come to be known as the new capital of Latin Music, ‘El Cantante Del Ghetto’, as he is known, marks a new turn for reggaetón. A self-made boy next door, fresh out of the slums, this Paisa talks about flexing his Jordans at the local parche, rather than nights out in Miami. Carina Londoño meets’ reggaetón’s new parsero to find a special appeal.

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o enter Ryan Castro’s backstage dressing room is to enter a little piece of Colombia. Showing his tour manager the Bon Bon Bums and Chocoramos layed out on the table next to him, he enthuses: ‘In Colombia you can get these in every shop everywhere!’ The typical cakes and sweets of a Medellin kiosko evi-

Photos by Cindel Oranday

dently fill the paisa with happiness and nostalgia while he is on his world tour.

Castro’s attire of choice for his UK debut - a grey tie-dye co-ord with matching grey bucket hat and of course a pair of black Air force - chimes with the London look and his blacked out shades and iced-out gold add the reggaetonero spark. But it’s the ring

RYAN CASTRO

with his name on it that leaves no doubt where Ryan Castro Comes from. I mean, if you don’t have a piece of self-branded jewellery…are you even Colombian?

‘So,’ I ask provocatively, alluding to the ring. ‘Who is Ryan Castro?’

“Ryan Castro is an artist from a poor barrio in Medellin, Colombia,” he answers simply. “To be completely honest, not poor in the sense that people don’t have anything, but poor in the sense that there aren’t much opportunities for young people,” he qualifies. “I grew up around a lot of violence, a lot of gang violence. It was normal to hear gunshots, to see people getting robbed, so it is really hard for a young person.”

Behind the bling, I can see already, radiates humility, modesty and a hu manity unusual for a new superstar.

tractive for those who do not feel like they can connect with the out-of-reach stars like Maluma and J Balvin, also from Medellin. They can relate to him and his story of getting out of the ghetto and to create a better life for himself. It’s rare to find a reggaetonero who has this kind of positive impact on the youth, and I tell him so.

“Honestly I feel really happy if this is the case, because I am proud of my story so it’s beautiful to know that someone can say that they overcame something because of me or feel inspired even if they are not an artist themselves. To know my career and my life has served for a higher purpose to help build their future is amazing. At the same time, with that comes great responsibility, because if I do something wrong people are going to say ‘so and so did something bad because they saw Ryan Castro do it.’ But I don’t mind the responsibility because I feel it’s my mission as an artist to not just take my music but also to show people that there are many ways to move forward in life, not through doing bad things.”

“Fortunately, I was able to overcome those difficulties,” continues the boy whose song Mujeriego (Womaniser) has nearly two million A lot of young people feel video creations. “I started they don’t have many opby walking about with my “There are tions in life, I insist. At the little speaker and singing many ways same time, it’s a great moand showing my songs to move forward ment for Medellin - once to my friends and that only known abroad as the was the start of my stoin life, not through home of Pablo Escobar ry, I would make songs doing bad and now widely considered for las barbies: if there things” to be one of the most powwas a girl that I liked and erful music cities in the world, I wanted her to like me, the mecca for reggaetón producI would make her a song, tion outside San Juan and Miami. things like that. It was from the streets that I learnt about music.”

“Amen Amen, I agree, Colombia has To think that this superstar was once been been associated with really negative singing on local buses trying to make things. Coming from a really harsh barrio, a living for himself, leaves me in awe. to go around the world with a different, Coming from Colombia myself, I know more positive message fills me with great the daily challenges faced on every cor- pride and I feel a sense of responsibility ner, and how easy it is to go down the carrying my flag. I’m tired of hearing ‘Oh wrong path. This is why this boy from your Colombian, ha ha…Pablo Escobar.’

Pedregal (a notorious Medellin neigh- I want people to say ‘Oh your Colombourhood) is inspiring young Colombians. bian, Ryan Castro, Maluma, J Balvin or Karol G or Blessd’, who is my good Indeed, Castro has proved especially at- friend. This makes me feel good.”

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RYAN CASTRO

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The fact that Castro openly praises other journey in music really started when I was Colombian artists, not just famous ones, writing about my story, my life, from what who he says “may not even have social I would see in the ghetto, about the ladies, media but are very good singers and about my love life, but I was really influproducers and are working hard with a enced by reggaetón from Puerto Rico.” lot of love and respect”, betrays a grace and generosity that Colombians have Initially, Castro’s strategy consisted of uploading his music to YouTube and Soundin abundance. The solidarity also Cloud with no marketing plan. As brings to the fore the qualities his music got around locally, of poor neighbourhoods he landed on the radar of that the media often igrenowned Colombian artnore. Castro was just “I’m tired of hearing ist Kevin Roldan, who one of many other kids ‘Oh your Colombian, he credits as being the from the ghetto with ha ha…Pablo Escobar.’ first artist to support a dream, influenced his music. But while I want people to say by hip-hop, but he’s now built a team for whom the suc‘Oh your Colombian, around him, he insists cess of reggaetón Ryan Castro, Maluma, he still believes in the worldwide brings J Balvin or Karol G or human factor rather the dream closer.

Blessd’, who is my than the numbers.

“I had many inspiragood friend. This makes “I’m interested in collabotions, I would watch me feel good.” rating with artists that have a lot of movies about feeling, where I can sit with rappers from the USA, you in the studio and get to I would see 50 Cent, Emiknow you, not just for business nem, those type of artists, but I didn’t know English, I mean I would purposes, which is uncomfortable: listen to their music and vibe to it but I like ‘oh let’s hit up so-and-so artist bedidn’t know what they were saying. cause of the numbers they have.’ I alSo when reggaetón came about it was most rarely like to make music for those a similar flow and style….the chains, the reasons. First I need to hav some sort of sunglasses, the clothes they would wear, relationship with the artist, I don’t care if so I started to understand it all a bit more. they are famous or not, first I need to feel That was my motivation. In reality my their vibe.”

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CAROLINA DURANTE SUN 4 SEPT JAZZ CAFE + SUPPORT

STEPHANIE SANTIAGO + DJ CAL JADER

(MOVIMIENTOS)

HEAR OLÁ! BY CARWYN & RIO 18

SAT 29 OCT

RYAN CASTRO

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numbers they have.’ I almost rarely like to make music for those reasons. First I need to have some sort of relationship with the artist, I don’t care if they are famous or not, first I need to feel their vibe.”

Always respectful of other artists, Ryan doesn’t really do fandom, instead he focuses his energies on believing in himself rather than envying or aspiring to be someone else.

