CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival in New York City is titled a marathon for a pretty good reason. With over 1,300 artists performing in 80+ venues all over NYC for four consecutive days (October 16th-20th), you’re going to need preparation to make sure you go watch the right bands. The great news is that we’ll make it easier for you and give you your guide to the best Latin acts of 2012 CMJ.
Also, be sure to check out our map to see where these bands will be performing.
This Dominican bombshell is not afraid of experimenting with new sounds: Maluca Mala takes her mambo roots through the filter of New York’s nightlife, clashing against global ghetto bass trends and all the time keeping it sexy and glam with her divaesque antics. The real Latina response to M.I.A. has a new free mixtape out (China Food) but still no new singles that compare to her strong debut, “El Tigueraso,” a couple of years ago on Mad Decent. -JD
The Brooklyn-based, but Miami-bred trio first captured our attention with their chic resurrected-from-the-dead outfits and frazzled wigs, and then, with their sassy, disco-infused, and electro-jazz sound. These newcomers are more than Something in Spanish. The band consists of Cuban/Colombian vocalist Michelle Perez, a Nicaraguan by the name of Julio Monterrey on synths, and an Irish man, David Mason, on electro drums. The trio is on a “mission is to heal and nurture all” fans — in a spooky yet awkwardly sexy way, I’m sure. Oh, and don’t forget to download their latest album I & II below. -IR
Monica Lionheart
[NYC/Puerto Rico] ¿Cuándo? Fri, Oct. 19th @ 12pm
¿Dónde? Rockwood Music Hall
NYC’s Monica Lionheart captures more than just passing glances in her spring debut, Indian Summer. Formerly of Zigmat and Pacha Massive, this bilingual songstress singed to Nacional Records this summer as a solo artists, and now gets the chance to showcase those harmonious and seductively synthesized vocals we all dig. Check out this chic singer as she’ll captivate your heart too with her Latina afro puffs, breezy-like vocals, and cool-chill swag onstage. -IR
They are one of our favorite borderline-Latin new bands. True, none of their members are really Latinos but their cross-cultural funk blend includes plenty of Latin roots mixed in with Afro-beat and other styles. The Funk Ark also does some bad-ass all-instrumental cumbias and even cover Peruvian Chicha classics in their repertoire. Oh, and did we mention that their latest album was produced by Adrian Quesada (of Grupo Fantasma)? -JD
Making Movies
[Kansas City]
¿Cuándo? Tuesday, Oct. 16th @ 6pm
¿Dónde? The Rock Shop
What happens when percussionist and friends join a songwriter by the name of Enrique Chi, to fuse the sounds of his bi-cultural heritage by blending Afro Cuban rhythms with melodic indie rock? Incendiary tunes such from their latest album Aguariente (free download below) are ignited into the atmosphere, radiating from a group with a powerful live dynamic, ambitious enough to bridge the gap between both worlds. These songs are perfect examples of how a band like Making Movieshas potential to make mainstream crossover appeal with their infectious mambo, cumbia, and reaggaeton rhythms, spliced in with indie rock aesthetics, bilingual tunes, and a final ingredient of mainstream pop rock sound glossed over.
Brazil’s trailblazing trio are young, über-cute, and fun to just look at! Singing in their native Portuguese, Bonde do Rolê produces an avalanche of electropical bass, kuduro, and sultry Brazilian fusions. Since their raved-about 2007 debut With Lasers, the São Paulo natives finally showcased their sophomore album Tropicalbacanal this summer which impressed our minds and ears with their catchy, charming, and bouncy sound. Though I can’t understand most of the Portuguese language, it seems like most of their lyrics are about dancing and having lots of sex….. fun! -IR
