Recently, while the “Mariachi Sirenas” was performing at a private event, an unknown man who had already had a drink approached Ibet. He grabbed her arm and wanted to lead her to a secluded corner. She slapped him and, as if nothing else, took up her guitar again… The party continued. Misogyny and machismo are not going to stop her, wherever she goes.
His passion for music, still without propose, It also became the feminist cause that the members of this musical group have taken as their flag. The mariachi is a Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2011, according to the declaration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). “We are part of that humanity,” argues Ibet Herrera.
Many times, when she and her companions come to play their music, they are asked to better “tighten” their suits. Every time they negotiate with restaurant owners, they ask them: “Why do you charge so much if you are only women?” or “Is there a man who understands this with you?”
It doesn’t matter if they wear skirts or pants. This group of women from the area of Chicago is transforming traditional Mexican music in the region. “Mariachi Sirenas” is the only traditional Mexican group composed exclusively of women in the Midwest of the United States.
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In an almost totally male-dominated environment, they are slowly gaining ground.
It is not a new phenomenon. The birth of women’s mariachis dates back to the 1950s when the first female groups of this genre emerged, such as “Mariachi Las Coronelas” or “Mariachi Las Adelitas”, who even once traveled from Mexico to Chicago.
Their expansion in this complicated musical world was even slower, since it was until the 80s that women achieved worldwide relevance with the “Mariachi Las Perlitas”, originally from Guadalajara.
In part, the phenomenon is due to the fact that traditional music itself represents a sector of popular culture rooted in conservative attitudes where machismo persists. The mariachi he sings to the woman he loves and not the other way around. The most traditionalists say that it has always been and will always be. But obviously, history has taught us many times that passion for music transcends genres.
A dream of migrant girls
“CAP”. The “Mariachi Sirenas” has played for free on Chicago’s most famous promenade, the “River Walk”. People get excited and tip. They have come to receive more than 2,000 dollars a day. Courtesy
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“Mariachi Sirenas” began four years ago and, despite the slowdown in events due to the pandemic in 2020, they have built a large following with performances in cities of the state of Illinois and Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota. They have even traveled several times to Los Angeles, California, attending invitations from the Jalisco clubs of that entity.
Ibet, co-founder of the group, says that this project is the realization of a dream she had had for more than 20 years, when she returned to visit Mexico for the first time since she had arrived in Chicago as the little daughter of migrants. The group started with four women. Today there are already 11.
It has not always been easy to convince the public and your fellow musicians that an all-female mariachi group has everything it takes to deliver the best performances. The “Mariachi Sirenas ”follows the Mexican tradition, but with some adjustments in the tone. It’s obviously difficult, especially for the trumpets. They can only reach a higher pitch once they adjust it to the capacity of a female performer. The challenge of a woman in music is equal to any that also a man may have. However, in a genre where they predominate, they need to try a little harder. For the “Mermaids” it is a challenge that excites them and amuses them.
A nice coincidence
INDEPENDENCE. In the city of Aurora, Chicago, the “Mariachi Sirenas” was the main attraction of the Scream of Independence, on September 15th. Courtesy
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The four founders insist it was a complete coincidence that their first rehearsal took place on International Women’s Day. Since that March 8, 2017, the members of the “Mariachi Sirenas” have practiced every Sunday afternoon in an apartment in the Latin quarter of Pilsen.
Eight of the 11 current members are first-generation Mexican-Americans. Seven are first-generation music. Three, Ibet, Jeanette E. Nevarez and Laura Velázquez, are first cousins. The rest are “adopted”.
“Mariachi Sirens ”began when the three cousins crossed paths with Eréndira Izguerra in a Festival of Mariachi in 2016. While traditional Mexican music groups made up of women are common across the country, there was not officially one in Chicago. In the span of six months, the four brought together seven other women to join their new group. That March 8 they held their first rehearsal.
A friend of Izguerra recommended that they call themselves “Mariachi Sirenas de Jalisco” (since most are of Guadalajara origin). They finally chose to stay only with the Sirenas. They wanted a short, very feminine name for a very masculine gender.
“Mariachi Sirenas” debuted at the Pilsen Taco Festival in June 2018. In this first performance, a group of men at the side of the stage began to question them. Izguerra still remembers his screams: “You shouldn’t be up there! Just take off your shirts! What are you doing playing this music! “
All the members of the group have high esteem for the gender of the mariachi and strive to keep their performance within tradition. However, staying in tradition doesn’t mean relegating yourself to people’s wrong assumptions. When talking about mariachi, the idea of fat men with mustaches and big guitars comes to the minds of many. But there is obviously more beauty to this tradition than has been stereotyped. They try to break that stereotype. “Mariachi Sirenas” perform at venues ranging from private parties and clubs to festivals, schools, and girls’ birthday parties.
With each performance, the “sirens” navigate their new surroundings, adapt their performances, and prepare their hearts and minds for whatever male reactions the audience responds to their music that day. Like the “mermaids” of Greek mythology, they know how to swim in deep water and survive underwater.
SQM
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