Latest news with #DeLos
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
De Los turns 2. Here's what we did over the last year
On the night of July 9, 2023, one of the De Los editors — they shall remain nameless — accidentally flipped the site live while doing some last-minute revisions, a full 12 hours before our announced launch date. And so, after nearly a year of planning and prepping, The Times' section focusing on Latino culture and identity was born. Wednesday marked our second anniversary, and let me tell you, the last 12 months have been quite a ride. Whereas Year 1 was full of growing pains, Year 2 was all about us hitting our stride. During this period, we've extensively covered the ever-growing popularity of Latin music, profiling some of the genre's biggest stars and providing context on some of the year's most important albums — take this story, which explains how Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' isn't just a love letter to Puerto Rico, but a history of the island as well. Curious about the current state of Latin music? We put together a roundtable of hitmakers and asked them to weigh in. The De Los team also proved to be ambitious during our sophomore year, undertaking three separate packages: a deep dive into the many ways in which música Mexicana has influenced Southern California culture; the De Los 101, a curated list of 101 businesses and organizations we felt represented the best of Latino L.A.; and a retrospective on the impact of Selena Quintanilla's legacy 30 years after her death. In addition to our culture coverage, we also supplemented The Times' great coverage of major news events by reporting on how these effected the Latino community, whether it be the L.A. wildfires or the ongoing ICE raids. We also partnered with the Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity (CIELO) Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation to expand our coverage into the Inland Empire, a relationship that has yielded one of my favorite De Los stories to date — a feature on Las Valentinas del Valle de Coachella, a group of middle and elementary schoolers who are keeping the traditional Mexican sport of escaramuza alive. Beyond our reporting, the last 12 months saw us be more in community with our audience. We were at South by Southwest in March for our second annual music showcase. A month later, we were at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books with two days of programming at the De Los Stage in association with L.A. Times en Español. Last summer, we co-presented a free concert with Grand Performances headlined by Daymé Arocena, and we'll be back again on Aug. 2 with Adrian Quesada and his 'Boleros Psicodélicos' — you can RSVP here. We're also planning something special for Día de Muertos, so stay tuned for more details. None of this would have been possible without your continued support. The De Los team is heartened every time one of you stops by our live events, or shares one of our stories or Instagram videos with your friends. Thank you and here's to Year 3! Julio Salgado is a visual artist based in Long Beach. His work has been displayed at the Oakland Museum, SFMOMA, and Smithsonian American Art Museum. (@juliosalgado83) Two Camp Mystic counselors from Mexico describe managing campers through the Texas floods Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, 19-year-old camp counselors from Mexico, recalled the events during the deadly disaster that killed more than 100 people, including 27 campers and counselors, in an interview with NMás on Saturday. Amid ongoing ICE raids, the Chicxs Rockerxs summer camp moves to protect community Based in Southeast Los Angeles, the rock 'n' roll camp has gone online this year out of safety concerns for campers and their families. Commentary: The 'Love Island USA' scandal highlights how prevalent racist language is among Latinos Contestants Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega were removed from 'Love Island USA' for past use of racial slurs. 'Dora the Explorer' turns 25 this year. Her legacy transcends generations. The beloved bilingual kids show celebrates its anniversary with a new live-action film, 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado.' Journalist Mario Guevara is still in ICE detention despite being granted bond Journalist Mario Guevara has released a statement from an ICE detention facility. He was arrested during a 'No Kings' protest in metro Atlanta in June and has been in ICE custody since. Commentary: Pixar's 'Elio' is not a political movie, but it arrives at a political time 'It's not a stretch to think that the premise of a Latino kid alienated for who he is and who believes that he won't ever feel fully accepted in the place he calls home could speak to millions of Latino children across this country,' writes contributor Carlos Aguilar. Manuel Masalva of 'Narcos: Mexico' 'reborn' after 105 days in hospital Actor Manuel Masalva shared his first public message in an Instagram post Monday after spending 105 days at a Dubai hospital following a severe bacterial infection. Heavily armed immigration agents descend on L.A.'s MacArthur Park They came with horses and armored vehicles, carrying rifles and in tactical