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Happy Holidays

I hope you all have a great winter break!

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A brief history of Salsa

Back in my senior year of high school, I wrote a monograph about the history of Salsa music and its relation to the Puerto Rican identity. I grew very interested in how this vastly popular style of music came to be. So, I decided to come here and tell you all about the origin of Salsa music.

It all started in New York City, during the 1960s. Back then it wasn’t called Salsa, it was just Cuban folk music played in new and interesting ways. The event that caused the term and the genre itself to be as widely known was a concert played in August of 1971 at El Cheetah. This is the first time the Fania All-Stars played live and it turned into a huge boom that thrust Salsa music into the spotlight.

The true history of Salsa is long and complicated, much too long to write down on this post. Luckily, there exists a very large book written by Cesar Miguel Rondon titled The Book of Salsa, which encompasses the history of Salsa in its entirety.

Like usual I’m going to leave you with a couple new artist to listen to for you to broaden your musical horizons. These include Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Ray Barreto, among others.

Being from Puerto Rico this type of music is heavily intertwined with my native culture. I grew up listening to the greats of Salsa and dancing at Christmas parties. For Puerto Ricans, who have had such a massive problem with their own identity because of the constantly fluctuating political status and the complete and utter disregard the US has for the last remaining colony in the world.

Reference:

- Rondón César Miguel, and Leonardo Padura Fuentes. El Libro De La Salsa: crónica De La música Del Caribe Urbano. Ediciones B, 2004. 

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Latinx Futurism

The widespread acknowledgment and empowerment of minorities in recent years, portraying themselves as the future norm of society is part of a philosophy called Futurism. Much like how Afrofuturism places African Americans front and center of what is to come in history, Latinx Futurism pays attention to the feats of Latinxs.

Some examples of its influence in pop culture can be found from books to TV, to music. Artists like the Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, and big theater productions like the brand-new Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse, whose protagonist is an African American/ Puerto Rican teen living in New York City.

Standing up for the recognition that the Latinx community deserves is a step in the right direction for what is to come and it should inspire people of all colors and creed to stand together in union, to see one another as equals, and to understand the true value of human beings as a whole. Modern showings of Latinxs in the spotlight pave the way for the next generations to live in the world they want, the way they want to live in it. Now a day we are seeing more and more of Latinx pride flooding mainstream channels, thrusting further out into the universe, where it has all the space it needs to truly blossom into a great fiery flower that will shine brighter than any sun.

References:

-Entertainment, Sony Pictures. “SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE - Official Trailer #2 (HD).” YouTube, YouTube, 2 Oct. 2018,  www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg52up16eq0. 

- “Futurism Movement, Artists and Major Works.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement-futurism.htm. 

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A New Look on Country Music

I dislike country music. There, I said it. It has to be my most hated music genre by far. I truly don’t know why me and it just don’t work well together. Nonetheless, I decided to try and listen to some for as long as I could. My thought going into this were that I was going to feel sick, I wasn’t going to last more than a few minutes, and that after this I'm never listening to it again. I was pleasantly surprised later on.

The reason I chose to do this was because I read a tweet by Lin-Manuel Miranda that read “Real talk: This album is outrageously good.”, in reference to the Grammy nomination of Brandi Carlile for record, song, and album of the year. I did not know who this person was so I looked them up. Turns out she is a country music star. You can imagine my reaction to seeing this, but I thought, maybe I should listen to it. I did.

My memory of the foulness that accompanied country music was ever present in my mind while I listened, yet I found myself enjoying the music. The melodies were catchy, the soft and heartfelt stories Carlile told had me focusing even more while I listened. Perhaps my assumption that all country music is bad was unfounded although just because I liked some songs doesn’t mean I like them all.

It felt nice to try something different, refreshing even. This doesn’t mean that country music and I are best friends now, but I think we could start getting to know each other better. I believe it’s more of an acquired taste, rather than being enjoyed from the get-go. What are some things you don’t like but wouldn’t mind giving it another chance? Until next time!

Reference:

- Carlile, Brandi. By the Way, I Forgive You, 2018.

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The Power of Gospel

I am not the religious type. Never been on to believe in God or anything of the sort. I rarely go to church unless my mother asks me to. The service is usually just stuff I’ve been hearing my whole life, so I end up tuning it out. Although, one thing does grab my attention, gospel music. Have you ever sat down to listen to church music? I have to say, the lyrics are pretty bland and repetitive, always saying to praise God and worship his miracles, but what I really like is the power this music holds. I don’t mean spiritual or holy power, I’m talking about the literal force behind it. It generates pressure in the room that can be felt, religious or not.

