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La Santa Cecilia introduce, are a mix of the old traditional and new Latino Cultural rhythms. The band exemplifies a creative modern day hybrid musical fusion of cumbia, bossa nova, boleros, and tango. At the same time they mix Afro-Cuban, rock, and jazz, which ads more spice to the mix. The infusing of different genres allows for La Santa Cecilia to play with sounds, and make their music not pass unnoticed in any other genre. The singer Marisoul’s voice adds the touch and uniqueness that blends the sounds of La Santa Cecilas Music. La Santa Cecilia is composed of six members that are based in Los Angeles, California. Guitarist Gloria Estrada, accordionist and requintero Jose Carlos, bassist Alex Bendana, percussionist Miguel Ramirez, drummer Hugo Vargas and lead singer Marisoul. La Santa Cecilia lyrics consist of love, loss, and heartbreak. La Santa Cecilia’s live shows are theatrical yet representative of the colorful fiesta apparel rooted in Mexican culture, combining the old and new. They are proud of being from the City of Angeles.

The group has performed in venues such as the Japanese American Museum, The Afro-American Museum of California, the Accordion Festival, the International Movie Festival in Los Angeles, and the Dia de los Muertos Festival at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, among others. The group it currently teamed up with Sebastian Krys a Buenos Aires, Argentina born and Los Angeles-based multi-Grammy award winning producer and engineer. They are working on their forthcoming EP Noches y Citas from which they have realesed their new and first ever music video for La Negra. In their video we are able to see their blending of culture sounds and rythyms.

Name Origin
The band came to call themselves La Santa Cecila after the patron saint of musicians. The saint is also the saint of church music. As the story goes, as Saint Cecilia was dying she sang to God. Earlier in her life while she was getting married and the band was playing she sang to Lord in her heart. She is passed down as the saint of music because of her singing to God while dying. Saint Cecilia is depicted in painting holding an organ. In contemporary times, many musicians have sought to identify their musical creation to saint Santa Cecilia. Some by writing songs in honor of Santa Cecilia, and others like the band La Santa Cecilia by adopting the name as a form of protection.

Influence
La Santa Cecilia’s influence ranges from Bolero, Rancheras, Mariachi, Norteñas, Cumbia, Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Folk, and Reggae, to name a few. Influential artists like Miles Davis, Janice Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Mercedes Sosa, and Ramon Ayala. Singer Marisoul describes her lyrics as full of passion, love, and heartbreak and writes most of the bands songs. Although Marisoul has never studied music, she is able to manipulate and regulate her voice, which then brings out the unique sound of La Santa Cecilia. The composition and influence of other artists has allowed La Santa Cecilia to expand its sound in the 21st century, and become a modern day creative hybrid of culture and world music.

Discography
The songs on the album are as unique as the album itself. In fact no two albums are the same. The band is so local and underground still that for their first album they themselves along with fans and family had decorated every cover so that no two covers are the same. They hand-painted them and used a combination of colorful yarn, images and designs that were recycled making them environmentally-friendly. Their EP was not mass produced like most albums are.

La Santa Cecilia EP was made up of six songs being, 1. Klezmer 2. Chicle 3. Jack 4. El Farol 5. Se Va and 6. SambaQue. Each song has its own style for example Klezmer is a declaration of the bands motives, desires, and intensity packed into an in your face punky klezmer. Chicle on the other side of the spectrum is a feel good danceable norteña about turning a deaf ear to traditional folk wisdom and learning to value your own story. Jack the English language song is reminiscent of a lamenting lover wondering endlessly through a lonely country road - tumbleweeds and saloons included. El Farol is a seductive accordion lines, ranchera-style guitar strumming, and afro-Cuban create a beautiful backdrop for a story about discovering love, and the incontrollable feelings that come along that. Se Va is a song about waking up and living your dreams with no regrets and Samba Que is a carnival of energy, sound, color, and dance.

The EP was recorded in Lo-Fi recording studio in San Bernardino and Westlake Recording studio in Hollywood where music legends such as Stevie Wonder, U2, Ozzy Osbourne and Selena have previously recorded. Their music has been uses both on the little and big screen. The television series “Weeds” on Showtime (Emmy winner), as well as in “Dish” (movie directed by Brian Krinsky), “Re-Encounters” (documentary of Oaxacan artist Alejandro Santiago), "4 O'clock Tuesday" (radio station KPFK, with Gustavo Arellano) and “Travel Tips For Aztlan" with host Mark Torres.

Video
The groups first video was for their new release 'La Negra' this video was shot in La Plaza Olvera. In this video we see the groups style as well as Marisoul's style in which she incorporates her culture yet again by using the bright colors that remind you of typical fiestas. The bright pink, green and purple. The pink scarf pays homage to the Mexican rebozo that women wear as an accessory or to carry children. She is also seen wearing a number of pins which is particularly important to the group because the design highly creative pins of unicorns, donuts, cacti, sombreros and smiley-faced condoms. They give and/or sell them to their fans and take a picture of their fans with the pin on and post it on their groups myspace.