gear in the middle of what is the heart of immigrant Los Angeles. But there were few of their supposed targets to be found Monday — immigrants without documentation. Immigration raid at cannabis farm leads to violence in Camarillo as hundreds protest Protesters blocked the roads in and out of one of the farms, and at one point federal agents drove their vehicles through the fields. Cal State L.A. allows online classes, excused absences as students express fear amid ICE raids In a letter to faculty, the university provost said that after hearing from students 'scared to take public transit and fearful of driving to campus,' leaders reiterated policies that also allow professors to provide excused absences and alternative makeup work arrangements for concerned students. Federal arrests in L.A. approach 2,800 since raids began, DHS says Arrests continue to mount in the aggressive federal operation that began more than a month ago to track down and detain undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, according to Homeland Security figures released Tuesday. Honduran home cook sells internet-viral burritos for the workers of L.A. The cooking videos of Maria Sanchez — also known as 'Maria la de los Burritos' — went viral, and her business selling burritos from the trunk of her car took off.
Los Angeles Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Thinking about America for the Fourth, plus the week's best movies in L.A.
Hello! I'm Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies. Our colleagues at De Los ran a thoughtful and provocative interview this week with Patricia Riggen, director of 'Under the Same Moon,' which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Andrea Flores spoke to Riggen about the film's legacy and how it might be different trying to make the film today. 'Under the Same Moon' traces the journey of 9-year-old Carlitos (Adrián Alonso) as he heads from Mexico to Los Angeles to find his mother Rosario (Kate del Castillo), an undocumented worker. He is aided along the way by another migrant, Enrique (Eugenio Derbez). Also featuring America Ferrera in a small role and an appearance by the band Los Tigres del Norte, the movie is currently available for rent on multiple digital platforms. At the time, the film broke box-office records for a Spanish-language film in the U.S., audiences resonating with its heartfelt emotions and focus on the bond between and mother and son. 'If I made 'Under the Same Moon' right now, I would not make it like that,' said Riggen. 'It would be dark as hell.' Riggen added, 'I wanted to make a movie that the Latino audience connected with and immigrants could watch. But the tone would be different. I would do a deep dive into the problem. I stayed away from making the movie political and concentrated more on the love story with the mother-son relationship. ... Now I feel like it's time to have more of a political angle. Half the country still believes that immigrants are criminals, but being able to feed your loved one is a human right.' Riggen said she and 'Same Moon' screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos have been working to adapt the story into a series. 'I find Hollywood, my industry, to be a little bit responsible for the hostility that Latinos and immigrants find as a community in the U.S.,' Riggen said. 'Our representation of Latinos has rarely been positive. We have to turn things around and represent the community in a positive light, not just the negative way that is prompting hostility by half of the country.' Maybe it's just me, but this year the Fourth of July is feeling extra emotional: fraught and complicated as America as a concept, an ideal and a current practical reality that feels so imperiled and fractured. It's difficult not to be in a mode of reflection rather than celebration. Local theaters are coming through with an array of films to help you meditate on the state of the nation, get away from all that or maybe a bit of both. The New Beverly Cinema will be screening 'Dazed and Confused,' Richard Linklater's 1993 ode to hanging out as a pathway to figuring yourself out, on Friday afternoon. 'The Return of the Living Dead,' Dan O'Bannon's horror-comedy, set over the Independence Day holiday, will play in the evening on Friday and Saturday. Steven Spielberg's 1981 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' still a rousing action-adventure delight, will be at Vidiots on Friday. Tim Burton's 1985 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' will play Friday and Saturday. Vidiots will also be showing John Carpenter's painfully prescient 1988 sci-fi-action classic 'They Live' on Saturday in 35mm. The American Cinematheque will screen Robert Altman's 'Nashville,' which, with all its contradictions, might sum up America about as well as any movie can. It plays at the Egyptian on Friday. I recently spoke to one of the film's stars, Ronee Blakley, about the film's enduring impact. 'It was just a bunch of talent put together by a bunch of great people,' she said. The Cinematheque will also screen the original Cannes cut of Richard Kelly's 2006 'Southland Tales' at the Los Feliz 3. With a ridiculously huge cast including Dwayne Johnson and Sarah Michelle Gellar, a convoluted conspiracy plot and a musical number with Justin Timberlake, the film captures something about 21st century America that few others manage. I spoke to Kelly about the film in 2019, ahead of when the Cannes cut played for the first time in the city. 