“Being completely honest, I am a huge fan of my songs, I believe a lot in myself and in my music and I love what I do. I don’t let myself be guided by thoughts like ‘I’m going to make this song so that it goes viral,’ I make music that I genuinely like because I think ‘if I like it, I know the people are going to like it’ and it’s worked for me.”

The ultimate impression one gets, is Ryan’s gratitude for and excitement about the journey he is embarking on.

“I would like to travel the world and till today I haven’t done an album yet so I am working on an album.

I also want to work with upcoming artists, because my career has been very independent, thank God you know, a lot of my songs is just me on the track and they have done really well, so now I want to work and get to know more artists, like artists from Puer“My journey in to Rico who brought music really started us the genre of regwhen I was writing gaetón. So you can expect a lot. This is about my story, my life, just beginning.” from what I would see in

the ghetto, about the As for the travelling, ladies, about my love life, previously denied a visa to perform in but I was really the UK, Castro finally influenced by reggaetón made it for his debut UK from Puerto Rico.” show in Brixton, where we are now. I assure him he has a huge fan base, that he will soon see when he gets on stage.

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“Amen, Amen,” he answers, the gratitude London. I know there is a major influence genuinely oozing. ”I feel really comfort- of Caribbean and African sounds and we able here and really grateful, I was literally were comparing the similarities we have between Latin Caribbean and African talking to my team in the car and sounds. I know I’m going to fall in it really is a big opportunity love with the Latino scene here to be here. We were in the in London.” car listening to songs that I made about five As we wrap up the interor six years ago and “I am a huge fan view, Ryan’s tour manwe were saying like of my songs, I believe ager bursts in with a wow, we are here in huge smile on her face. a lot in myself and in my London listening to “I’ve got great news! them, so far away music and I love what I do.

We sold out!” Ryan from home and to I don’t let myself be Castro’s smile fills the feel the support guided by thoughts like entire room and I look from the Latinos in ‘I’m going to make this at him and say “I told London makes it a you it was going to be really special moment song so it goes viral.” filled with all your fans.” for me.”

He spuds me, confirming his endearing combination of Unlike many US or Latino gratitude and self-belief that has musicians who come to the captured the hearts of his followers.

UK, Castro shows a keen awareness of the local music scene.

“Amen Amen.”

“When we were on our way here we were listening to the radio in the car and I love Ryan Castro’s EP Reggaetón is out how much dancehall they play here in now.

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SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST 12-10PM

The UK’s only festival stage to exclusively feature homegrown urban Latin talent

HEADLINE ACT:

Angelo Flow & Friends

Candela Records’ first signing, Angelo’s fantastic flow, Latin-Caribbean swagger and stage charisma caught the attention of label execs. With London influences giving this Venezuelan-born youngster ‘s brand of reggaetón a unique twist, Angelo’s first release is a reggaetón/dancehall/afrobeats hybrid featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Lisa Mercedez. His second release is a collaboration with the UK’s lyrical hiphop heavyweight J Spades. Both will perform as guests. www.latinolifeinthepark.com

Alvarez Funk

James Brown meets Irakere. After rocking the crowd at Brighton’s Great Escape in May, Rene Alvarez brings his electrifying and high energy Cuban funk band to the urban stage. The Santiago-born singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader is one of the most sought-after Latin musicians and vocalists in Europe - winner of the LUKAS Awards for his salsa band Cuban Combination. Still fresh from his role in the latest James Bond movie, this 7-piece Cuban funk band is the product of Rene’s lifelong dream of bringing together the sound of his Afro-Cuban roots with North American funk, which incidentally has its roots in the Cuban influence in New Orleans.

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Guala

Tottenham-raised Ecuadorian Guala is a gifted lyricist at ease rapping in both Spanish and English, single or double-timing, fusing hip hop, reggaetón, grime, and afro-swing. A bit of a lot of a rapper and Candela Records snapped up this authentic sound of Latin London without hesitation. His song ‘You’re not there,’ the first ever grime song in Spanish, was played on BBC1 Xtra and has over 100k views on GrimeDaily. His song ‘Reggaeton’ accrued over 60k views on YouTube and his single ‘Bad Bunny’ with Pman and Fluffy was hugely successful with 110K views on You Tube.

LISEY TIGRA

This exciting British-Colombian singer and guitarist demonstrated an impressive

range of skills on her first EP ‘Crime Scene’, which features her raw, sensual vocals paired with powerful, roaring guitar solos. Praised by BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, W Radio, Noctis Mag, the accompanying music videos showcase Lisey’s affinity for visual storytelling and performance prowess. Straddling diverse genres, from rock to reggaetón, infused with London influences, Lisey sets a new standard for the Latin Urban genre in the UK.

TATTO RD

Dominican José Solano (aka TATTO) started singing boleros and salsa at 14, sharing stages with his father Daniel Solano . Practicing his voice through performing, he developed a great versatility and began professionally in 2006 in the Dominican Republic collaborating with the likes of Villano Sam, Subject Oro 24, Guariboa, Poeta Callejero, Paramba, Mr. Manyao & H2, Doble T & El Crok (Los Pepe) and featured with other major Dominican Dembow artists on “YO SOY DEMBOW”.

With the duo Tatto & El Full he achieved success with the remix Calabria Pompa Pompa before moving to London.

FLUFFY ORIGINAL

With his opera-trained voice and formidable stage presence, this Venezuelan-born rapper was one the most popular performers at last year’s LatinoLife Festival.

Having moved to Spain at the age of 4, Fluffy began free-styling on the streets, embracing flamenco sounds, while being trained in opera at school.

At 16, Fluffy moved to London where he continued to merge his South American and Spanish sounds with London influences. Selftaught and versatile, Fluffy is able to write and perform music across genres and is one of London’s most prolific and popular Latin Artists.

LA FRECUENCIA

Jens Rafael Rosario, known As “LA FRECUENCIA” Is a Dominican-born, Spanish-

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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2 raised and London-based singer and composer. A gifted storyteller, La Frecuencia entered the spotlight when his Spanish version of Thotiana got more than 500 thousand views on YouTube and more than 110 on SoundCloud. Other singles include Lucia (350k YouTube views), Another North (15k) and Good (11k) and his most recent releases ‘Party’ and ‘Baby Ya Cobre’ are out now.

A NAHOMY

This Hackney-raised Ecuadorian singer delivers her spicy sound in tongue-twisting “Spanglish.” Music runs in Nahomy‘s family: her grandfather performed in bars and parties in the barrios of Quito and from the age of 5, Nahomy was performing with her father in their Hispanic church in London.

At the age of 14, Nahomy wrote her first song titled “Run Away” which received 82,000 views on Youtube and over 6,000 streams.

