July 28, 2021
Especial Playlist
Earlier this week, Bomba Estereo released their latest EP - Tierra - and the 3rd in the Deja series - the new album is now slated for release on September 10 (finalmente). Later this week, Ozomatli takes over Levitt Pavilion with our very own Pink Hawks, Friday night, presented by Especial. Ozo has a new album in the works, with a brand new single:
...and we've got plenty of new music on the way, and live shows:
| Helado Negro - Gemini and Leo Far In (Out Oct. 22) Fruta Brutal - If We Never Touch the Ground Single Pahua - La Cura ft. Gizmo Varillas Single La Dame Blanche - Veneno Single Neoma - FIXXION Single Chicano Batman - Dark Star Dark Star/Pastel Sunrise B/W Sofia Valdes - Handful of Water Ventura EP The Marias - Un Millon Cinema Gabriel Albelo - Villains Gabriel Albelo The Mananas - Lucia Cheers EP Xenia Rubinos - Working All the Time Una Rosa (Out Oct. 22) Bomba Estereo - Conexion Total ft. Yemi Alade Tierra EP Maria Raquel y Sus Maravillas - Envidia Single Roka Hueka - Sabor A Mi Single Ozomatli - Mi Destino ft. B-Real and Gaby Morena TBA The Linda Lindas - Oh! Single Celeste Martinez - Lady Liberty Single Combo Chimbita - Mujer Jaguar Single Los Mocochetes - Mocochete Single |
July 27, 2021
Comunidad Guest DJ: Chef Edwin Sandoval
Courtesy of guest.
"Pop up oyster bar" is not a term I expected to run into in Denver. That is, however, how I met Chef Edwin Sandoval in person. In fact, he was running it. Chef Sandoval runs Xatrucho, which specializes in pop up and private dining events - and since we met at the pop up oyster bar, I've been able to try out more of his food (including a rose sorbet? It was as amazing as it sounds). Chef Sandoval is creating his own food scene here in Denver, and expanding past private events with an upcoming micro-menu at Enigma Bazaar on the Northside 6 nights a week, which was just announced earlier this week. Get to know Chef Sandoval a bit better, and let's also revel in the blending of the traditional and new (much like his food) in his playlist below!
| What do you do in the Denver community: I am a chef that focuses on private dining and events with a primary focus of showcasing Latin inspired cuisine. Currently bringing attention to Honduran food through a pop up format, and in mid August I am going to start my new partnership at Enigma Bazaar, a super cool new arts and music mini venue in north Denver. Tell me more about your background: I was born in Honduras and moved to the states as a 10 year old kid. I got involved in the Denver community through food. When I was 21 I landed a sous chef position at a French bistro downtown and continued to work in fine dining restaurants until about 4 years ago when I decided to launch XATRUCHO. Tell me more about your Latinidad: I am very outspoken about my constant support to the Latino community, I find myself continuously putting my culture in the forefront of my cuisine and work projects. Why does representation matter in your community work: In cooking and food industry I feel that authenticity can be easily lost, for me it's extremely important to be from the Latin community and be able to own and operate a business that focuses on writing a positive narrative from a cultural stand point. What is one way the community can uplift Latin work/voices/art: Support Brown owned businesses, share their work. Tell your friends about the things that Latin artist are doing. Overall be mindful in regards to where you spend your time and money, I truly believe we can start doing more business/collab among ourselves to develop a better economy within our artist communities. |
Follow Xatrucho on Instagram here.
July 21, 2021
Especial Playlist
As summer progresses, more and more albums are being announced for fall, including a brand new one from Xenia Rubinos. Tours are, of course back, as well as festival lineups... like the Underground Music Showcase! Some Especial locals included, like Neoma, Kiltro, Los Mocochetes, Lolita, and more, as well as breakout artist, Sofia Valdes.This week also sees a brand new one, and my new summer song, from la reina, La Dame Blanche.
| La Dame Blanche - Veneno Single Neoma - FIXXION Single The Marias - Un Millon Cinema Chicano Batman - Dark Star Single Xenia Rubinos - Working All the Time Una Rosa (Out Oct. 15) Lolita - Toda Mi Gente ft. Big Samir Single Helado Negro - Gemini and Leo Far In (Out Oct. 22) Fruta Brutal - If We Never Touch the Ground Single Pahua - La Cura ft. Gizmo Varillas Single Ambar Lucid - Get Lost In the Music Get Lost In the Music EP Vanessa Zamora - Optemos ft. Caloncho Single Luna Luna - Golden Single Sofia Valdes - Handful of Water Ventura EP Maria Raquel Y Sus Maravillas - Envidia Single Okute - Quiere La Rumba Okute Pink Hawks - Occupy Single Ozomatli - Mi Dedstino ft. B-Real Single |
July 14, 2021
Especial Playlist - Hasta Aqui Pt. 3
We have made it halfway through 2021, familia. I was planning on doing just one show of some of my favorite releases of the year so far. If you tune in regularly, you know there's just too much good stuff out this year to contain it to one week.
What makes it all the better is that Denver's own Neoma has released her first new solo single since the debut album, Real, in 2019 - along with a killer music video:
Here is your final Hasta Aqui:
| Neoma - Fixxion Single Marinero - Nuestra Victoria Hella Love Rodrigo Amarante - Mare Drama iLe - No Es Importante Single Jon Rubio - Labios Rosados ft. Katiria and Yugs Single Agustin Rodas - Intermezzo ft. Danny Pauta Novus Era Pahua - Vayayo Ofrenda EP Savila - Mayahuel Mayahuel Pinc Louds - Tamarindo Single Pehuenche - Dos Amantes Single Renee Goust - La Apuesta Resistir The Marias - Un Millon Cinema Liniker - Baby95 Single Helado Negro - Gemini and Leo Far In (Out Oct. 22) |
July 7, 2021
Especial Playlist - Hasta Aqui Pt. 2
We have made it halfway through 2021, familia. I was planning on doing just one show of some of my favorite releases of the year so far. If you tune in regularly, you know there's just too much good stuff out this year to contain it to one week.