'It was this really incredibly ambitious, sprawling film,' Kelly said. 'I was writing graphic novel prequels and it was just too much. We really didn't have the technology or the resources to finish it. It was that the ambition was just overflowing. I didn't have the discipline at the time to reign myself in. So we knew we were going into a situation where we had to just put our best foot forward. I think it was my lawyer who said at the time that getting into the competition at Cannes was the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to 'Southland Tales.'' On Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl will be a 50th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' with a live performance of John Williams' score by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by David Newman. The Frida Cinema will be showing Brian De Palma's 'Blow-Out,' which contains an astonishing sequence set against a fireworks display, along with a whole week of other Fourth of July-themed movies, including 'Nashville' and 'Dazed and Confused.' The American Cinematheque is launching the latest edition of its 70mm festival this week and it is (again) such a warm confirmation of why this is such a special moment for moviegoing in Los Angeles. The intersection of a specific print of a certain title at an exact time and theater leads to experiences that simply cannot be repeated. This year there are a handful of new titles and prints to the selection. Among those being promoted as playing the series for the first time are Mel Brooks' 'Spaceballs,' David Lynch's 'Dune,' Milos Forman's 'Amadeus,' Joel Schumacher's 'Flatliners,' John McTiernan's 'Die Hard,' and Ivan Reitman's 'Ghostbusters' Also among the films playing will be Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey,' David Lean's 'Lawrence of Arabia,' Alfred Hitchcock's 'North by Northwest' and 'Vertigo,' John Ford's 'The Searchers,' Sam Peckinpah's 'The Wild Bunch,' Jacques Tati's 'Playtime,' Paul Verhoeven's 'Total Recall,' James Cameron's 'Aliens,' Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise's 'West Side Story,' Spike Lee's 'Malcolm X,' Tony Scott's 'Top Gun' and Robert Altman's 'Short Cuts.' Filmmaker Willard Huyck will be present for a screening of his 'Howard the Duck.' Director Margaret Honda will be there for 70mm screenings of the experimental films 'Spectrum Reverse Spectrum' and 'Equinox.' More recent titles have also been programmed: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' and 'The Master,' Jordan Peele's 'Nope,' Alfonso Cuarón's 'Roma,' Christopher Nolan's 'Inception,' Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' and Brady Corbet's 'The Brutalist.' 'In the Mood for Love' 25th anniversary To commemorate the film's 25th anniversary, Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love' is back in theaters along with the rarely seen short film, 'In the Mood for Love 2001' that reunites the film's stars, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. In the 2022 Sight & Sound poll of the greatest films of all time, 'In the Mood for Love' was the highest-ranking film released during the 21st century. The story of two people in 1962 Hong Kong, each married to others yet feeling an intense connection, unsure of how to act on their emerging bond, the film is an overwhelming emotional experience in which every slight nuance or touch takes on cascading impact. In his original review, Kenneth Turan wrote, 'A swooningly cinematic exploration of romantic longing, both restrained and sensual, luxuriating in color, texture and sound, this film raises its fascination with enveloping atmosphere and suppressed emotion to a ravishing, almost hypnotic level.' 'Sinners' on streaming Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' starts streaming today on Max. Whether you are just catching up to the movie or checking it out again, it's nice to have it so easily accessible. (And a 4K disc will be available next week.) The story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, as they return to their hometown in 1930s Mississippi to open a juke joint nightclub only to be beset by roving vampires, 'Sinners' is an astonishing horror film and a thoughtful treatise on legacy. And makes for a fine Fourth of July movie as well. In her review of the film, Amy Nicholson wrote, 'What a blood rush to exit Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' aware that you've seen not merely a great movie but an eternal movie, one that will transcend today's box office and tomorrow's awards to live on as a forever favorite. If the cinema had a dozen more ambitious populists like Coogler, it would be in tip-top health. The young filmmaker who started his career with the 2013 Sundance indie 'Fruitvale Station' had to make three franchise hits — one 'Rocky' and two 'Black Panthers' — before getting the green-light to direct his own original spectacle. It was worth the wait. Let the next Coogler get there faster.'
