LA SANTA CECILIA, a band with faith in Music.

La Santa Cecilia

La Santa Cecilia, a band with faith in Music.

La Santa Cecilia is a Mexico American band creating music with Latin-American influences. They will be visiting Denver August 23rd as part of a very special fundraising event for the Museo de las Americas.

“Treinta Dias” their most recent album has hits like “Hielo” and “Monedita”. 

La Santa Cecilia, Pepe Carlos (Accordion and Requinto), Alex Bendaña (Bass), Miguel Ramirez (Percussion) and Marisol Hernandez la Marisoul (voice) talked about their beginnings, their music and what is ahead in the future for this band and why the sky is the limit.

How did you meet?

Marisoul: Pepe Carlos and I met during our teen years. We used to play in a street in L.A named Plaza Olvera, we played Boleros individually, we became friends and invited Miguel Hernandez to see our gigs. We always talked about how beautiful it would have been having the chance to create our music, tell people our own stories, that was the way we put together La Santa Cecilia. Later we met Alex who became part of the group.

Santa Cecilia is the patroness of musicians. It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". Is that what La Santa Cecilia wants to do with the audience, sing to our hearts?

Miguel: I think one of the most beautiful things you can create with music is that connection with your own feelings or everyone else feelings. As musicians we aim to connect with people and their faith. In our case that faith is music, however, for them that faith can have roots in a goal, a dream, anything and awaking that faith for them to feel motivated is fundamental to us. Helping people to escape their routines and remind them their feelings, roots, sadness and happiness, how beautiful life is, that is our goal.

Your song El Hielo or Ice has caused a little commotion because of the lyrics and the video. Where did you get the inspiration for the song?

Pepe Carlos: Hielo was written by the band in collaboration with the writer and composer Claudia Brant.

We got together one day trying to pass on all those experiences we have been through with the band. In my case as a illegal immigrant in addition to what we see everyday as immigrant’s kids created the motivation to talk about the matter in this song. Watching T.V how people get deported when all they are doing is contributing to the economy, to the culture of this country and how the situation in the US is getting worst for us. We had to talk about it.

Is it hard to sing Hielo?

Marisoul: The first time we played the song was during our first visit to Washington D.C at the Kennedy Center. When we sang it was very hard because of the way people were reacting to the lyrics, to what we had to say about it. This song has taken us in a journey where our voice has joined the voice of millions. It is not easy to sing it, there is a lot of emotions involve because we are talking about something that is too real.

New Label house, Universal Latino; New album, “Treinta dias”; There is the belief that big companies usually restrain the creativity of the artist in the benefits of sales. Do you think this alliance will let you keep developing your own voice?

Miguel: In our case with Universal, It has been very positive. They have supported us all the way and let us free to create. They have not interfered in our creative process, they have been happy when we have shown our ideas. We are free to be who we are and write about what is important to us and nothing has change.

Immigration, conservation of water and environment are some of the causes very close to La Santa Cecilia, how do you decide the causes that are important to you?

Miguel: It has to have a personal fondness for each one of us. When we get together and go on tour, we talk about what is affecting is and little by little things start to happen.

Marisoul: Also, when we got together, we had the dream to tell our stories, but we never had the idea to be a political band, lets change the world and sing songs motivated on that. We wanted to make music and experiment with different rhythms and express our emotions.

Alex: For us it is important to give back to the community as well. Giving back, supporting causes, fundraisers, museums, etc, we think is the right thing to do.

La Santa Cecilia is coming to Denver to perform in a Benefit concert for Museo de las Americas, however, you are going to have a “platica” with some students in the East High School, what is this about?

Marisoul: First, we are very excited about having this platica. What we want to talk about with this group of young people is about what it represents to be latino, to be immigrant and that is a positive thing to stick to your traditions, language and that is possible to mix all these elements and be an American. When one is young the need to identify with something is very important and when we grow up we finally understand that we can celebrate all the beautiful things we have in life. It is important for the youth to get on to the idea that having two roots, two cultures is the New American.

What is more important for La Santa Cecilia, Success or making the music with the message that you want?

Marisoul: I think both. We are doing it. We signed with Universal, presented Hielo to the company and explained how important was the song to us. Universal did not try to change our idea, they were with us and we did it. Talking, singing and being what we want to be and at the same time aim to be successful is possible.

What is in the future for you guys?

Marisoul: Now we are going to keep promoting our new album “Treinta Dias”, we are going to Boston, keep touring in the US. Then to the studio to record new song for the new album and a couple of surprises on the way...

These guys are simple, friendly and very grounded. It was a delight to talk to them. Since, sadly, you don't have that privilege, experience their concert. I am sure it is going to be a hit and you should be there, enjoying the music while helping our very own Museo de las Americas.

La Santa Cecilia

Concert Info here.

By Loren Escandon