Her second release titled “Mejor Sin Ti” received more than 145k views and 40,000 streams. Hot off touring Ecuador, she has recently signed a contract for a new Netflix series, to be filmed later this year.

KIKO

Born in West London to Colombian parents, Kiko released his first music video ‘Cosa Buena’ in 2019 and has since shown himself to be a versatile artist with his trademnark combination of real rap, jumpy drill vibes and catchy hooks,. Kiko recently released ‘Dinero’, a collaboration with one of Spain’s most in-demand drill artists, Patron970. Setting new standards with his music videos, Kiko has become one of London’s most viewed Latin artists.

FAQUNDO GONZALEZ

Dominican-born EmCee been making his name in the Dominican Republic, Spain and now the UK, with his powerful lyrics

and musicality. Starting his career in DR, Faqundo founded the legendary Hip-Hop collective “Cooperativa Empresarial Lo Correcto” A One of London’s most prolific Latin artists, Faqundo released his first album Rap CoreNivalismo in 2019 and his second Poesías Del Siglo XXI (21st Century Poetry) in 2021, which he performed at LatinoLife Festival. Faqundo has already released his first single of 2022 “Ponte Pa Tu Numero” which he performed at the London Latin Music Conference.

J Dogg

Born in North London of Chilean descent, J Dogg wrote his first song at the young age of 9 talking about how much trouble He would get into in primary school.

Fast forward to 2020 and, at the age of 17, J Dogg released his first music video ‘Me Muero’. This was followed by a stream of tracks over the last two years, including ‘Hit Session’, ‘Reina ‘ and remix Barrio ft. Artz, Coel Jr & Kween Deekayy, all of which have been earning lots of love and getting him more noticed by the uk music industry. His next single ‘Rica’ will be released over the summer of 2022.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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27 Sep – 8 Oct 2022

Holborn sadlerswells.com

German Cornejo’s

House of Flamenka

Tango After Dark

11 – 22 Oct 2022

photo © Federico Paleo

photo © Jason Joyce

Karen Ruimy and Arlene Phillips present

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AVA

This 21-year-old east Londoner of British-SpanishJamaican and Nigerian heritage is a rising star on the urban Latin scene. Spending much of her childhood in Spain, she brings together her love of Spanish music to her natural connection with UK R&B, reggae and afrobreats to create a true UK future sound. Just embarking on her career, she is following her dream whist attending school college and holding down a full time job.

aetón club movement in Europe, taking his creation La Bomba – the UK’s most successful Latin club night at the Ministry of Sound – to Ibiza and Germany, South Africa and Hong Kong. As well as starting some of London’s most innovative club nights, Jose Luis has been the resident DJ of some of the best clubs in the world such as Ministry of Sound (London) and Pacha (Ibiza), Seone (London) and currently tours with Classic Ibiza. Rooted in a deep love of Latin music, house and urban beats, years of expertise and loyalty to his roots, Jose Luis always has his finger on the Latin pulse.

He sounds like no other DJ and his sets are full of surprises, where he mashes up everything from baile funk to the latest afrohouse.

DJ MORENO

DJ C FUEGO

ON THE DECKS…

DJ JOSE LUIS

Known as ‘The Godfather of UK Reggaetón’ Jose Luis is one of Europe’s leading Latin DJs and events promoters.

Since his arrival from Caracas over 20 years ago, Jose Luis pioneered the regge-

Engineer degree, he is part of the Forza Studios team working alongside the Forza team (DJ Gordo, Clau Clau and Dj Kaia Pro), Fuego also plays at some of the biggest Reggaeton events in London such as Locura Fridays, Exotic, Latin Deluxe, Viva Reggaeton, Salvaje across some of the biggest and well known venues in London.

Fuego’s deep knowledge of the genere, makes reggaeton his strongest genre but he also plays hip hop/rap,

This 25-year old ColombianTottenham boy has opened up for some of the biggest reggaeton artists, such as Bad Bunny, Arcangel, Karol G, Ñejo, Cris MJ, when they visit London. He is a regular at London’s biggest Reggaeton events such as Locura Fridays, Exotic and Latin Deluxe. A graduate from university with a Audio

This Portuguese-born, Canary Island-raised DJ titan of Angolan heritage, Moreno was, together with Dj Jose Luis, a pioneer of the UK reggaetón movement back in the 00s. One of the original DJs of the now legendary La Bomba nights at the Ministry of Sound and Pacha Ibiza, Europe’s first reggaetón clubnights, he went on to introduce reggaetón into the West End urban club scene, through his residencies at Bar Rumba. Since returning to the Canary Islands, he has become one of Spain’s most in-demand urban DJs and makes his annual return to the UK, exclusively for LatinoLife in the Park. ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world, being back with my homies who I started this journey with!’

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST 12-10PM

The Best of Brazilian Music and Dance in the UK

hosted by

OI BRASIL

‘Oi Brasil! is Europe’s finest dance company specialising in authentic Brazilian and Cuban entertainment. With bases in London, Rio and Havana, Oi Brasil’s native and professionally trained performers will transport you to the steamy streets of Latin America & the world of Samba, Salsa & Carnival!, a showcase of the best rhythms and dances of Brazil and Cuba in the heart of London. www.latinolifeinthepark.com

FEATURING

Fabio Allman & Berimbau Band

Direct from Lisboa, world-renowned puxador Fabio Allman fronts the incredible Berimbau band for a spectacular set of samba, reggae and funk. Blending all their influences and experience, the band reflects Rio de Janeiro’s melting pot of rhythms and styles.

Bringing the sounds and traditional songs of the Rio street carnival, loads of audience participation and sing-along opportunities, this powerhouse of rhythm entertainment, vocals and beautiful melodies is guaranteed to bring the house down.

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Vitoria e Rodolfo

Founded by Marcos Santana in December 2005, TRIBO has its origins in Morro de São Paulo on the island of Tinharé, Bahia, Brazil, setting up a place for the children of the island to develop their personalities and talents. This international Batucada band makes each individual feel that they can nurture their own creative life force without having to be musically trained or gifted and develop skills which will enrich their lives.

DON JAGA

Vitória & Rodolfo bring the best of Sertanejo, Brazilian country music to the UK. Born in the city of Goiânia-Goiás, Rodolfo started singing at the age of 15 in local bars until, at the age of 26, he found his perfect musical match in Vitoria’s sweet and powerful voice. Since moving to London, the duo have brought a bit of home to Brazilian celebrities in the UK, including footballers Firmino, David Luís, Philippe Coutinho. They have also opened fro Gustavo Lima at Wembley, Eduardo Costa at Electric Brixton, and Jefferson Moraes in Dublin.