Los Angeles Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
In Trump's new budget bill, Latinos pay a hefty price
Periodically, the Latinx Files will feature guest writers. Filling in this week is De Los reporter Andrea Flores. On Thursday, the GOP-led House approved the Senate's version of the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' the Trump administration's domestic policy measure — and the measures are as drastic as its mammoth title seems to indicate. Nearly 1,000 pages long, the legislation grants tax cuts to the top 1% of U.S. households at the cost of healthcare, food and utilities, while also expanding spending for border security, defense and energy production. A look at the possible repercussions for the 65.2 million Latinos in the United States. What is happening: The bill will provide roughly $150 billion for President Trump's border and national security agenda. This includes $46.5 billion toward the continued construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The budget will also allocate $45 billion for immigration detention centers — which is 62% more than the budget for the entire federal prison system — and could result in daily detention numbers of at least 116,000 noncitizens, according to the American Immigration Council. About $32 billion will go toward immigration enforcement, including for the staffing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as $7 billion for hiring Border Patrol agents and other officers. More than $3 billion will be allocated to the Justice Department to hire more judges and support staff, addressing a backlog of nearly 4 million pending cases in immigration court. The passage of the bill was championed by one of the main architects of Trump's immigration policy. 'The BBB will increase by orders of magnitude the scope, scale and speed of removing illegal and criminal aliens from the United States,' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller boasted on X on Thursday. 'For that reason alone, it's the most essential piece of legislation currently under consideration in the entire Western World, in generations.' How it might affect Latinos: ICE enforcement and mass sweeps are expected to ramp up under this new legislation, which could affect 1 in 3 Latinos who are at risk for deportation or family separation, according to an analysis by The bill also permits detaining families indefinitely, pending a removal decision. To help fund the increased spending, the government will also be collecting greater fees from certain noncitizens. For example, those with temporary protected status — which includes about more than 1 million individuals, a majority of whom are from Venezuela, El Salvador and Honduras — will be required to pay $500 for the application, up from $50. What is happening: To offset some of the tax cuts, the bill will make significant cuts to social services such as Medicaid and Medicare — not to mention defunding Planned Parenthood clinics for up to one year. Roughly 78 million adults and children are enrolled in Medicaid programs across the country, which benefit low-income individuals, while 24 million people rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance. As of June 2024, approximately 6.8 million people in California are enrolled in Medicare, which benefits individuals over the age of 65 and younger adults with disabilities. Medicaid: The megabill will take about $1 trillion from the joint federal and state program for the next 10 years, making this the largest cut to Medicaid in history. It will also require childless adults and parents of children older than 13 to work, volunteer or attend school for 80 hours a month as a condition for enrollment of Medicaid (unless they qualify for an exemption). Individuals and families will also be required to prove their eligibility twice a year (instead of once) and some states could charge up to a $35 copay for medical services. Medicare and the ACA: The bill calls for $490 billion in overall cuts to Medicare from 2027 to 2034. It will limit immigrant Medicare coverage for green-card holders and other immigrants, as well as premium tax credits. It applies additional limits for individuals using the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) marketplace, who will be required to update their income, immigration status and other information each year instead of being reenrolled automatically. How it might affect Latinos: The Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that Latinos make up 30% of Medicaid enrollees. These new rules are likely to affect most vulnerable groups, including aging foster care youth, veterans and homeless individuals. