The feisty Sevillian María La Mala Rodriquez talks about her career as a Spanish hip-hop artist. True to her “southern” roots, she often drops her “s” sounds, the way Carolina mentions in her clip on the various accents of Spain.

Arriving in December of ‘71, a young Arturo Vega decides that it is New York where he is going to clavar, or stay put. His journey began in Mexico, where he began his artistic life as an actor and participant in experimental theater or “happenings”—an art form which was not well received by the powers that be in that country.

A little research tells us that the musical comedy Arturo did with Héctor Suárez at the Teatro de los Insurgentes was Sigue tu onda (Follow Your Wave), a Spanish language adaptation of a Broadway show known to American theater-goers as Your Own Thing. Soon Arturo himself would be heading to New York on a tip from Paul McCartney’s agent that he could land a spot in Hair...

“Rock en español” is what we refer to the relatively new movement of musicians from Spanish speaking countries singing in their native language. Back in the sixties and seventies, these musicians were taken up with rock like much of the rest of the world, but they sang in English. Puerto Rican Carli Muñoz explains while looking back over his career.

Some people could see Arturo Vega as just a guy who happened to design the Ramones logo, but the truth is that he had to get his hands dirty with hard work, and that meant loading tons of equipment, manning the lights and basically doing whatever was needed by the band. The reward was great: thousands, maybe millions, wearing an image that he created.

Goy plays guitar and sings for Karamelo Santa, one of the best ska bands in Latin America. Argentina is the band’s homeland (they are practically from the Pampas). But the 7 boys with wild hair and wild songs do not sing around a Gaucho campfire; their sound reverberates in the world’s largest cities.

Here’s the second part of the interview with Goy of Karamelo Santo. They are among the leaders of their home country’s independent music scene (Argentina). All their records were self produced—the major labels just weren’t interested in a band which plays free shows for the unemployed and pokes fun at the international monetary fund.

The guys from Karamelo Santo are not only great musicians enjoying success far away from their hometown—they’re also really humble and contribute to new bands' careers in Mendoza. They know how hard the path is, and they’re happy to share their experiences with the very people who recognized them first.

In this video Goy talks about his family, his future as a musician and shares his point of view on piracy. Surely, these guys make music for the sake of music and have a great time sharing their work with the world. So, don’t be shy and take a look at this eclectic, funky and interesting band!

Bajofondo is the fusion of different musicians from the Río de la Plata area, Uruguayans and Argentineans. In 2003, they won the Latin Grammy for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” for their new genre: Electronic Tango. We interviewed Luciano Supervielle and Martín Ferres after a show in Germany about their most recent European tour.

Depedro is the solo project of Spanish singer and guitar player Jairo Zavala. Here, Yabla talks to the talented musician from Madrid about his exploration of Latin American pop, picking up new instruments on tour in Mexico, his musical beginnings and his appearances with U.S.-based Calexico.

The Peruvian group Novalima took a break from their European tour for an interview. Learn about the branching out and coming back together that the band members went through to achieve their rich and eclectic sound.

Continue learning about what specific kinds of music go into the mix to make the special sound that is Novalima.

Novalima mixes Peruvian folk music with electronic beats. Touring has become an important source of inspiration. That’s how they translate their musical roots onto the dance floor. Universal tunes with local sounds!

Novalima is very aware of the importance of Peruvian folk music, not just in their sound but in another musical genres as well. Paco de Lucía, a Spanish flamenco musician, might have made the sound of the “cajón” (a box-like musical instrument) famous, but that sound is Peruvian as it gets.