TRIBO

Born in Portugal of Angolan descent and raised in the UK, Don Jaga has pioneered Portuguese hiphop in the UK. This multitalented artist can rap and sing in many languages and diverse genres from reggae, Brazilian funk to hip-hop, grime and reggaeton. He mixes English, Portuguese, Spanish, Kimbundu and Umbundu languages reflecting his multi cultural heritage and skill set.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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2 ON THE DECKS…

Bellsavvy

DJ Oopsy Daisy

From Brazil, Daisy Almeida has a background in hip hop dance, plays a range of instruments, and sings, but performing on the decks is what she loves most. A mixed bag DJ, she loves to play house music with an urban edge and has been playing in clubs and bars all over England and Europe.

Brazilian singer-songwriter Bellsavvy has been showing all she’s got on her fiery urban-pop songs, produced by multi-platinum winning Sky Adams (Doja Cat) and David Lei Brandt (Lady Gaga). Her performance last year wowed the urban crowd at the Candela Stage where she showed how well she commands the stage and combines her Latina roots with her European influences. This year Bellsavvy is back, with a repertoire for her Brazilian homies.

DJ Limao Born in Sao Paulo and passionate about all types of music, Fabio Limão has been a regular fixture on both Brazilian and UK club circuits since arriving in London in 2005. His sets are flavoured with the musical influences he has absorbed whilst travelling the world for 25 years making a living out of spinning the decks, and contains all sorts of funky upbeat, happy music with no restrictions.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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SUNDAY 21ST AUGUST 12-10PM

Named after THE FOUNDING BEAT OF AFRO-LATIN MUSIC, the Sunday stage is all about the sounds of innovation & the journey of Latin Music to and from Africa, Latin America, Europe & Asia

Eliane Correa y La Evolución

Daniel Vince

Inspired by the modern Havana sound of large-format Timba (Cuban salsa) featuring electric guitars and synths over powerful Cuban grooves, La Evolución is the latest creation of the acclaimed Londonbased pianist and band leader Eliane Correa. With it’s recently released debut album Signo de Fuego, Correa’s fresh, high-energy 14+ piece orchestra brings her own London-infused voice to the genre. Eliane studied piano and composition at the renowned Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba, before relocating to London where she became reknowned for her work.

A discovery from our LoLaMC showcases earlier this year, this fusion, flamenco, hiphop and funk band was a revelation.

Bandleader Daniel Vince, “El Torete”, an artist and music producer from Madrid, Spain, graduated in music at BIMM London University, specialising in guitar. His band plays a fusion of rap, Latin urban rhythms with funk touches. Currently active releasing a series of singles, working on a full length album and directing his music band, performing at different venues and event sizes all of which have sold out so far, he is one to watch!

www.latinolifeinthepark.com

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presents...

QUERALT LAHOZ

LAUREN NINE

Carving a niche between classic hip hop, retro-futuristic RnB and urban Spanish, Lauren Nine, better known as NINE, is a multidisciplinary artist from Barcelona, with an authentic, pure and very personal sound. Singer, producer, beatmaker, saxophonist and lyricist, her pop-RnB, electronic funk or rap in Catalan, were inspired by the likes of Janet Jackson, Kaytranada, Jodeci, Kendrick Lamar or Warren G. From her E.P. debut Andromeda (2018) to collaborating with DJ/Producer AWWZ “Naughty E.P.” (2021) she has shown that she is not afraid of exploring the space between tradition and the future.

Luisa Santiago

Queralt Lahoz’s music is imbued with Latin, folk and urban influences. Soul, hip hop and dancehall converge naturally and gracefully, framed by spontaneous overtones of cobla and bolero reflecting her flamenco background. Queralt Lahoz is one of the most promising voices on the Spanish scene, giving life to everything from classic bolero to 90s rap, clearly captured on her debut record. Her debut album Pureza (May 2020) received rave reviews in Spain and she has earned a reputation for her powerful live shows.

Another artist who impressed us with her showcase at LoLaMC, is this Colombianborn singer, songwriter and pianist. Luisa’s charismatic performance and innovative collaboration with London-based Sikh producer Deewaan Singh gave her Salsa-R&B a truly internationalist and London sound, rich in emotion, melody and rhythms from East and West. A Brit School graduate and daughter of a veteran salsa musician, her immersion in all the nuances of London’s music world since childhood has shaped her journey and electrifying performances at the likes of Glastonbury, Jazz Café, Roundhouse and Havana Jazz Festival.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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Rosa Cecilia

Chilean-Italian West Londoner Rosa Cecilia began her music career at 16 on the BBC’s biggest music competition ‘The Voice’.

Encourage by mentor Sir Tom Jones, she developed her soulful and jazzinspired sound, encompassing influences from Badu and Solange to Carly Simon and Jeff Buckley.

After releasing her debut EP, Take None, in 2021, she is now collaborating with some of the UK’s most exciting producers, artists and collectives. But more than anything she continues her own path, unapologetically: “people always say to me that in this industry you have to be true to yourself, I’m like honey... I know”.

Carlos Paul

Carlos Paul is a UK based award-winning singersongwriter, guitarist, producer and composer from Ecuador. With two studio albums (Hablame and Todo Es Posible) and 11 singles released worldwide, Carlos Paul is an established and versatile artist, one of the few who has transported Latin America’s vibrant and illustrious rock and pop tradition to the UK.

CHE, Gabeto, Floridita, La Pollera Colora, Bar Salsa, Kaoz, La Bomba, Paradise, Reggaeton Oasis and Reggaeton Elite. He has supported Don Omar and Romeo Santos in concert.

CESAR GAMBA

ON THE DECKS…

SAUL MAYA

This Ecuadorian-Salvadorean Crossover DJ began his career at one of Ecuador’s most renowned radio stations, Radio Zaracay FM and became one of the country’s most popular DJs before moving to London. Regular at the likes of Ministry Of Sound, Pacha, Fire, Fabric, amongst other popular clubs, he also made a name for himself playing in top Latin clubs such as The Cuban, K-

Gamba is a Colombian DJ based in London who plays in some of the best Latin clubs in the city. He has had a 10 year residency at Zumbale Club and 2 years in Dulce Pecado London, he has also opened for some of the biggest Latino American artist concerts in the capital, including Marc Anthony, Oscar D’leon and Nicky Jam. Cesar also owns the number one Latin radio station in united of kingdom: Sound Latino Radio.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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SUNDAY 21ST AUGUST 12-10PM

Sizzling sounds for a perfect summer’s day: The Los Angeles-based platform for the world’s leading DJs crosses the Atlantic to join our UK team of award-winning Latin DJs from Viva London

Andres Zambrano

Azzy

From small latin night clubs to the legendary Fabric, from London to Edinburgh with his focus on Latin Beats, Andres Zambrano has become a UK favourite for club goers. Every song Andres spins reflects his vast musical knowledge and experience, ensuring that the party never stops.