What is the reason for this strength that resides in the gospel? I believe it to be the large choirs that have become so characteristic in this genre. Composed of tens of people, the choir multiples the vibrations that we normally produce while speaking, resulting in increased power from the music.

This choir effect can also be incorporated into any other piece of music that is looking for some extra force in their delivery. An example I like of this utilization of the choir for other musical styles is in Kanye West’s Ultralight Beam. The song begins with the short chorus sang by Kanye with no other voices along with him. Right after he sings the same chorus again, but this time with a full choir backing him up. The addition of the choir causes a subliminal change in tone to occur that completely changes the feeling of the rest of the five-minute song.

The power of gospel music or one could also say that the power of the church and religion as a whole comes from its strength in numbers. All of the extra voices raise the power level of the songs, but without coordination and teamwork, it would be just that, some brute force. It’s the subtleties that perfect the choir effect, allowing it to make more beautiful sounds and harmonies that reach out into the hearts of all.

Reference:

-West, Kanye. “Ultralight Beam.” The Life of Pablo.

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I have been obsessed with this album for the past couple of weeks. Why don't you give it a listen?  

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The Jazz Book

Every musical genre has a history tied closely to the circumstances which gave rise to that particular style of music. As seen with the musical movements of the last hundred years, these new forms of categorization have shown a tendency of originating from the strife and difficulty of entire communities, generally minorities. Take jazz for example; emerging during the time of the Jim Crow laws of the early 1900s in New Orleans as a means for African-American citizens to make something that belonged completely to them, and to seek union during pressing times.

Segregation marginalized black and other minorities from the white class of society. This period came up with the phrase “Separate but Equal”, whose objective was to make seem like, even though the races lived separately from one another, they still shared the same quality of life. This, as we all know, was nothing but a farce set up by the high class to numb the public into compliance; tricking their moral compass into believing there is no evil in what they are doing.

Faced with seemingly impossible odds, some members of the black community began to normalize their current socio-economic and political standing. People of color were harassed, assaulted, and abused simply because of their existence; and in response to the high risk associated with being black while traveling, Victor Green, an African American US postal employee, wrote a travel guide intended to keep black people safe and away from the dangers of traveling while black. Covering everything from hotels, to restaurants, to barber shops, this helpful tool was essential for any black person going anywhere, be it somewhere known or new. Green kept making changes and additions to the guide with every new edition released till 1964, the year in which it ceased publication. It was titled The Green Book.

Curious about the music scene of the time, I decided to make my own miniature version of The Green Book called “The Jazz Book”. Here I’m going to list a few of the top jazz musicians of the 1930s.

Starting with Louis Armstrong; with a Grammy Award and an entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, saying Armstrong was a really good jazz player is an understatement. The sound of his trumpet is iconic and shines clear through on any track he ever worked on. Some album listening recommendations include: “What a wonderful world”, “Louis”, and anything with Ella Fitzgerald in it.

Following Armstrong, we have Duke Ellington, one of the most influential black artists in all of America. He received acknowledgments from two presidents, received 13 Grammies, won the Pulitzer Prize, and the list goes on. One of my favorite Duke Ellington records is titled “Duke Ellington & John Coltrane”.

My final recommendation is John Hammond, who dropped out of Yale in 1931 to pursue his music career. He actively spoke in favor the African American community who dominated the jazz scene and brought together people of both races to play together. My recommendation would be to listen to his 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall.

This concludes my job of giving you all a little insight into the history of different music genres. Until next time.

Reference:

- The Negro Motorist Green-Book. Victor H. Green, 1941.

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I leave you here a picture of the famous Stradivarius violin, some of which are valued at over a million dollars.

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Some tips for the future musician

Learning to play an instrument is hard work. I speak from experience here. It requires many hours of practice and dedication. But it’s definitely nothing close to impossible. Some of you may be thinking about picking up an instrument for the first time, and as such, you may have doubts about how to go about it. And so, I’ve come here with the help of someone much wiser than me, to offer you all tips on how to start off on the right foot with your new venture.

I came up with five questions to ask my teacher while planning which would be the ones to most likely to be on your minds. To relay the answers clearly, I decided to give this next part a Q&A like structure to make it easier to digest.

excerpts from interview

Q: Would you please present yourself for our readers?

A: My name is Ramonita Leandry. I am currently a music professor at the Music Conservatorium of Puerto Rico and also at “La Libre de Musica”. I specialize in teaching to play the violin.

[…]

Q: How do I start the process of picking out an instrument?

A: Well, the main thing is to choose something that grabs your attention. It’s important to show a genuine interest in playing that particular instrument.

Q: What if I don’t like the instrument I picked?

A: If you feel like what you selected isn’t right for you then there’s no shame in setting it down and choosing something different. This is just one big learning experience, and so it’ll take time.

