rocknroll_n_blues_queens | From Y La Bamba and Tragos Amargos

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Y La Bamba - Juniper (Music Video)

Y La Bamba beautifully blend Mexican and American heritage on Lupon

The band's debut harmoniously blends the story of intergenerational clashes of culture
There are two immediate traits that emanate from Luz Elena Mendoza, the main singer and songwriter behind Portland’s folk-art-rock-indie-conjunto ensemble Y La Bamba: her tattoos and her voice. Both are expressive embellishments of Mendoza’s animated personality, which exudes a casual ease mixed with a driven intensity. In conversation, Mendoza’s voice comes off both strong and warm, as she languidly mixes in personal anecdotes from her childhood to stories of politely warding off unwanted attention from a nagging stranger. In essence, Mendoza is much like her music, a blend of comfort and energy, all of which is showcased in fine form on Y La Bamba’s debut full-length Lupon (Tender Loving Empire).

As a first generation American of Mexican immigrant parents, Mendoza is quick to note the influence her family has on her music, as she says, “I was raised listening to and worshipping and learning how to sing to all this music that surrounded my life, including cumbia music, corridos, and old-school Mexican folk songs that my Dad was obsessed with.” The relationship between Mendoza and her father comes up a few times as she paints her story and is also examined on Lupon itself. Raised in a rather traditional Mexican home, in which girls were discouraged to express themselves loudly, Mendoza was also encouraged to exercise her natural signing talent for worship—the juxtaposition causing a tension that developed between father and daughter.MORE

Y La Bamba - November

Q & A with Y La Bamba's Luz Elena Mendoza

Luz Elena Mendoza is a striking figure. The tall (my note from another interview: 6 feet tall), tattooed Mendoza is as nonchalantly commanding offstage as she is when she’s fronting the ever-rising Y La Bamba. She’s an even presence, but one that’s quick to delve into philosophical questions about spirituality, connecting with your roots, and the ever-shifting relationship between artist, art and audience. That pensiveness has found its way into the very marrow of Y La Bamba’s debut LP Lupon.

That album finally comes out September 28th on Tender Loving Empire, and the band is celebrating with a CD release show this Friday at Mississippi Studios.
From “Monster” to “Memories of a Poor Start,” from beginning to end, Lupon is a delicate meditation on person and place. The album, produced by Chris Funk of the Decemberists, was recorded nearly two years ago. But it was only after Y La Bamba signed with Tender Loving Empire earlier this year that the record finally found a place to unveil itself. When the release date was announced this summer, and the song “Juniper” was unleashed, it was instantly apparent that this album could not ignored.MORE

Y La Bamba - My Love is a Forest Fire
Y LA BAMBA "MY LOVE IS A FOREST FIRE" from Dugan O'Neal on Vimeo.

She has another band, Tragos Amargos, that has been folded into Y La Bamba. Really good stuff came out them too, unsurprisingly:)

Interview with Luz Elena Mendoza (Y La Bamba) With snippets of song inbetween.
Interview with Luz Elena Mendoza (Y La Bamba) from Election Song on Vimeo.

Sound Check: Y La Bamba

"Who's brave enough to live out what they speak? Count your blessings and give up all your dreams." These are the opening lines to the first song of their album, "Lupon." It is an odd couplet of almost contradictory sentiments. Why is Mendoza, who even looks like a personification of Guadalupe as rendered by Frida Kahlo, saying this? "Count what life has blessed you with, but give up your expectations," she says. "Start fresh, don't be afraid to give it all up."

In talking with Mendoza it becomes clear that this is something she can relate to. She has made heart-rending sacrifices for her independence and her artistry. "Lupon" is a reflection of this -- and of her ongoing struggle with faith, spirituality and, most of all, family.

"I grew up in a colorful Mexican family. I was born in California and all my family lived there and in Mexico. We were the only members of our family that moved to Oregon, so we'd often go visit back in California. My whole environment was pachangas, fiestas, quinceañeras, fights at weddings, good food, gossip." MORE

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