Specialise in Latin Music Old school, New school R&B/Hip Hop, Club Bangers and more.

Azzy is an up and coming female latin DJ who, in the last couple years has become a force to be reckoned withJ in the urban Latin scene. She currently has a couple of residencies in London and Madrid, as well as travelling around Europe’s clubs.

While her passion is spinning reggaetón you’ll also hear dembow, trap, RnB and afrobeats at her parties. She knows how to adapt to the crowded and keep it dancing nonstop.

www.latinolifeinthepark.com

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Cano

no surprise West has been tapped to spin for top-notch clients like The Dallas Cowboys, Red Bull, In Style Magazine, and Top Rank Promotions.

ETX

This popular Colombian DJ/Promoter Cano started in Camden Town, the Mecca for music in the UK, than gradually getting noticed by several prestigious nightclubs, and has been promoting clubnights all over London . He has helped grow several music brands which you can find under his event website Canoevents.com.

Playing at one of the biggest parties like VIVA REGGAETON // VIVA HOUSE, VENUES LIKE LIGHTBOX, TROPIX AND THE CAMDEN.

DJ ETX is from Dallas, TX, United States.

He is a DJ and producer and remixer for DJcity. www.instagram.com/ETXTX.

FLECHA

Danny West

Regional Manager for DjCity.com Texas and Southern Region and SiriusXM mixer for Pitbulls Globalization Channel 4 every Friday. For several years, DJ Danny West has had some of the hottest venues across the country spilling over night after night. Though he hails from the sunny streets of Los Angeles where he perfected his craft over countless hours in his youth, those who appreciate music, dancing and a blazing Disc Jockey can’t help but turn out in droves to hear him drop beats around his current hub of Dallas, TX. It’s

Cuban born Joel Verdecia known as DJ Flecha has more than 25 years of experience brging joy through Cuban music. He was part of the Timba boom of the 90s in Havana, participating in multiple concerts at the Palacio De La Salsa, Le Select, La Cecilia, Los Jardines De La Tropical. At the end of the 90s he began to work in the heart of the nightlife of Havana, El Vedado, playing in clubs such as El Karachi, Scherezada, La Red, Amanecer, El Ticoa, until in 2001 he became resident DJ in Havana’s legendary Casa de la Música.

Since moving to the UK he’s become Europe’s greatest exponent of Cuban music.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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DJ Wilker

JOHNNY MASA

Bringing a bit of Brazil to the DJ stage, Wilker has become known as the Don of Funk in London. Arriving in the capital in 2017 from his native state of Goiania, he has since been a regular in the club scene playing in all major clubs. A DJ with over 15 years of experience and over 50 shows with Funk artists here and in Brazil, he is the real deal when it comes to Funky or as it is now known internationally…Baile!

Hailing from Valencia, Venezuela, Johnny is an urban music specialist, From hiphop & R&B & afrobeat to reggaeton. He has played in Europe’s most famous clubs, from London’s Ministry of Sound, Lightbox and 02 to Scotland’s El Barrio Edinburgh to San Antonio Ibiza and Sommer Keller in Elligen Germany, taking the reggaeton party around Europe.

THE UK’S FIRST LABEL DEDICATED TO URBAN LATIN MUSIC www.candelarecords.co.uk

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gordo

PHENOM

London bred Colombian DJ has worked in all London’s major nightclubs La Bomba, Lokura, Jhonnys Latin festivals and opening for Reggaeton artists such as Don Omar concert (2012), Farruko concert (2012), Jamsha concert(2012) in clubs/bars like Gabeto and Jin Juu soho. Together with other top latino DJ’s (DJ C.FUEGO) and 2 other partners(CLAU CLAU & DJ KAIAPRO) have open Forza Studios producing London’s based talent.

luigi sanchez

This award-winning Colombian DJ has opened for some of the biggest International artists when they come to town, such as Bad Bunny, Don Omar, Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, Arcangel, Justin Quiles and most recently Ryan Castro.

He is also a regular at some of London’s biggest Latin clubnights such as I Love Reggateon, Reggaeton Latino, and has toured Europe and Latin America.

From LA to London, Phenom’s reputation as a party starter and testmaker proceeds him.

The El Salvadorian-born record aficionado flies the Beatsource (chief content officer) & DjCity (President) Flagss High; Proudly Owning The Open Format Style from the Hottest Mixshows on Air to The Us’s A-List Party venues, Effortlessly fusing Hip-Hop., Motown Tips, Latin, House Music and more.

From taking Lil Jon ti the Top Ten of the Billboard charts and Reuniting Pitbull and J-Lo to Evolving The Open-Format circuit perfectly and keeping the most upfront music at the topline, Dj Phenom has the tip.

VLATZ

VLATZ is a Colombian musician, DJ, music producer and content creator. He runs his own record label Urantia Records, as well as his video production company Guayaba Media. He is an editor in chief for two music blogs, DJcity Latino and Music Junkie TV, where he writes about music related news and the DJ and music industry. He also produces two original podcasts, “La Conversación”, a music news portal, with exclusive interviews, and “Vlatz Radio” where he distributes his weekly mixes. Vlatz hosts “Fiesta Latina” on SiriusXM, Pitbull’s Globalization, Mondays 7pm PST/10pm EST.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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OUR PRESENTERS JEMELIN

Former candidate on the BBC business show The Apprentice UK, Jemelin has since become the UK’s biggest Latin Influencer, aswell as entrepreneur,, model, presenter and award winning motivational speaker. Making the most of her inspirational story, she has walked the talk and is an inspiration to many Latinas in the UK, resulting in a massive social media presence. With a book on the way Jemelin is determined to not only be the example of someone coming from nothing be a success but also to inspire others sharing her journey and how she did it.

RICHARD

www.latinolifeinthepark.com

Now our regular presenter, and London’s favourite surrogate Latino, award-winning choreographer Richard Marcel is one of the UK’s most unique innovators of dance and movement for TV, film, commercials and theatre. His ability to create the perfect piece of movement, whilst constantly pushing creative boundaries, has led him to work on some of the most prestigious performances for stage and screen in the UK, Europe and the US. He was stage director for Come Dancing for 10 years and resident choreographer for Strictly. He has been part of the UK salsa scene for over 2 decades, teaching, performing and as the UK’s top Salsa choreographer, As a performer/choreographer Richard worked with superstars such as Madonna, George Michael, Kylie, Diana Ross, Tom Jones and the legendary Liza Minelli.