Q: Do I need to know music theory before starting to play?

A: Frankly, yes. Understanding the fundamentals of music is a necessity if you are thinking of taking your instrument seriously. Without it you wouldn’t be able to read the notes you have to play or efficiently keep time in the back of your mind while playing.

Q: Can I teach myself to play?

A: You could… but you should very much consider finding a teacher. I’ve known many self-taught players who show much promise but ultimately fall short because of mistakes that were never corrected during their infancy. Having someone monitor your growth and keep you from turning small mistakes into big flaws is invaluable for your future as a musician.

Q:  What if I’m not seeing any progress?

A: Be patient. Patience is by far the most important skill that an aspiring musician could have. You are going to trip and fall countless times while you’re learning, and each and every one of those times you will have to get back up. There are no shortcuts in music. Hard work and dedication are the only things that will improve your play. Believe me, all of those long hours of practicing will pay off soon. You just have to hang on tight for some time longer.

end interview

There you have it, five questions I thought you’d like the answer to. Getting better isn’t easy, you have to work hard for that, really hard. Practice makes perfect. Don’t place limits on yourself. Go out there and try new things, activities you never thought you would do. Remember to live your life without any regrets.  

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Hedwig and his Rock n’ Roll

Music is a wonderful thing. It has the ability to transmit ideas, thoughts, and emotion across to almost anyone else in the world. Most of us have had some sort of encounter, on a deeper level, with this art form. We’ve all had our times when we’re feeling like, for some reason, we can’t do anything right. Felt angry, disappointed, betrayed. Music becomes a type of stress reliever, and, more importantly, a way to free any feelings that might be gnawing at you from the inside. I saw a movie recently where I felt this power of music could be observed from a different vantage point. Its titled Hedwig and the angry inch.

The movie Hedwig and the angry inch is a film adaptation of the Broadway play by the same name. It shows us glimpses into the life of Hedwig, the lead singer of a mostly unsuccessful rock band, as she travels around to perform at small gigs. While following her present situation we are also shown how she came to be who she is today. She was born a German boy named Hansel, in communist Berlin during the Cold War. There she met an American G.I. named Luther who promised to take her with him into the States as his wife, but first, she would need to have a sex change operation. After the botched procedure, she moved with Luther to America, where he abandoned her in a trailer they had been living in.

Hedwig went on to face even more hardships when her lover goes on to steal her songs and become a rock star off of Hedwig’s blood and sweat. Eventually, she managed to disprove her ex-lover and became an acclaimed artist herself.

Her songs became a deeply personal part of her that she chose to share with others. Hedwig, like so many other people, found solace in words that came to her from far away and in song. Music has become a haven for rejects and outcasts. A place to shine as brightly as they were meant to, because, in here, there is no one that will try to block out your light.

Reference:

- Mitchell, John Cameron, director. Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 2001.

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Going Back

This week I gave myself the task of going back and revisiting some songs and seeing how they’ve changed since the last time I heard them. I know that doesn’t make sense. You must be asking yourself “How can a song change after you’ve already heard it?” and that’s exactly what I’m here to explain to you. As many of you have probably noticed already, the way in which we interpret or feel a piece of music can completely change depending on our state of mind at that moment. This also alters what kind of music you prefer to listen to during a certain moment. Listening to music sets you off on a journey to places you never would’ve thought of going. It can transport you to the other side of the world or thrust you into the mindscape of another person. That was my goal for this week, to go back and see how these “places” I’ve been to before have changed since my last visit.

It’s been a while since I sat down and listened to Telephone, the first mixtape released by the up and coming rap artist known as Noname a.k.a. Fatimah Warner. I say up and coming but she’s been making ripples in the music world for a couple years now. Having made appearances in 2013 on other artist’s albums like Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap and Mike Jenkins’ Trees and Truths, Warner was inspired to produce her own mixtape. Telephone debuted in 2016, after three years in production, along with a total of 11 featured artists. A little over 33 minutes long, for a relatively short mixtape, Noname’s first production is jam-packed with deep thoughts, simple yet highly enjoyable beats, and an overall likeness that warrants another listen after you’re done.

I first listened to this mixtape it was off of a recommendation from a friend. When I finally put in my headphones and hit play I was really caught by surprise by the kindness and softness that Noname showed in her raps. Up until that point, the only rap music I’d listened to had been this tough and threatening rap. My main reference being artists like Kendrick Lamar, whose strong ideas and personal experience with racial injustice fueled the fire that gave his lyrics a hard-hitting kick, driving through the point he wants to make with every word spoken. I was unaware that hip-hop could be imbued with qualities like the ones that Warner gave her songs. Impactful without smashing it on your face, truthful, and gentle. It welcomes you into this safe place where you don’t have to be afraid of who you are, far away from the judgment of others.

