How an East LA band uses music to reimagine community strength
Explore the sonic landscape of Quetzal's album 'Imaginaries'. This video introduces a collection that fuses traditional Mexican son jarocho with urban rock and R&B to move beyond narratives of community deficit.
Founded by guitarist Quetzal Flores following the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings, the group Quetzal uses their music as a vehicle for social commentary and activism. Their album 'Imaginaries', released on February 28, 2012, represents their first release for Smithsonian Folkways and the 35th entry in the Tradiciones/Traditions series.
The music explores an 'asset-based perspective' on community, a concept described by band member Martha Gonzales as a way to visualize and construct sustainable futures through decolonializing methods. The album features diverse compositions, from the environmental critique in '2+0+1+2=Five'—a 5/4 time piece featuring eerie vocals and lush strings—to the Veracruz-inspired 'Tragafuegos'.
Source: "Imaginaries" by Quetzal