MAX

Presenter, DJ and Influencer, Max has been hosting live shows and interviewing red carpets and backstage on tour with some of the biggest acts in music from Drake, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran to Ellie Goulding. She was a radio DJ for BBC, GLOBAL and ITV, specialising in urban music, and had her own regular column in the Metro national paper, building an amazing following which led her to launch her own podcast @FlipYourWig. She also happens to be a huge Reggaeton fan and has interviewed the likes of Anitta for LatinoLife magazine and loves our festival.

Great to have her back on our stage!

LATINO LIFE IN THE PARK |

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CARINA

London’s most charismatic Chilean, Santana Pinto, was one of the founding members of Rumba FM, the UK’s pioneering Latino pirate station promoting London’s future sound of reggaetón. He later launched Luciano into the world of social media; his platform @latinoshaderoom is the UK’s most popular Latino social media channel and has positioned Luciano as one of the most influential young Latinos in Britain. Garnering support from talent and industry alike, Luch is now A&R manager of Candela Records, always on the scout for new talent!.

Carina Londoño, a London-bred ColombianPortuguese journalist, social entrepreneur, vlogger, model and presenter, is one of London’s most popular Latin personalities. After studying Criminology and spending a year in Colombia learning to make jewellery with the Cofan community, Carina founded Atteyé jewellery, inspired by the art of Embera Chami beading, alongside the charity La Voz del Amazonas. Modelling and producing shoots for her jewellery, she was discovered by latinoLife and has since produced editorial and blogs for Reggaeton.co.uk, interviewing big reggaetón stars, most recently Ryan Castro.

She also did a great job hosting La Clave Stage last year, and returns to this year’s VIVA-DJ CITY Stage.

J PRODUCTIONS

Party Promoter, presenter and all round personality and host, John Valencia is one of the most popular figures on London’s Latin party scene. Super proud Colombian he’s the soul of every party and one of the UK’s few Latin influencers. Last year he made his festival host debut on the Candela stage and proved to be such a hit with the audience that we’ve invited him back on this year’s VIVA/DJ City Stage.

ERIKA

From Newham, East London, this Afro Colombian, blogger, community activist and all round happy Latina, is part of the new generation of UK Latin bloggers proudly promoting their culture. Via her Inspirational Thursdays streams on IG she has been consistently uncovering the real heroes of the London Latino community and her larger-than-life, natural, infectious personality makes her a real popular character. She dedicates her time to spreading her love of salsa and encouraging pride in the next generation through ‘love your culture’, inspiring young London Latinos to be proud of their identity.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 August • 12-10pm • Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4

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AUG-SEP 39 Sunday 21 August

Afterparty Sunday Clubbing

Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 August

LatinoLife in the Park Festival

Recently chosen as 1 of Europe’s 10 most inclusive festivals (FestSpace), the UK’s largest Lat-in music festival is back for its 6th year.

Look forward to the return of the much acclaimed ‘Candela Stage’ - Britain’s first and only festival stage dedicated to homegrown urban Latin music – ‘La Clave Stage’ featuring new innovations in Latin music, plus I Love Brazil Stage, and Viva- DJ City Stage, featuring the best UK and international DJs. Plus food, Zumba, foot-ball and more!

Finishing In the Park in style at UK’s most popular latin spot, the legendary Bar salsa Soho. Hosted by The Sunday X-perience team, this is a party like no other, which has become one of the West End most popular raving spots.

With DJ Atty and guests, there will be no better way of closing off the weekend of latino celebration.

Location: Bar Salsa, Charing Cross Road, WC2H.

Saturday 3 September

Viva Reggaeton/Viva House Clubbing

Viva reggaeton/Viva House’s closes it summer season with the always popular White Party. This time we have residents DJs Jose Luis and Cano alongside newcomer DJ Giio. Also featuring...reggaetón singer Amelia Ignacia.

In room 2 , Nene Duque, Gio Marfello Time Lavpse and Marcus Bajjio keeping the groove with Tech, latin, afro house all night long.

Location: The Lightbox, S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP.

Location: Finsbury Park, N4.

Saturday 20 August

Afterparty Saturday Clubbing

After the marathon show, the party continues at one of London’s coolest clubs, Lightbox, with 3 rooms of full on Latin music until 6AM. Reggaeton Room hosted by DJ City DJs Vlatz and ETX all the way from the USA and also presenting, El Moreno, Cano and Dilan G. The Crossover Room with salsa, bachata, merengue and everything in between with selectors Kevin Rozo and DJ Frank on the decks. The House Room will keep things caliente with DJs Seele, Timelvpse, H London playing from Latin House to Tech house.

Location: The Lightbox, S Lambeth Pl, SW8 1SP.

Saturday 27 August

Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor Live music

Maykel Blanco spun his way into the Havana music scene fifteen years ago and remains the most popular live band in Cuba. Maykel combines catchy lyrics with irresistible dancefloor-ready arrangements to make his songs favourites among DJs and dancers.

Location: Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, London SW2 1RJ.

Sunday 4 September

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 Live music

Carwyn’s full band play a joyous evocation of Brazilian music put through a North Wales filter and a global perspective. Songs sung in Welsh combined with distinct pop and South American flavours drawn from bossa nova, cumbia, samba and tropicalismo styles.

Location: The Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, London NW1.

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SEP-OCT

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Every Saturday

The Latin Explosion Clubbing

Tuesday 13 September

Café Tacvba Live music

Widely recognised as Mexico’s leading alternative rock band and one of the most influential groups to come out of Latin America, to Café Tacvba being a live band is in their DNA. They have spearheaded a non-conformist musical movement with their blending of elements such as rock, indigenous folk, electronic and punk music.

CAMDEN’S NEWEST COCKTAIL BAR AND LATE-NIGHT PARTY SPOT GOES LATIN EVERY SATURDAY. Gorgeous interior design and brilliantly located to bring you an incredible night out experience.

Location: The Camden, 65 Crowndale Road, NW1 1TN.

Location: Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, London SW2 1RJ.

Tuesday 27 September

Chico Da Tina Live Music

Sunday 18 September

Nathy Peluso Live music

Argentine songwriter, singer, alternative talent and rapper Nathy Peluso has announced that she will be coming to the UK this September.

Location: Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Chico Da Tina’s progressive take on music production has positioned him as one of the most exciting names emerging out of Portuguese urban trap and hip-hop.

Having reached over a million streams on his first song ‘Põe-te fino’ in a couple months, the internet sensation mixes urban trap with the lesser-known dialects of northern Portugal. An upcoming artist seen at Primavera Sound 2020 and 2022.

