A female mariachi from Los Angeles has played at weddings, funerals, parties and prisons. Now, they hope to take the stage internationally.
Maricela Martínez founded the Beautiful Mexican Mariachi in Boyle Heights in 2007. Although Martinez admires the “wonderful women” she works with, she said running the group has been “16 years of hard work. It really is non-stop hard work.”
The band has 14 members, many of whom are immigrants and all of whom are Latinas.
What started with just a few students has grown over the years to become the KIPP Academy “mariachi family.”
“I wanted to create a space to feel safe from intolerance, machismo and harassment,” Martínez said.
Mariachi has been dominated mainly by men until recent years. Historically, traditional groups had only male members who wore a “traje de charro”, an outfit inspired by Jalisco cowboys in the 20th century.
The mariachi trumpet, Martínez said, is considered a “manly instrument” because it requires a lot of technique and control. People are surprised when they see her perform, he said, even though she has performed for 26 years.
“’You play like a man,’” people tell him.
Martínez knows that these words are supposed to be a compliment, but she doesn’t see it that way.
“People throw rocks at us one way or another, but now we know how to navigate and move on,” Martinez said.
Social justice through music
The band uses their platform to highlight social justice, immigration, and equal rights.
“We come together to make music to forget, to forgive, to heal and to move on. That’s the beauty of mariachi music,” Martinez said.
The Plaza del Mariachi has served as a place for musicians, soloists, trios who meet to look for work, hoping to be hired.
Martinez led a song-making workshop at a men’s correctional facility through the California Alliance for Traditional Arts, an organization that works with traditional artists who use cultural traditions to empower people, she said.
“I was so proud. I never thought my music would take me there to help people heal.”
Femme Mariachi Festival in Paris
Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas was a guest at the Festival de la Femme Mariachi, a celebration of female mariachis in Paris this October.
“We want to go to Paris because we want to celebrate life, celebrate our achievements and tell the world that we are here,” Martinez said, adding that Paris also “sounds very romantic and sexy.”
He said the festival builds community by creating a space for musicians to support and learn from each other.
“Many ladies have paved the way for us to be where we are now, and we want to make sure we continue to pave the way for the new generations because mariachi music is impacting people on many levels,” she said, how through education. and fashion
When asked about the band’s journey, Martinez responded with a question: “How am I going to do it?”
Martínez has to raise enough money to pay for hotel rooms, food, travel expenses and a nanny to care for her three children.
Martínez hopes the festival will show people that as women, “we are united and we are trying to keep the tradition going. Although we don’t get paid, we do it for the love of art”.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station, NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.
2023-07-13 17:13:09
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