What's a New Year's Eve party without music?
This week, Texas DJ Luis Espada (a.k.a. King Louie) of the Peligrosa collective visits Alt.Latino to share samples of the style they created — the one they call "screwmbia."
The music is much more than a bunch of creative types taking liberties with an established dance form, in this case cumbia. It is, in fact, an in-the-moment expression of a major cultural shift among Latinos as they get in touch with a heritage that hasn't been a part of how they self-identify. This is the sound of music-makers getting back in touch with their roots, one remixed song at a time, and in the process creating a movement that reverberates beyond the parties and clubs of their home base in southern Texas.
If I made that sound like sound like something out of a PhD thesis, never fear. The music Peligrosa creates is exciting, fresh and so, so danceable.
Happy New Year from your pals at Alt.Latino!
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