What makes it all the better is that Combo Chimbita ARE BACK, BABY. They've just released a brand new stand alone single and music video - there first of a few this year:
Here is our second week of Hasta Aqui:
| Combo Chimbita - Mujer Jaguar Single Los Esplifs - Galaxia Estraik Back Reyna Tropical - Encerrada ft. Y La Bamba Single Grupo Estrella Campesina - Changui en Yateras Changui - The Sound of Guantanamo Reyna - Quarantine Baby Single Jadsa - Raio de Sol ft. Ana Frango Electrico Olho de Vidro Javiera Mena - Diva ft. Chico Blanco 1. Entusiasmo EP Luchy DR x Leli Hernandez x Victoria La Mala - Bufon Single Fruta Brutal - Viva When It Matters EP Mon Laferte - Amado Mio Seis Roka Hueka - Sabor A Mi Single Las Pijamas - No me hagas querer hacerte brujeria Single The Linda Lindas - Racist, Sexist Boy Single La Dame Blanche - Mata Sede ft. Amanda Magalhaes Single Quitapenas - Dos Mangos ft. Edule Single Eli Montoya - Bachata de Amor Single B.A.R.D.O - Patterns of Being Everything Reminds Me Of Space Out July 23 |
July 6, 2021
Comunidad Guest DJ: The Empress
One of my favorite areas in Denver is Westwood. A friend recently called it one of the last, true barrios of the city. Though Westwood, like many many areas of the city that Chicanos have called home for generations, is being gentrified, Westwood holds its own. There is a strong sense of pride and and community that spreads from Morrison Road and into the side streets, pumped into the businesses and restaurants. My guests this week create the images for the comunidad en Westwood, and for Chicanos across the city - The Empress. I was introduced to them back in 2019, at BUCU Southwest Chili Fest, where I didn't have enough cash on hand to buy all I wanted - but I did score the Mexica tote bag, candles, stickers, and t-shirts with Coatlicue that are still in regular rotation. 2 years later and I still have to save up to get the new new. The Empress is a family business in Westwood, that not only creates these images, but assists and supports in putting on events that celebrates and uplifts la comunidad in Westwood, including Cinco De Mayo, Dia de Independencia, Dia de los Muertos, and the upcoming Frida Kahlo Celebration of Life this Saturday (feliz cumple, Frida!). Read more about The Empress, and check out their playlist below!
| What do you do in the Denver community: We are a collective of Mexican/Mexica artists from the Westwood neighborhood. We predominantly screen print, paint murals, and host community events. Tell me more about your background: Our collective is mostly the Jaramillo family, my father Santiago and my older brother Santi started this about 10 years ago. We are all born and raised Westwood residents. Originally we were operating out of a small building on the corner of Morrison road doing art shows and first Friday events, the first Frida showing was there! Now my brother Zion and myself (I’m Lala!) operate a print shop just a ways down the road. We also have our own Mateo Rodriguez that helps with photography, embroidery, and really everything! Tell me more about your Latinidad: Westwood is somewhere we all call home. The residents of this neighborhood support each other’s business and crafts and all of the above. My neighbors own the restaurants and Mercaditos we frequent, we help them with art for their businesses or a place to display their craft. We are creating a space where we can continue to uplift and help our community flourish. Why does representation matter in your community work: Without proper representation of different brown communities, we lose our heritage and our voices. We lose our ancestors teachings. We lose our art We lose our languages. The Empress’ output is 90% Mexica imagery and Aztec codexes passed down to my father. Without proper representation of brown creators we allow gentrifiers into our spaces to demolish and disband and erase what we create. Fuck your Sprouts and Whole Foods, we have David and his farm down the street. What is one way the community can uplift Latin work/voices/art: Considering that we have gone back to “normal” over the last couple of months, support your local elotero! Buy people’s art if there’s an event! Get the food your homies selling! Give back to those around you. Come hang out at our 9th annual Frida Kahlo Celebration of Life on July 10th! There will be over 30 vendors from all over the Denver Metro Area, along with loads of other stuff. We also have LOST BOYS skate jam/punk gig at the end of August and Muertos soon after! |
Follow The Empress on Instagram here.
July 1, 2021
Especial Playlist - Hasta Aqui
We have made it halfway through 2021, familia. I was planning on doing just one show of some of my favorite releases of the year so far. If you tune in regularly, you know there's just too much good stuff out this year to contain it to this week.
What makes it all the better is that Chicano Batman just released 2 new singles, ahead of their tour that stops through Denver at the Gothic Theatre on October 21.
So, this is Hasta Aqui, Part 1.
| Durand Jones & The Indications - Cruisin’ to the Parque ft. Y La Bamba Single Thee Lakesiders - Can’t Fool Me Twice Single Katiria - Mientes Single Bomba Estereo - Agua Deja Venezonix - La Que Es ft. Betsayda Machado La Que Es Okute - Quiere La Rumba Okute Femina - Fantastico Single Jose GOnzalez - El Invento Single Dom La Nena - Moreno (El Buho Remix) Single Juan Wauters - Presentation ft. Nick Hakim & Benamin Real Life Situations Luna Luna - Golden Single The Mananas - Lucia Cheers EP Xenia Rubinos - Cogelo Suave Single Los Mocochetes - Tacos Single Vanessa Zamora - Optemos ft. Caloncho Single Chicano Batman - Dark Star Single |
