Summer in the Global Village: Catching up with Kinky and closing out LAMC

The final few days at the 2012 Latin Alternative Music Conference were filled with free outdoor shows. The last nighttime event was the Calle 13, Ana Tijoux, and Ritmo Machine show at Celebrate Brooklyn. Thousands of people were turned away at the gate and had to watch from behind the perimeter fence. Calle 13′s Nuyorican fanbase was out in full effect as evidenced by the flags being waved… not just the US-sanctioned star and bars, but many Lares nationalist flags as well. The group’s driving reggaeton and hip hop sound is guided by frontman Residente and vocalist/sister PG-13, and the Brooklyn crowd couldn’t get enough.

Early the next day I sat down with Mexico’s Kinky… one of the most successful “Latin Alternative” acts around. When their first album dropped back in 2002 several tracks were immediately licensed for commercial use (a ubiquitous Nissan commercial being the most prevalent example). Though that wasn’t a new phenomenon, what was new was that it was a Spanish-language act getting that kind of visibility in the mainstream US market.

We talked at length about what they’re up to these days and the unusual path their career has taken over the years. Have a look at the video I produced using footage from our interview, their Summerstage show, and tracks from their latest album “Sueño de la Maquina.”

The conference ended with a blowout show back at Central Park’s Summerstage. As I walked in Argentina’s old guard ska-punk outfit Los Autenticos Decadentes was in full swing. The mosh pit swirled into a frenzy as they launched into their hit “La Guitarra” and the temperatures soared alongside the chants of a crowd shouting along with every lyric.

Kinky took the stage for the final LAMC showcase. They mentioned in our chat that they’d recently been spending most of their time in Mexico, so NYC fans expecting the full Kinky experience were not disappointed. Their formula of electronic beats mixed with catchy pop hooks works well and even older hits still sound fresh. One of their new tracks “Negro Día,” is a collaboration with fellow LAMC artist Mala Rodriguez, in which her hard edged femininity complements their grit. A clip from the song’s neo-psychedelic video appears with our interview, so have a look.

Up next for Summer in the Global Village: Carnaval arrives early in Brooklyn.