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million more Americans will become uninsured by 2034, which includes the 1.4 million people without verified citizenship, nationality or satisfactory immigration status. What is happening: Those between ages 18 and 65 must show proof of work to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, unless they have a child under the age of 14 (with few exceptions). The bill will also limit benefits to citizens or lawful permanent residents (with some exceptions). How it might affect Latinos: Latinos make up 23% of SNAP recipients. The CBO estimates that 3 million people will not qualify for SNAP benefits. What is happening: The Pell Grant, which is awarded only based on exceptional need, will be reduced by nearly 23% — bringing the annual maximum award from $7,395 to $5,710, starting in fall 2026. Access to student loans for grad students will be trickier; the bill establishes a cap of $100,000 in federal loans for prospective master's students, and $200,000 for doctoral students, medical and professional degrees. The bill will also limit income-driven repayment options for borrowers, which will probably mean higher monthly payments for individuals juggling other financial necessities. How it might affect Latinos: According to Excelencia in Education, almost half of all Latino students receive the Pell Grant. Of the Latino students who do take out loans, 18% have defaulted on their student loans, compared with 12% of non-Hispanic white students. Ritchie Valens died too young. His legacy will live on forever Though he died in a plane crash at 17, Ritchie Valens changed rock 'n' roll and Latin music forever. Pixar's 'Elio' reportedly stripped of queer representation after test screenings The version of 'Elio' that hit theaters June 20 is not the same movie that Adrian Molina, the film's original director, intended to put out. John Leguizamo hits the road again for Season 2 of 'Leguizamo Does America' Premiering Sunday, the travel series hosted by award-winning actor John Leguizamo will spotlight Latino communities in cities across the U.S. NPR's Felix Contreras opened minds to Latin alternative music. He's finally getting his due Known as 'Tío Felix' among friends and colleagues, Contreras will be honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards in September. 'Under the Same Moon' director on immigration crackdown: 'It's called fascism' Filmmaker Patricia Riggen believes a remake of her 2007 film would be far too grim in today's political landscape. Adrian Quesada steps into his star power in new LP 'Boleros Psicodélicos II' 'Boleros II' finds Quesada as aurally slick as ever as he tackles the oft-covered romantic Spanish standard 'Cuatro Vidas,' plus Los Pasteles Verdes' 'Hoy Que Llueve' and brand-new tracks — all while integrating his signature three-over-two rhythms. The Grammy-winning bandleader spoke to De Los ahead of his Grand Performances concert on Aug. 2. In new indie flick 'Ponyboi,' River Gallo sheds light on an intersex experience Out June 27 in theaters nationwide, 'Ponyboi' arrives at a critical time for the queer Latine community. Almost 50% of Latinos voted for Trump in 2024. Experts have theories New data from the Pew Research Center show that 48% of Latinos voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, a 12% jump from 2020. L.A. 'under siege': Brown-skinned people targeted, tackled, taken, and it must stop, federal suit says A lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups seeks to block the Trump administration's 'ongoing pattern and practice of flouting the Constitution and federal law' during immigration raids in the L.A. area. L.A. activist indicted after handing out face shields to anti-ICE protesters Alejandro Orellana, 29, faces charges of conspiracy and aiding civil disorder after he handed out protective face shields to people protesting against immigration raids in L.A. last month. Kidnappers or ICE agents? LAPD grapples with surge in calls from concerned citizens Some city and Police Commission leaders have called on the LAPD to do more to identify masked individuals who are taking part in immigration sweeps. Video captures ICE agents allegedly urinating on Pico Rivera school grounds in broad daylight The El Rancho Unified School District is calling for a federal investigation after video shows ICE agents apparently urinating on school grounds in public view. ICE seeks to deport Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., alleges links to Sinaloa cartel U.S. officials have arrested boxer Julio César Chávez, Jr. and are working to deport him, saying he has 'an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.'
