Last week we brought you Part 1 of this Q & A with some of our favorite Latin artists. We left you hanging but never fear, because we’re back with the loaded question of “What is ‘Latin’ music to you?”
OS: What is “Latin” to you? (There’s no wrong answer!) Do you define it more by the music or the musicians? For example, a Latino rock band is a rock band, but do you also consider this “Latin music?”
Bergman Pazs: All the music styles based on Caribbean, Central and South American evolution of music.
Gio Vanne from Orbita: Well, a lot people are getting confused with this so-called term “Latin.” For example: a “Latin-Rock band” playing songs in English and none of [their] songs are in Spanish??? I [w]ould not consider them a “Latino-Rock band” even [if] all his band members are Latinos.
David Rolas: What I do is music, period. Whether it’s Latino-influenced or not…it’s music. The style of music I do is hip hop. A lot of people or even other artists might beg to differ with me. But it’s true: Music is music.
OS:Just for fun, not including yourself do you have any favorite Latin artists on OurStage you’d like to share with our readers?
DR: I think what’s cool about OurStage.com is that you guys give an opportunity to the underdog. The artist that hasn’t had the exposure needed to be heard.
Four guys, two languages and endless musical boundaries.
That’s New Madrid. Calling them a “Latin rock” band wouldn’t be do justice to their Latin, indie, experimental, melodious, harmonious, ethereal sound. Pretty much the only thing that makes them a rock band is their instrumentation: two guitars, bass, drums and some awesome vocals. They describe their style as “a musical representation that encompasses an aspect in each of the members’ lives and taste. They are diversified, universal, musical and opposed to categorizing or classifying themselves.”
New Madrid has only been together since 2008, but in that short time they’ve created a tight and unique sound that can be enjoyed all over the NYC scene. They recently released an EP, aptly titled EP, which can be downloaded for free on their MySpace page.
The band has some exciting upcoming shows, one of which is at BB King’s in New York—we wonder if they’ll run into Orbita, our beloved OurStage Latin act who’s seen that stage many times.
As always, the proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, in the playlist.
Orbita is without a doubt one of New Jersey’s most exciting up-and-coming Latin Rock bands. Their influences run the gamut from multilingual, classic artists like Manu Chão, to punk/reggae/ska acts like Sublime and Los Rabanes, all the way to modern Latin favorite Café Tacuba. Traces of all these artists can be found in Orbita’s energetic brand of rock music. As for Orbita’s members, they share a variety of Latino backgrounds, hailing from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador, as well as the Garden State itself.
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Gio tells us that the band has been playing “a lot over the last seven years, places like B.B. King, festivals, benefit concerts, college shows, and private parties everywhere in the tri-state area. We’re currently concentrating on the album and preparing new songs for next year.”
After a lot of hard work, their new, highly-anticipated disc—Masca chicle y no hagas bomba—is slated to come out in October. Right now Orbita is also getting ready for their upcoming shows, which you can take a look at here.
“We really appreciate your help for band like us that are underground in the Latin Rock scene! Gracias again and looking forward to post more new songs on OurStage.com!”
No matter the weather outside, everyone needs a little heat to kick the summer season up a notch. And a little Latin spice might just do the trick. Even as a novice Spanish speaker, these songs make me want to get up and shake a groove thing regardless of the foolishness I exhibit on the dancefloor. Shakira I am not but, with these beats playing in background, I can’t help but try. And if these songs make me feel like my hips can’t lie, imagine what they can do to people who actually understand the words!
