LAMC Event Recap July 6th-10th
Live Music
Hip Hop Reina Ana Tijoux performs during LAMC Summer Stage show photo by: Leslie DJ
Ana Tijoux kicked things off at Wednesday’s Summer Stage appearance as part of The Latin Alternative Music Conference series showcase. The 11th annual Latin Alternative Music Conference was once again held in New York City and featured some of Latin music’s promising up and coming artists of Alternative music. The Chilean rapper kicked the festivities off on Tuesday, July 6th with an in-store performance at the Soho Apple Store and kept the crowd going during one of the hottest summer nights New York has seen in years in Central Park.
“It’s difficult to present yourself to a new crowd and speak bad English,” said the young MC. The bilingual Hip Hop reina (she’s a native Spanish and French speaker) briefly introduced each song in English before embarking on her Spanish language tracks. She performed cuts off her critically acclaimed US debut album “1977” including “Problema de 2” and her hit single, “1977.”
From Chile to Spain—following Anita Tijoux was Spain’s El Guincho whose infectious experimental-electro beats drew a dancing crowd. As the sun began to set the crowd began to multiply it was clear the majority were there to see Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible an electronica group from Tijuana, Mexico.
The Panels
Panelists discuss the usage of Latin Alternative music licensing in Film & Television photo by: Leslie DJ
Randy Frisch, founder of LoveCat Music, moderated Friday’s licensing panel and began by stating, “welcome to the best panel you’ll ever attend,” he said before introducing the panelists. Panelists included the Vice President of Marketing for ESPN International, Juan Jose Alfonso, Music Supervisor on “Nurse Jackie” & “Bored To Death” Michael Hill among others. The panelists discussed the growing trend of Latin Alternative Music in different markets.
Guitar display at Roosevelt Hotel during LAMC photo by: Leslie DJ
15 years ago when Television producers sought Latin music they’d immediately select a salsa tune. Now the possibilities are endless and the market along with its audience are more open minded to newer genres which is why Juan Jose Alfonso believes Latin music should be thought of as being music from Latin America. Randy Frisch explained, “Latin music is not music specifically from Latin America, it’s a specific style of music from all over.”
Michael Hill concluded that, “it isn’t [about] the language, it’s the mood and feel and that’s what can make Latin music appealing.”
While members of the press trickled in and out of the media room conducting artist interviews with LAMC performers and showcased artists, conference registrants stocked up on flyers, CD samples and stickers while others played in the Jack Daniels sponsored tent Guitar Hero.