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
What is the state of Latin music today?
From Bad Bunny and Karol G to Shakira and Peso Pluma, Latin artists continue to dominate the musical landscape on a global level. In a turn that once seemed unfathomable, Spanish-language music has become a mainstay in the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts, and in 2024 Latin music in the U.S. reached a record-breaking $1.4 billion in revenue. But their influence is not only reflected in dollars and streaming numbers. The sounds emerging from Latin America have also grown increasingly progressive and adventurous, as reggaetón became a natural component of the pop DNA, and a radical generation of young singers and composers reinvented the tenets of música mexicana. Artists such as Rosalía, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso and Carín León navigate a sonic universe that is distinctly Latin and fueled by the poetry of the Spanish language. At the same time — more than ever before — their albums coexist comfortably next to mainstream trendsetters like Drake, the Weeknd or Ariana Grande. While remaining stubbornly true to its roots, la música latina has become a universal language, with stars like Ozuna and Karol G selling out stadiums and drawing big festival crowds across the U.S. and Europe. But what will the future look like? Will the big Latin tsunami subside, like it did after Ricky Martin led the late 1990's explosion? Will música mexicana continue to captivate non-Spanish speakers? Will reggaetón fade away? Is rock finally dead? De Los assembled a panel of acclaimed singer-songwriters from across Latin America to help us tackle some of these heavy existential dilemmas: Chilean songstresses Mon Laferte and Francisca Valenzuela, Colombian rock star Juanes, Cuban singer-songwriter Cimafunk and Jorge Hernández, leader of legendary norteño group Los Tigres del Norte, contributed their thoughts. As much as I cherish the amazing moment that Latin music enjoys on a global scale, I'm concerned about the possibility of our sounds becoming one huge, walking cliché. I still remember the media's idiotic comments about us being so colorful and passionate during the Latin boom of the late '90s. Is the current splendor altogether positive, or are there shadows lurking in the background? Mon Laferte: Clearly the fact that our music is resonating all over the world is an advantage, and it can open doors for so many of us. This doesn't necessarily represent the breadth of who we really are. The cultural richness of our continent is huge, and we can't expect the mainstream to embrace a chacarera, a tango, or the most alternative side of Latin indie. That said, there's a lot of ignorance out there and we all perceive each other as a bit of a cliché. I don't blame the rest of the world if they see us as hot people who spend their days dancing to salsa and reggaetón. Cimafunk: I'm definitely one of the artists who benefited from the current Latin music wave. The way I see it, if the door is already open, gaining access to a bigger platform becomes easier. When I lived in Havana, I would see the great masters playing the same old classics at the bars for hours on end, and I thought that we had turned our traditions into a cliché. After I left Cuba, I realized that the clichés have an immense value. Latin music is everywhere, and there's a lot of power in that. Even in the old Michael Jackson records, you can hear the sound of bongó or maracas. And if we don't appreciate it ourselves, no one will do it for us. I think it's fine that our flow and culture are fashionable. Eso está rico. Is the current wave of música mexicana sustainable? Will its sounds — and Peso Pluma — continue to capture the imagination of the mainstream? Juanes: I hope they do. I love seeing young people performing this music, because it requires studying an instrument and you need to be somewhat of a virtuoso in order to do it well. The mere fact that a new generation of kids are celebrating their roots is nothing short of brilliant. Mon Laferte: I think música mexicana is absolutely fantastic. It's the closest we have right now to rock and punk. Mexican music has always been rock-ish in spirit — sincere, rebellious, a direct message that invites you to rebel against the world. José Alfredo Jiménez is one of my favorite composers, and I love what the younger generations are doing. The kids play with the same kind of passion that their parents and grandparents had, but with a contemporary touch. Music is marvelous that way: it allows us to grow and evolve, while keeping the traditions alive. Francisca Valenzuela: I love the concept of