Radio Menea

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ENCORE: La Frontera Sep 13, 2024

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Selena deep cuts. Quinceañera classics. Borracho jams. We're continuing our streak of talking about music from la frontera this week by bringing back an episode with writer Yvonne Marquez. A native of Mission, Texas, Yvonne joins us to focus on the music of la frontera Tejana and to chat about our shared love of the Rio Grande Valley. Listen in for stories about kitchen dance parties, high school mariachi bands, and the best tamales spot in South Texas. Featuring music by Grupo Control, Jesika, La Mafia, Selena, Sofia Reyes and Ramón Ayala. Check out Yvonne's newest writing project Queer Futures: www.queerfutures.news Show notes: bit.ly/3TuVYRL

ENCORE: Selena's Amor Prohibido Sep 06, 2024

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Thirty years later, Selena’s magnum opus remains as relevant as ever. This week, we’re re-running a deep dive we did on this seminal album with the one and only Favy Fav. Co-host of Latinos Who Lunch and a dear friend of the podcast, artist Favy Fav is a MAJOR Selena stan. We get at the biggest hits, a few of the deep cuts, and revisit all of what makes Selena one of the greatest Latinx artists of all time. Featuring music by Selena. Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

Ep 260: The Border Aug 30, 2024

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The US-Mexico border is many things: a divisive political fact, a total fiction, home to many Latinx people and an arena of major cultural influence. For today’s episode, we take a look at some of the music that has arisen from this part of the country, and the social and political forces that influence life and art in this liminal space. Featuring music by Gaytan y Cantu, Los Tigres del Norte, Freddy Fender, Selena, Chalino Sanchez, Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, Natanael Cano, Bad Bunny, Los Tremendos Gavilanes. Show notes: bit.ly/4e5DSxQ Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

ENCORE: Juan Gabriel Aug 23, 2024

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Juan Gabriel was not just a singer and a songwriter - he was legendary. Over the years his songs brought us joy, his fabulous outfits gave us life, and his flamboyant performances served as the launchpad for countless family conversations about sexuality and gendered performance. For queer Latinxs, he was one of our icons. This episode, originally recorded shortly after his death, was Radio Menea’s first time dedicating an entire episode to one artist's life, music, and impact. Que en paz descanses, JuanGa - we'll never forget you. Featuring music by Juan Gabriel. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3YVppA8 Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

ENCORE: Chavela Vargas Aug 16, 2024

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We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes that dive deep into the careers of iconic artists. An unofficial queer icon, Chavela lived outside of gender norms during a time when it was risky to do so. Despite this, she made a name for herself in Mexico with her incredible voice, becoming especially known for her renditions of classic rancheras. A complicated person and singular talent, we revisit her legacy in today’s episode. Featuring music by Chavela Vargas. Show notes: bit.ly/4dGtE6C Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

ENCORE: Susana Baca Aug 09, 2024

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Living legend Susana Baca is responsible for bringing Afro-Peruvian rhythms to the world stage. An incredible singer, dancer and activist, Baca’s extensive catalog honors the deep cultural legacy of Afro-Peruvians, both thematically and rhythmically. This week we’re re-running an episode we originally ran for Black History Month, but Baca’s life and career deserves shines all year long. Featuring music by Susana Baca. Show notes: https://bit.ly/46GvG4j Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

Ep 259: Indigenous Instruments Aug 02, 2024

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To wrap up our summer series on indigenous music, in today's new episode we explore how indigenous instruments have contributed a wealth of dynamic sounds, melodies and beats to the music of Latin America. We focus on six instruments—three percussion, two wind and one string–-as an entry point into the impact of these instruments on music in the region. Featuring music by Los Kjarkas, Sonora Dinamita, Lila Tirando a Violeta, Ismael Rivera, Quilapayún, Internacionales Conejos and Simon Diaz. Show notes: bit.ly/4dvqouV Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

Encore: The Lambada Lie Jul 26, 2024

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We talk a lot about the influence of African people, instruments, and rhythms on Latinx music. But we know that indigenous peoples and musical traditions have also had an impact. This week we are re-running a deep dive we took into one of the most iconic examples of that influence from Los Kjarkas, an Andean folk group from Bolivia, whose iconic song Llorando Se Fue (aka La Lambada) inspired many covers and samples, from the 80s until today. Featuring music by Los Kjarkas, Kaoma, Wisin y Yandel, Don Omar, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Marcia Ferreira. Show notes: bit.ly/3Aljwyh Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

Encore: Luzmila Carpio Jul 19, 2024

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This month we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes focused on indigenous music, and this week we’re bringing back a deep dive into Luzmila Carpio, an indigenous Bolivian singer. Her songs, inspired by the sounds of bird song, streams, and the land she grew up on, have brought Quechua and Aymara sonic traditions and stories of indigenous resistance around the globe. Featuring music by Luzmila Carpio, Captain Planet, Pusisuyu Sikuthalas, and Nicola Cruz. Show notes: Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

Encore: Indigenous Artists Jul 12, 2024

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Originally aired during the thanksgiving season, we're bringing back this early days Indigenous artists episode for a lil indigenous summer series. We're giving you a little antidote to colonialist revisionist history by bringing indigenous artists who are making music that emphasizes their roots, integrating indigenous languages, instrumentation, and cultural references. We hope that you'll hear evidence that the colonial project has failed - indigenous cultures today are alive despite it all, and this small sampling of dynamic and diverse bodies of work is a tiny taste of that lucha. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3W3FJfb Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin

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