How to support Latin musicians during and beyond Latin Heritage Month
From September 15th to October 15th we celebrate Latin Heritage Month. This annual recognition recognizes the independence of several Central and Latin American nations from colonialism. According to the 2021 census, 22% of Coloradans identify as Latino or Hispanic, which is the second-largest ethnic group in the state. That the majority of the state’s residents identify as white is also reflected in the music scene. Representation should be a priority not just for the Colorado music community, but for the industry as a whole. So we’ve teamed up with some Latin bands from Colorado to talk about the importance of this representation and how non-Latin people can support the Latin music community beyond Latin History Month.
Meet Soy Celesté: From San Antonio, TX and now based in Denver. Soy Celesté is a solo music project by Celesté Martinez, a queer Chicana rocking the occupied Ute, Chyenne and Arapaho territories, also known as Denver, Colorado. She sees music as a multi-faceted medium of self-expression and healing. Through songwriting, Celesté shares their lived experiences and overlapping identities. Their sound is emotionally charged and experiments with a variety of styles and genres.
Demi Harvey: How did you decide to pursue a career in music?
Soy Celesté: In my early 20’s, I began to embrace my queerness more fully, and this led to the formation of more friendships and communities with Queer Trans People of Color (QTPOC) in Denver. Sometime in 2018, a few of us decided to jam and make music together, and this later grew into the feminist QTPOC collective TúLips. Being a part of TúLips pushed me to be more vulnerable and brave as a musician because in this collective we created music that reflects our lives, our stories and themes we are passionate about. In the summer of 2021 I found myself in a sudden and tumultuous divorce so I turned to songwriting to process what I was going through. Realizing that I wanted to share my story with the music pouring out of me, in early 2022 I decided to start my own music career by developing my solo project, Soy Celesté.
How does your heritage influence the music you make?
As a Chicana, I embrace the complexities of being Mestiza, who is of both Indigenous Cherokee and Mexica lineages and Hispanic descent, while being politically active in our Colorado community. The use of diverse art mediums to share stories and increase awareness or critique of pressing social issues is central to Chicano culture. As a musician, I feel connected to this aspect of my culture when I make emotionally charged rock music. While living in El Salvador in 2014 I had the opportunity to teach music at El Centro Arte para la Paz in Suchitoto. In the vicinity of Salvadoran musicians, I got to know a variety of Latin American genres. This experience changed how I listen to music and drew my attention to other Latin artists who integrate a variety of music genres that honor the roots of our heritage while pushing the boundaries of our experience of music. Some of those that inspire me are: Lido Pimienta, Le Dame Blanche, Combo Chimbita, La Santa Cecilia, Chicano Batman and Selena. In my songwriting I try to weave these kinds of experiments together, so you’ll hear Spanglish lyrics and rhythmic patterns more common in Latin America in many of my songs.
Why is Latin American representation so important to the music scene?
Latinidad is very diverse and so is our music. We’re more than a few genre guys, you can find us anywhere and everywhere. Seeing an artist on stage that looks like you, or hearing music that incorporates aspects of your culture and lived experience, is crucial because it’s affirming. Celebrating who you are and where you come from should be woven into music as a medium of self-expression. Seeing other Chicana artists is a big part of what encourages me to participate in my local music scene, and I hope my presence inspires others to share their music with courage and pride.
Meet 2MX2: Denver band consisting of Lolita: She/Her, O1: He/Him, Juice: He/Him, DMDTheProducer: He/Him, Kenny O: He/Him. 2MX2 is a Latin urban band from Denver Colorado. They are known for their modern interpretations of traditional Latin music. They make music on issues like immigration, health, education reform and other important issues of our time.
Demi Harvey: Why is Latin American representation so important to the music scene?
Lolita Responds: Latino representation is crucial to the music scene because last time I checked 1 in 6 people in the US is of Hispanic ancestry and about 22% of Colorado’s population is of Hispanic ancestry. There is an abundance of beauty in the diversity of the human race and it is beautiful to celebrate and support.
How does your heritage influence the music you make?
O1 answers: We make music in Spanglish (a mixture of English and Spanish) because that’s how we speak every day. We all have Mexican heritage and it influences our music in different ways. At Juice and I we love poetry in Spanish and when we run out of words we switch to English to complete the rhyme or sentence. Then when you translate what we said in Spanish into English, it sounds even more poetic than it is in Spanish most of the time. So we decided to write our lyrics mainly in Spanish. For dmd, his latin heritage influences his music as he creates the actual music and beats for our songs, fusing all the latin music we show him into a hip hop, alternative rock or pop song . Me, Lolita or Juice shows him music we grew up and uses these influences when he makes music for 2MX2. It’s interesting that he doesn’t even speak Spanish (he’s just learning), but still makes the best Latin music we’ve ever heard.
How do you think audiences can best support Latin American musicians?
Juice ET Hugo answers: By attending concerts, streaming and sharing music, and buying merchandise. So the audience can support every musician.
To learn more about Colorado musicians to support, check out the Local 303 program. Tune in every Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. MST for Especial with host Bruce Trujillo. Stream our Latin Heritage Month Spotify playlist below. All month long, Indie 102.3 will be highlighting Latin musicians to have on your radar, listen to these artists every day.