¡Así Suena! Music Nights 2024

Kin Balam, “path of the jaguar” is a powerful synthesis of Flamenco guitar, Classical, Afro-Latin, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Indigenous Aztec Maya music. From the Indigenous lands of Kuxkatan, Nekepio, El Salvador, born in the heart of a people’s revolution, raised in the northern lands of turtle island, burying his heart in the pain and urban warfare as a youth with a soul hungry for meaning and connection, years later learning to die to a lifestyle that has shattered the foundation of his community and country with blood and fire.

Fusing the hardcore rap delivery usually associated to gangster rap KB has decided to utilize that same vein of art and feeding the streets medicine, hope, healing, and revolutionary evolutionary guidance. The Mesoamerican Indigenous instruments integrated into the musical landscape are all of pre-Colombian colonial origin and therefore bear with them the unique identity of central American indigenous culture and spirituality. The Afro Latin rhythms deepen the meaning of this reality with the connection and bridging of African culture and struggle in the earth and flesh of the Americas Colonial history. And finally, the virtuoso Flamenco guitar is the sword that ties all of these elements as one diverse family which sets to speak as one heart, one voice, in one language. The language of our humanity.

Blue Rivera is a multi-lingual band consisting of three brothers and their childhood friend. With their vibrant music and soulful melodies, they aim to unite people from all over the world, breaking cultural barriers. 

Soft boleros and heart warming sambas will be played throughout the evening, wrapping it up with some bossa nova classics.

 Blue Rivera is: 

Joaquin Borderas-Ochoa

Julian Borderas-Ochoa

Hector Borderas-Ochoa

Stephen Coley 

The Black Jesus

Music Therapist, Producer & DJ Spinning Records noroombar📍 San José del Cabo djing through out town in places such as pescadito break, pez gallo, el ganzo “pool parties” & air disco at Crania. Also playing in downtown’s nomada & dalton. 

Mauricio also known as the black jesus has been behind decks since 2007 officially , being part of the first wave of djs that would perform their dj sets with ableton live.

With a vast music collection and desire for finding the right gem from afrobeat to disco , acid house to techno, mashups on the fly and dance floor killers, the black jesus was born. 

Cdjs or Turntables , vinyl or digital or a very special ableton live set is now what distinguishes the black jesus at any dj booth around the world. 

In 2014 after living in Queretaro for 7 years and being part of the crew of PULP with other djs like Betuel Arzate (Clean is Good) & Juan Garcia (Capitán Boogaloo), In 2014 moved to Playa del Carmen to be part of La Santanera’s family djing in such as DIABLITO Cha Cha Cha , Canibal Royal & Almirante Pech . 

Trevor Stewart is a song and dance man. He pays for his groceries by singing, playing the drums, the guitar, and the fool on the streets of Vancouver. This is his third year performing at VLAFF, an opportunity that he considers to be a pleasure, a privilege, and an honour. He plans on singing songs introduced to him by his lovely friends from Latin America. 

Photo Credit: Pedro Augusto Meza Instagram: @pedroaugustomeza 

Mai Garnica Quartet is an ensemble formed from the need to experience mixes and traditional sounds from South America.

The Argentinian singer, Mai Garnica, brings us songs of her own, in collaboration with Ricardo Hardy on bass, Alex Hernandez on drums/percussion and Nadim Woolgar on electric guitar. Together they weave their experiences as people from different Latin American countries.

La Navaja, an eclectic duo from Mexico City, is comprised of Oskar Flores and Sebastian Cartas. Both musicians are multi-talented, each bringing their own unique style and influences to the band while also pursuing separate musical projects.
**Musical Style and Influences** La Navaja’s sound is a dynamic blend of rock, punk, and rockabilly, characterized by high-energy performances and a raw, gritty aesthetic. Their music draws heavily on the rebellious spirit of punk rock, the rhythmic swagger of rockabilly, and the experimental edge of rock. The band cites significant influences such as The Cramps, known for their psychobilly style; Alan Vega of Suicide, who brought a raw, minimalist approach to punk and electronic music; and Spacemen 3, with their hypnotic and drone-heavy sound. **Origins and Evolution** The band was formed in Vancouver, a young metropolis with a vibrant and diverse music .Their music reflects the eclectic influences of their hometown, blending traditional rock and punk elements with innovative twists. **Achievements and Impact** While maintaining their primary focus on La Navaja, both Oskar and Sebastian continue to explore individual musical projects, contributing to their growth as versatile musicians. Their dual commitment to both their band and solo endeavors has allowed them to experiment and evolve, enriching their music with varied experiences and influences.

Dení Olivares Trío was born to share the music from Mexican cinema. From the old classics of Tin Tan to the early 2000’s hits of Café Tacvba in Amores Perros. 

Music guides the emotions of these emblematic Mexican movies and keeps shaping Mexican identities up until today.

Dení Olivares Trio is: 

Alonso Benaventes

Ricardo Hardy 

Dení Olivares