Location: The Jazz Cafe, Camden, NW3.

27 September - 8 October

House of Flamenka Dance

Flamenco, Latin and contemporary dance join forces in a thrilling performance combining the power of group dance with the sultry heat of the Mediterranean.

Flamenco Legend Karen Ruimy leads an exceptional company of male dancers from Madrid and the UK in a passionate fusion of distinctive forms.

As worlds collide, feet stomp and hips twirl, House of Flamenka takes you on an electrifying journey.

Follow the key characters from the House of Flamenka as they move from the spectacle and grandeur of their surroundings to bare stage stripping the dance back to the raw energy and passion of the artform.

Location: Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2A 2HT. Every Friday

Reggaeton Fiesta Clubbing

The West Ends new Reggaeton WEEKLY, Reggaeton Fiesta hits Haymarket every Friday at the iconic Tiger Tiger. Delivering a Reggaeton party like no other, in the iconic late-night venue, excelling in food, drink, party and play. Everything you need under one roof!

Location: Tiger,Tiger 29 Haymarket , London, SW1Y 4SPNB.

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OCT-DEC 43 musicians playing the great tango composer Astor Piazzolla’s Nuevo Tango, which “lends the dancing an extra drive and sizzle” (The Times), these ten world-class Argentinean dancers will keep your passion for tango burning deep into the night.

Saturday 1 October

Location: Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2A 2HT.

Viva Reggaeton/Viva House 1st Anniversary

Location: The Jazz Cafe, Camden, NW3.

Clubbing

We are turning One and we are making it really spacial, this time with a super guest, the world most famous Reggaeton DJ, DJ Kazzanova from NY. Alongside residents Jose Luis and Cano and surprise guests as well as the House Room. Expect this party to be a sold out even so get your tickets nice and early!

Location: The Lightbox, S Lambeth Pl, SW8 1SP.

Responsible for some of the biggest Brazilian floor-fillers of the last 60+ years and a major innovator of the bossa nova movement, Valle has consistently remained at the cutting edge of Brazilian music. Join us as we venture through his treasure trove of sounds spanning jazz, funk, boogie, disco, MPB, samba and more.

Every Sunday

The Sunday Xperience Clubbing

Saturday 29 October

Carolina Durante Live music

Carolina Durante’s full-on post punk live shows have won the Madrid band a fast growing following across Spain. A truly unique and delightfully disturbing band, they are the wild voices of the new sound of Spain.

London’s favourite Latino Sunday Clubnight, in the heart of London, with DJ Jose Luis playing a fiery mix of Reggaeton, RnB, AfroBeats, Baile Funk and Salsa. Classes start at 7pm with our fa-mous FREE LATIN WARM UP EXTRAVAGANCIA! With celebrity choreographer Richard Marce!

Location: Bar Salsa, Charing Cross Road, Soho.

Location: O2 Academy Islington, Angel Central, London N1 0PS.

15 December

11 – 22 October

Rosalia

German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark

Live Music

Dance

Following its success in 2018, World Tango Champion German Cornejo returns with his superb dance company.

Accompanied by two sensational singers and seven

25 - 26 October

Marcos Valle Live Music

Celebrating ROSALÍA’s highly acclaimed new album MOTOMAMI and, along with many of her already well-known ground-breaking hits.

Location: 02 London.

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CAFE TACVBA An Aural Mapping of Nostalgia

One of the most critically and commercially successful bands to emerge from Latin America, Café Tacvba have come to define the essence of Mexican rock. Ahead of their European Tour this September, Shyal Bhandari speaks with Quique Rangel, one of the legendary band’s original founders, about the early days, their longlasting love affair with the metropolis and why he spends so much of his day listening to K-Pop.

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n a bar in Mexico City, this story begins. On Saturday 27 May 1989, Café Tacvba gave its first ‘official’ performance at El Hijo del Cuervo. Not, to clarify, the bar that Café Tacvba is named af-

ter, it was an urban space that both served ice-cold beer and acted as a platform for the creative arts in the capital’s historically avant-garde neighbourhood of Coyoacán.

CAFE TACVBA

2 To this barrio, we can pinpoint the pain of Frida Kahlo’s late paintings and retrace Leon Trotsky’s last steps before he was assassinated. From these streets, Gabriel García Márquez’s wife posted the handwritten manuscript of One Hundred Years of Solitude to his publisher in Buenos Aires.

And it is still from Coyoacán where the gloriously moustached bassist and cofounding Tacvbo Quique Rangel speaks to me over Zoom. He lives only a stone’s throw from El Hijo del Cuervo, reminding me of how - to this day - Paul McCartney’s London residence is only two streets from Abbey Road Studios.

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Thirty years on, Café Tacvba is one of Latin America’s most critically and commercially successful bands, coming to define the essence of a brand of rock and roll that is distinctly Mexican, or more precisely chilango (from Mexico City) in spirit. Their sound – though contemporary – often glimmers of a nostalgic and wist ful portrait of the great city of the past.

“We were and are fascinated by the idea of the old city,” Quique tells me. Indeed, their namesake, El Café de Tacuba, is a legendary downtown haunt where politicians and painters would gather in the early twentieth century; the place has come to be synonymous with the zoot suit-wearing pachuco culture of the times.

“We had already played some small concerts at “We liked our parents’ and friends’ British rock from houses, but this was the first time we (Quique, the 80s. We had his brother Joselo and influences from groups frontman Rubén Albarrán) performed tolike the Smiths and the gether professionally, Cure, but there was even though much of the audience was something missing made up of people we in the way we were already knew.”

I ask Quique if they have ever encountered any legal issues with the café.

“Just before we released our first record, we had a nice chat with the guys who run the place. It’s a familyowned café and they said that as long as we didn’t try to go into busiexperiencing The four boys grew up in ness with food, we were ok our life.”

Ciudad Satélite, an industrial to use the name…pretty much commuter settlement just outevery year, an investor shows up side of Mexico City. who wants us to market a brand of coffee or something like that, but by now we “We were in the suburbs, surrounded by are used to saying no,” he laughs. factories. There was no arts scene, no museums, or cinemas. When we devel- In the beginning, it was not an expressly oped an interest in arts and music, we had conscious decision to combine traditional to travel to Mexico City. That’s when we Mexican musical genres such as norteño discovered el centro, the flea markets, la or son jarocho with rock, though that is langunilla, the places where we could buy what ended up happening. It was a natuvintage clothes and shoes. If we wanted ral process, Quique explains: to see different kinds of films, we had to go to the cineteca. What we saw in those “Some of those influences were not volfilms, influenced the way we see music. untary, they just blended into our music We identified with British rock and pop from what we had been listening to at from the 80s, groups like The Smiths and home. Once, we were rehearsing at my The Cure, but there was something miss- house, trying to figure out a song that we ing in the way we were experiencing our thought was grounded in jazz when my life.” mother said, ‘that’s a nice bolero’, and that song was María.”