For me of two years ago, these songs came as a light in the dark. I was in a kind of rut. Not doing so great in school and sneaking around smoking cigarettes instead of studying. Felt horrible about the state I was in but I was too lazy to do anything about it. I looked like the embodiment of sloth. Drifting aimlessly along space, being pushed and pulled by the currents. That was until I listened to the song titled: Reality Check. Here Warner spoke about her own mistakes and how she had to come to a realization about what she was doing. This is said explicitly on this track but if you listen carefully you can spot lines like these riddles across the entire mixtape:

“Opportunity knockin’, it's finally time to answer

The doorbell was only broken cause auntie was fighting cancer

And cigarettes on my mantle keep calling me by my first name

Loving me when I’m lonely, pretending they really know me”

Images of her addiction and trying to drop the bad habit resonated with the younger me. Coming to the realization that what I was doing could hurt does around me and also put in danger my health scared me enough so as to stop smoking. Not that the urge wasn’t constantly tugging at my side, nonetheless, I tried fighting back as hard as I could.  

That’s what happened the first time I experienced Noname’s Telephone. It’s been two years since it all happened and more or less the same amount of time since I last heard the mixtape. When I sat down earlier this week to hear it I found myself flooded with memories from two years ago. I flashed back to late nights on the terrace with a lit cigarette between my fingers and looking up to the dark sky in search of answers to my problems. From my new point of view, I can see how much hearing those words spoken by Warner helped my past self overcome obstacles and get ahead. I could still feel that same sense of protection and acceptance that I felt when I first hear the mixtape. This place hasn’t changed much since the last time I was here. I think the one that has changed has been me. Maybe I’ve matured more than I thought I had. Now I’m seeing things in a different light than before, and I’m showing my appreciation for life and the opportunities I’m granted. Telephone got me past some stuff I’m not sure I could’ve gotten past on my own. Saying I’m thankful isn’t enough to truly encompass what I feel for this wonderful, incredible piece of art that found me when I needed to be found.

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A little bit about me

After spending the last 18 years living on this planet as a short stature, long-haired, light-brown skinned, socially awkward, big-nosed, clever, myopic, jokester, uncontrolled, and unkempt mess, I have come to gain a particular view of the world, and as I see it, what better way to begin to understand who I am then to step into my shoes for a couple of seconds and experience, well, me.

Let’s start from the beginning, or better yet, I’ll quickly narrate over the more important bits so that we can hurry it up to the good parts. It all started when my parents met each other while at church after their best friends, respectively, coincidentally invited them both to go there that night. One thing led to another and “bing bada boom” they were newlyweds, moving in together, and expecting a child. Shortly after, the greatest and most self-centered being to ever live was brought forth into the universe by the hands of God himself. (There should be a pause after that last sentence, added for dramatic effect.) On October 13th I was born to two loving parents and to a world that was falling to pieces.

Fast forwarding through a generically uneventful childhood we come to a stop on the first semester of 7th grade. Those were, most definitely, the worst times for poor, innocent me. Having just switched to a new school, I didn’t know anyone there so adapting took a while. But to make a long story short, I ended up developing a huge crush on a girl that only ever saw me as a friend, and being this the period of my life that I would denominate as my “awkward phase”, where everything seems out of place, I wound up turning into that weird, cringy, kid who’s in your class that doesn’t really know when to shup up and if left alone will, for sure, start a fire in places where fires shouldn’t be started.

A couple years later I outgrew my illogical fear of people and interactions with them. My chest no longer trembled with the scared yelp of my heartbeat as it felt itself nearing closer to the place I dreaded so much, school. Although irrational, for a full four years I felt lost and vulnerable as I coursed through my early high school years. That was until I finally found my little group of friend whom I adore so much, even today they are a huge pillar of support for me. No matter what I’d say or do they always understand, value, and accept me as a human being.

           Later in 11th grade I met my beautiful girlfriend; let me tell you, that girl has saved my bacon more than I can count, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without all the help she has given me since we started dating. If life was more like a movie then I would probably end up marrying her. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind doing so. But anyways, let’s keep going.  

It’s impossible to tell you who I am in just the few words but I hope you get an idea as to how I am. If you saw even a glimpse of my true self while you read this, then I am satisfied with what I’ve done here. If not, then I invite you to stay, keep reading my thoughts and feelings. I also aspire to connect with you, please, full heartedly, ask me anything, at all, and I will try to respond in any way I can.

If you take anything from what I’ve said here with you after you’re done, let it be this. Life is short and difficult, any help that you can find to make your journey easier is welcome, be it in the form of friends and family or through an activity that you enjoy, remember that you only have one life, careful not to let it pass you by.