Lyrics
La Santa Cecilia songs resonate happy possibilities for passionate love. From the CD El Chicle, La Santa Cecilia was nominated for a Latin Grammy for best song, “La Negra.”

La Negra Lyrics (Espanol) cuando la negra te invita a bailar no le digas no x2 porque no sabes si puede ser la flaca disfrazada porque no sabes que puedes perder asi tu alma cuando la luna sale a brillar todo puede suceder x2 porque no sabes que puedes vender  aqui porque no sabes que vas a perder mas que que la lujuria y el deseo son dos fuegos que queman  aqui de esta noche no pasar a ay que esta noche te voy a buscar de esta noche no pasara ay que esta noche te invito a bailar de esta noche no pasar a ay que esta noche te voy a buscar de esta noche no pasara ay que esta noche te voy a casar cuando la luna sale a brillar cuando la negra te invita a bailar x2 no le digas no x3

Accomplishments
La Santa Cecilia have toured to New York, Miami, and Mexico, and what captures the audience is the Mexican apparel you see on band members and the depiction of cultural forth-front styles in songs, sounds and staging. At the same time, they have accomplished a transculturation by incorporating traditional Mexican sounds and incorporating new sounds that influenced many growing up. Recently they have been nominated for a Latin Grammy for best song “La Negra” which the video was filmed in Plazita Olvera in Los Angeles.

La Santa Cecilia is the best next band of L.A, according to OC Weekly. La Santa Cecilia now stands with other local bands who rose to fame like Ozomoatli (1990) whose sound is of hip-hop post riot combination. Quetzal, a Chicano group proudly incorporating Afro-Mexican beats and the Abandoned, a pop song band with kids from the valley. What all these bands hold in common just like Santa Cecilia, they have emerged from L.A. Although they haven’t done much professionally like the other bands above. The fusion of sounds definitely sets them apart. La Santa Cecilia has only professionally self-released a six song EP, with Lo-Fi Studios in San Bernardino and at Westlake Recording Studios in Hollywood. The single “El Chicle” has made it to the television program Weeds. It was also featured in indie flick Dish, and a documentary called Re-Encounters, depicting an Oaxaca artist, Alexandro Santiago. Another single “El Farol” was also used for a HBO episode of Entourage, which also hosted the band.

Color on Stage
The uniqueness of this band is that members of the band and fans, with glitter, ribbons, markers, decorated most of the CD’s covers and original artwork signature of La Santa Cecilia colors with representation of their Mexican culture. Marisoul the lead singer brings to the stage fire with her unique self made clothing designs. At the same time, Marisoul decorates her own shoes with glitter and vibrant colors. Vibrant colors like hot pink, yellow, oranges, and greens, are signature to La Santa Cecilia. The return of glitter and markers decorate add a touch of color are brightness that adds to the bands uniqueness. More specifically vibrant colors are use to represent self-identity with the Mexican Fiesta by customizing through self-made clothing designs like Marisoul papel picado falda.

Placita Olvera
Their first video was shot in La Placita Olvera is located on Olvera Street in Los Angeles California. Olvera Street was the location for the birth of Los Angeles in 1781. It was designated as a California State Historic Landmark in 1953.The plaza is a colorized and successful depiction of Mexican culture. It is home to a community of vendors who specialize is selling traditional artesanias. At the Placita Olvera is El Pueblo Historic Monument a traditional Mexican style plaza area with shops selling handcrafted Mexican souvenirs. On weekends family and friends can enjoy outdoor entertainment by strolling bolero musicians and folkloric dancing. Families can also enjoy foods such as tacos, tortas and sweets like aguas frescas and churros. There are also colorful piñatas, miniture guitars, hanging puppets in white peasant clothing, Mexican pottery and trinkets. You can find typical Mexican-style clothing, serapes, mounted bull horns, oversized sombreros, and even get your picture taken with a live sized donkey. Olvera Street has many historic building like Avila Adobe, the Pelanconi House and the Sepulveda House. In 1930, it was converted to Placita Olvera a colorful Mexican traditional marketplace. It is also a famous setting for Mexican-style music and dancing. Placita Olvera is also a hostess for holiday celebrations, such as Cinco de Mayo, Dia De Los Muertos, and Posadas. La Placita attracts many tourists every year, most of the items for sale are traditional aretesanias (Art crafts) from Mexico, and by the food.

Members

 * Gloria Estrada: Guitarist
 * Jose Carlos: Accordinist and Requinto
 * Alex Bendana: Bassist
 * Miguel Ramirez: Percussionist
 * Hugo Varagas: Drummer
 * Marisoul Lead: Singer