updating old genres; it's like they've been accessorized with the current trends. Whenever I'm in Mexico, I tune into that world. Many of those songs are self-deprecating, like a confession at a cantina. I know that those musicians are killing it right now, and I love it. Jorge Hernández: Social media has done wonders in spreading our music to all corners of the world. I think it's valid, enriching and fun that the younger generations connect with new tendencies that are still based on our roots. Only the fans will determine if those tendencies will continue to thrive or not. The popularity of urbano is unwavering. Will people ever tire of the ubiquitous reggaetón beat? Have we entered a post-reggaetón phase? Cimafunk: The classic reggaetón of artists like Tego Calderón became a thing of the past a long time ago. Then there's the Cuban genre known as reparto, which was censored for a while and emerged from the streets. Now that I travel a lot, it's helped me to realize that people all over the world listen to tons of music that has nothing whatsoever to do with the sounds that are big in the U.S. Is rock a cult genre? Is it on life support? Juanes: Rock has definitely been displaced by other mainstream sounds, but it is far from dead. I see country occupying a similar space — almost like a cousin of rock — and also young blues artists who are reinventing the genre. The algorithms play a big part in how we perceive music; when, where and why we listen to it. They're almost like a giant monster that molds the mainstream. But I feel that rock is still there, and will return time and again. Something I love about the present is that the conventional song structure of verse-chorus-bridge is out of the window. Now, you can have a chorus-verse-chorus song, or a verse-bridge-chorus variant and no one will call the police. Do you find this beautiful new chaos liberating, or does it frighten you? Valenzuela: I have an attachment to structure, because it allows me to better communicate what I'm trying to say. I feel a certain urgency when it's time to write a song, so I choose tools that will facilitate the process. I've always created my music with an instrument, using melody and lyrics, so I don't break away from the established formats. I'm a romantic in that sense. I love the blank page, the poetry, the words — and I think I connect with that more than with the production side of it. I don't have the intimate connection with a computer that other artists have. If I was making music wearing the producer hat, I would probably play around with form. That said, I love the concept of breaking away from established canons. Innovation is always positive. It provides a new opportunity to showcase your creativity. Mon Laferte: I've never felt a prisoner of traditional song structures. When I started songwriting at 15, I followed the records that I listened to because there were no other options. But the moment I understood my own universe, I began to experiment. Some of the tunes I wrote at 21 are nonsensical. I've always felt extremely free. Cimafunk: In the beginning, I followed the classic parameters because of the music that I was listening to at the time. But when I realized that other methods were available, I said to myself: 'Wait a minute, I think I can tell this story in a different way.' Technology was essential for that. Then I started moving things around in the studio, like dragging a chorus to the intro. After all, the process is like a game, it's meant to be entertaining. We don't have a gigantic imaginary head anymore, telling us that only one channel is available. There are many channels, and you have direct access to the fans. Maybe it's not 200 million people, but even if they're only a thousand, they're your thousand, and they connect fully with your individual expression and flow. Hernández: The idea of experimenting definitely sets me free. As a group, however, [Los Tigres del Norte] have agreed to stick to the established canons of songwriting structure. What's next for popular music? Sometimes I think that a wide-eyed brother-and-sister duo will appear singing love songs with acoustic guitars, and people will hail them as visionaries. We've become so complicated and cosmopolitan. Is a return to simpler musical pleasures overdue? Valenzuela: I love the verbosity of contemporary songs, the nonstop descriptive talking. Syllables and more syllables. There are no empty spaces; it's all chaos and urgency. The quest is the same for all — a finished song — but you can get there using different routes: samples, a loop, hyperpop, Spanglish, hi-fi or lo-fi. In the end, what matters is connecting with an energy that feels