CAFE TACVBA

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CAFE TACVBA

In the music video for the 1992 single, shot entirely in black and white, the band members blend seamlessly into the shadowed streets and porticoes of the centro histórico after dark, as they pine after a love lost; perhaps the loss is not of María’s love but rather of an abstract idea of the city that persists only in the memories of the buildings and pavements.

they all came from a design background.

“Rubén and I studied graphic design and Joselo industrial design; we had ideas about what Mexican design should be.

We would speak about the concept that the place where a design is developed must reflect the media, the material, everything that surrounds the place of creation. So, that was a discussion we had.

We said, if this is sounding like Mexican rock and roll, we have to let it flow, to let it flood from us.”

A YouTube comment reads, “Walking through Mexico City’s Zocalo at midnight while listening to this song is the But it wasn’t just nostalgia “I’ve only been most delicious thing in that fuelled the Tacvba robbed once in my existence… (I should sound, which exempliknow, I’m doing it fies the two-way flow house when I was right now)”. Quique between contemporary living in La Condesa. seems to believe that foreign and traditional their music connectMexican.

Quique’s The only thing they stole ed – and continues to mother was not wrong: was half of my CD collection. connect – with people these suburban MexiSo, at least I know because of how their can misfits may have sound reflected an apbeen influenced by that those kids got some American proximation of what it jazz and British free music.” felt like to be young in pop, but it is well-known Mexico City in the late 80s that the Beatles were also and early 90s. hugely influenced by boleros. The influence between those While the band’s sound arose naturally, worlds is mutual (even though the influthey has strong theoretical ideas about ence on British music is less documentwhat their aesthetic ought to reflect, as ed).

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CAFE TACVBA

“Joselo had the idea of making the group So how exactly does Quique feel about an acoustic one. I traded my electric bass The Underground? for an acoustic upright bass, or a tololoche as it’s known as in norteño music; “Sometimes it’s scary when you are we added an acoustic guitar and a mouth changing platforms and there is a crowd accordion [played by Emmanuel del Real]. around you, then you feel that somebody But we used an electronic is trying to sneak into your pocket.” drum machine to have a mix between traditional We drift to the subject of the and contemporary ongoing situation of vio“I enjoy some sounds. Joselo and and crime in Mexnarcocorridos, because they lence Rubén love techno ico. From his perspecmusic and the are constructed with nice verses, tive he has been lucky. idea of someone there’s something there, in the clicking on a “I’ve only been robbed once in my machine against artistic approach. But eventually, the acoustic house when I was I get bored; there’s always death living in La Condesa. instruments, and someone bragging about The only thing they and that was Café Tacvba.” stole was half of my being the biggest capo of CD collection. So, at the neighbourhood. I didn’t Their hit album least I know that those kids got some free muof 1994, Re was grow up in that culture ranked first on Rollsic.” and I see it almost as ing Stone magazine’s list of “Greatest Latin “Did they know they were a tourist” stealing from Café Tacvba’s Rock Albums of All Time”.

On it, the light-hearted funky bassist?” I ask, trying to hide my envy of the looters’ spoils. tune El metro imagines a Kafkaesque scenario in which a character is trapped on Mexico City’s underground for months, “I’m guessing they had no idea! I’m sure unable to leave at due to the sheer number that either they enjoyed listening to those of people pressing against them – a song records –I doubt it– it’s more likely that that might strike a chord with Londoners. they sold them at El Chopo, the music

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50 market where everybody is exchanging vinyls, cassettes, and CDs…”

“If not narcocorridos, what have you been listening to lately?” I asked Quique.

Going back to the issue of crime, Quique says: “it’s a very complicated issue; there’s something that’s not working. I can’t see how this will change unless young people are provided better alternatives than joining narco gangs. It’s very sad. But at the same time, I can see that people from all over are coming to Mexico and enjoying the experience in the streets… the flavour, the food, the music.”

“A lot of K-Pop because of my seven-yearold daughter,” he declares with a chuckle and a grin. “She’s also discovering reggaetón. She’s been listening to Rosalía; that’s one of the most listened to artists in my house right now. I’m very proud that my daughter is enjoying good music.”

Arguably, Café Tacvba were one of the first bands to embrace the highs, lows, differences, and diversity within Mexican culture. Theyalways had a clear message of inclusion; Rubén’s wardrobe always challenged and subverted supposed binaries of gender and sexuality. Plausibly, the group’s body of work represents a social good, although it’s a world away from the narcocorrido, an increasingly popular and divisive Mexican music genre that details the exploits of drug-traffickers on both sides of the Mexico-US border.

“What’s your opinion of corridos?” I probe tentatively.

narco

“On the one hand, you can say that this is the voice of people singing about the reality of communities that live in that culture, which is violent, but they have their reasons for being that way. On the other hand, you can argue that it’s an apology of crime and that you (recreational drug users) should boycott drugs because they are tainted with blood and corrupt our society, every little thing that adds to that destruction should be banned.”

“Is it art? I guess it is. There should be some freedom of speech tag, that says, if they want to sing about that, it’s ok. When I listen to narcocorridos, I enjoy some of them because they are constructed with nice verses, there’s something there, in the artistic approach. But eventually, I tend to get bored; there’s always death and someone bragging about being the biggest capo of the neighbourhood. I didn’t grow up in that culture and I see it almost as a tourist; it’s interesting, how they talk about pick-up trucks and how many kilos they smuggle from one place to another. It’s not for me to decide whether it’s good or bad.”

“Is your daughter aware of how big Café Tacvba are? Is that something that she’s conscious of?”

“I guess she wasn’t until three weeks ago when we played at the Auditorio Nacional, and she came with my wife and a lot of our friends. When she realised that Rosalía is going to play at the same venue where her dad was playing, she said, ‘ok, now I get it. You are kinda big’.

And so to London, where Café Tacvba arrive in September. Quique recalls how blown away he was by London’s Latino community the last time he was touring over here: “We played at the Shepherds Bush Empire. That was amazing. We always knew of people going to London to study or to develop musical projects, but I didn’t know there was such a great crowd from different places across Latin America and from Spain also. It’s a very interesting community. I really like London…discovering places over a thousand years old across from a building that was made only yesterday.

And in terms of music, the city is so alive.”

Quique Rangel Café Tacvba will play at Electric Brixton on 13 September.

ART AS EVIDENCE |

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