Have you heard about the first Latin alternative music festival happening this Saturday in Miami? Known as Miami Rock en Español, both residents and tourists alike will unite to celebrate the 20th anniversary of famous hotspot La Covacha. For this special event, Miami Rock en Español is honoring La Covacha’s success in the nightlife industry, while dedicating an entire evening solely to the best in Latin alternative music. From electro-pop to straight up rock ‘n’ roll, this highly anticipated concert will keep everyone dancing all the way through Sunday morning. While bands, such as Los Amigos Invisibles, Diva Gash, and Local 34 are going to perform and get the party started, it’s the Grammy nominated fusion band Locos Por Juana that’s keeping everyone buzzing. In time for this weekend’s festival, we spoke to Locos Por Juana front man Itagui who gives us exclusive details on what to expect on Saturday night, how Latinos are making their mark in the music industry, and why audiences can‘t get enough of “Miami’s best Latin band.”
nochelatina: Why was it important for Locos Por Juana to be part of Miami Rock en Español?
Itagui: I think it was very important because we’re from the city. We were one of the bands that put the city out there to the music industry and the Latin alternative scene. It can also be that we’re the first Latin alternative band from Miami that was nominated for a Grammy. To be part of this festival is to also to be a part of Miami’s history. The story of Locos Por Juana starts here in Miami. This is our home.
nocheLatina: Miami Rock en Español is being described as the first Latin alternative music festival in Miami. In your opinion, why do you think it has taken so long for Latinos in Miami to have a festival like this?
Itagui: The whole support for the festival is coming from people who live here and love Latin alternative music. That’s why the music Locos Por Juana plays has all these fusions of reggae, rock, and electronic because it represents how diverse our home is. Even the President of the Latin Grammys was telling me that this is the time to discover Latin alternative music because more people are going to appreciate it. This is an opportunity for many bands who’ve been working for years to finally present their music to a larger audience, and Miami is the ideal place to do that. There are some people who’re just wearing bling and rapping about nonsense. People are getting tired of that. Now is the time to do real music and inspire people to do something better for themselves. That’s more important than making money or getting fame. Having a good time doesn’t mean watching a fight break out at a club. It’s the music that matters and that’s the environment that we’re trying to create with this concert.
nocheLatina: What should people expect from this festival?
Itagui: We’re expecting everyone from Miami to show up. We want to give something special to our entire community. About two weeks ago we performed at Ludacris’ show in Miami. It was really incredible for someone like Ludacris to open up his concert for us. We were playing cumbia and everyone was enjoying the vibe. When we opened the concert, there were 6,000 kids there and this was not our crowd. It was really beautiful to see this audience enjoy all these different rhythms coming together. That is what we’re trying to do at the festival.
nocheLatina: Since Locos Por Juana is from Miami, how has the city influenced you musically?
Itagui: Miami is a city made of cultures mixing together. We all met in high school and this band was just a hobby. We were, and still are, friends who share ideas and want to make something happen together. I’m very honored that we’re now starting a huge tour in Europe and we’re having the new album come out there on June 20. It took a little longer for us to get there because we’re not trying to create one-hit wonders. Our goal is to make people remember us and appreciate the beauty of all the different Latin cultures that exist and are thriving.
nocheLatina: La Covacha is a popular venue for Latinos in Miami to go and party. Where are some of the band’s favorite places to go and have a good time when not performing?
Itagui: There are so many places to go and party in Miami! Miami has an incredible community of musicians from all over the world, so you can hear live music every night. We’re always finding ourselves in La Covacha when we just want to relax and meet with other musicians, which is why we were really excited to be part of Miami Rock en Espanol.
nocheLatina: Tell me something that few people know about you and the other band members.
Itagui: When we’re not making music, we’re doing art 24/7. I’m always painting. I just finished a job for Gibson’s GuitarTown, which is a display of 10-foot sculptures that are sponsored by different companies. The funds go to local art charities in Miami. Aside from painting, the band performs for children’s hospitals. It’s being said that kids suffering from autism have a positive reaction to music. We found a little cure there, which makes it more important than ever to provide music to children everywhere. We need to get more people involved with hospitals and that’s what we’re trying to do.
nocheLatina: I read that the name 'Locos Por Juana' is based on the idea that Juana could represent any Latina. Since you guys are known for singing a lot about women, which city that you have visited so far has the most beautiful women?
Itagui: There are beautiful women everywhere you go. I have a lot of respect for women, their beauty, and power. I love how they can inspire you to do things and become more creative.
nocheLatina: The press in Miami has called Locos Por Juana 'Miami’s best Latin band.' As an artist, how does this make you feel?
Itagui: It’s really nice to have a city like Miami give you such an honor. I’m just proud to be able to represent my music and where I come from. Locos Por Juana tries to bring a little bit of Miami to every concert we give. We’re representing the city that we were raised in and how it was a place where we would go to the beach every Saturday and eat different types of Latin food everyday.
nocheLatina: Everyone was talking about when the band was first nominated for a Grammy award. What was that experience like?
Itagui: It was an amazing experience. We worked on La Verdad with all of our hearts. It was the result of many years of traveling everywhere we can go, writing, and performing for 10 people, leading to us playing for 10,000. It was a journey, a labor of love, and in that process we found many truths that became the themes to this album. The Grammy nomination meant that the music industry was giving us their respect for our hard work.
nocheLatina: Are there any final thoughts that you would like to let readers know before the show this Saturday?
Itagui: I want to invite everyone to come hear the music of Miami. We have an incredible lineup of musicians who are also great friends of mine. We’re all ready to inspire people, so it’s going to be an incredible night that no one is ever going to forget.
For more info on Miami Rock en Español or to purchase tickets, click here.