authentic. Hernández: It would be marvelous to return to the purity of simple feelings. I'm thinking of a deep musical consciousness, a style that can touch both mind and soul without sounding pretentious. To us, songs like [the Tigres classic] 'Un Día a La Vez' are fresh water for the soul. Juanes: I was just talking to a friend about how technology and AI have given us an absurd array of options. But with all that, the value of a human being singing or playing a guitar is even greater. No one wants to see a concert performance by a robot. If you had the chance to see the recent ABBA shows in London, you would quickly notice that it was seamless, but devoid of any soul. There's no comparison with seeing Metallica, Paul McCartney or Bruno Mars in a live setting as they play, dance and suffer in front of an audience. If a young person wanted to study piano, guitar or violin, I would advise them not to be afraid of AI. You would never be able to replace the experience of writing an honest song inspired by vulnerable, personal experiences. That is something that cannot be quantified.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Adrian Quesada, Ozomatli and more. Grand Performances announces 2025 free concert series lineup
Grand Performances, one of Southern California's longest-running outdoor concert series, has announced the musical lineup for its 39th season. The free concert series kicks off at its summer-long venue — the California Plaza in downtown L.A. — with a performance by L.A. band Ozomatli on June 14. 'We're going to be celebrating 30 years of Ozomatli and this was the stage that catapulted them,' Grand Performances President and CEO Rafael González told The Times. 'We've played stages all over the world, but GP always feels like coming home,' said Ozomatli in a statement. 'Thirty years later, L.A. still dances with us — and we're bringing everyone with us to celebrate.' That show is followed up by a tribute to John Coltrane's seminal album 'A Love Supreme,' which is celebrating 60 years since its release, on June 21. Neo soul singer Baby Rose will join singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia on July 26 as part of 'KCRW Summer Nights.' '[Garcia's 2024 album] 'Gemelo' is a fascinating mix of the mystical and the feminine, of self-love and grief, that glides effortlessly from synth-pop to cumbia to trip-hop,' The Times wrote in a review of Garcia's most recent project. 'Songs like 'Color de Dolor' or 'Juanita' slink and shimmy infectiously, even as they channel generational trauma or commune with the dead.' On Aug. 2, Grammy winner Adrian Quesada will play a show in promotion of his forthcoming album 'Boleros Psicodélicos II,' the follow-up to his 2022 Latin psychedelic release 'Boleros Psicodélicos.' Quesada was also nominated for original song at this year's 97th annual Academy Awards alongside Abraham Alexander for writing the track 'Like A Bird,' as featured in the Colman Domingo-led film 'Sing Sing.' (Disclosure notice: De Los is co-presenting Quesada's Grand Performances set.) The annual series comes at a moment when many arts organization are facing budget cuts and being defunded, as was recently seen with NPR and PBS. 'In many instances, the arts is one of the first areas that is cut, and many of my peer organizations across L.A. County are definitely feeling the impact,' González said. 'We're so fortunate because there are so many artists out there that recognize that they need to contribute. Not only do they love playing at Grand performances and being free to experiment and to take risk, but they're also very aware that this is a free service for the community.' The series closes out with a show by Dominican merengue group Oro Sólido on Aug. 23. The music collective is best known for its classic house party track 'El Beeper,' which has collected hundreds of millions of streams across all music platforms. 'We're bringing merengue to Grand Performances,' González said. 'When we have the neighborhoods around the downtown area, you have the mom and pops coming out here.' That community experience is what González believes makes the work of Grand Performances stand out. It's these folks who are coming to celebrate, to hear the music of their lives, to dance, to be with each other,' he said. 'You see folks that you don't necessarily expect to see on Grand Avenue, come to Grand Avenue and make it home.' Since 1987, Grand Performances has hosted free outdoor performances. The organization's focus is on giving a platform to both global and local acts. Previously, acts such as Stevie Wonder, Aloe Blacc and Ana Tijoux have participated in its programming. You can find the full lineup here.
