July 2009
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Ocote Soul Sounds
My interview with Antibalas leader Martín Perna, on the third record of his indescribable and wonderful project Ocote Soul Sounds. (Yes, in that picture he is singing to the rhythm of a donkey jaw scratched by a pencil, as you may have thought.)
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Calle 13
Moving yet another step closer to becoming the Mano Negra of this generation, Calle 13 recently released Sin Mapa — a documentary of their travels through Latin America. (Manu Chao’s combo shot a film of its 1993 epic train trip through Colombia, scenes of which can be seen here and here.) At NY1 Noticias, Residente and Visitante…
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Meet the Prensa #1
Starting this week, I will be writing a column on Hispanic media for Mediaite entitled Meet the Prensa. In the first installment, I ask a question that has haunted me ever since I became a journalist: Why is there no Hispanic national media outlet—one that serves as standard of the highest writing and content—such as…
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Judging La Jueza
Before the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor, NY1 Noticias aired a three part series on her nomination, which I produced for my friend and former co-blogger Juan Manuel Benítez. Click on the stills for the chapters of “Nominación histórica.” FIRST EPISODE: How the nomination of Sotomayor united a fragmented Hispanic community. SECOND EPISODE: What is…
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Those güeyes at Guanabee
I discovered Guanabee being nominated for a certain contest. Soon I became addicted to their shameless mash-up of pop culture and all things Latino—particularly their mockery of Latino stereotypes. A few weeks later, after losing in the first round of their competition —and just in time for the release of their macho spin-off Anygüey—, I…
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The Sounds of the Saints
Santero lived all over Central and North America before becoming a Lukumí priest and releasing his solid second album, “El hijo de Obatala.” Visiting the city to participate in the LAMC, the Guatemalan-born singer came to NY1 Noticias to explain why he sees no conflict between his religious duties and the urban music he makes.
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The Zizek Phenomenon
Texas-born Grant Dull has generated a little miracle. After moving to Buenos Aires, he started the Zizek collective, a group of DJs and electronic musicians devoted to a blend of digital rhythms and cumbia. What started as weekly parties is now a record label and a touring troupe. Watch my interview of Grant clicking…
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Very Be Careful
To watch my interview with Arturo Guzmán, bass player of L.A.-based vallenato band Very Be Careful, click here. To listen to their music, click here.
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From the Pages of El Mercurio
[Translation of text published by Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, as part of an article on Chileans living in New York. For the Spanish version, click on the image above.] We all came to New York to try our luck, attracted to the myth of the city: the spell of its skyscrapers, the scenes from our…
José Manuel Simián 