MUSIC SIN FRONTERAS

La Santa Cecelia: new song, new tour (and I missed it)

Well, I missed La Santa Cecelia play at the C3 in Guadalajara. I had tried to pull a group together to see La Marisoul and the LSC band play in my favorite nightclub, but somehow, it just never came together. I was very disappointed when it became evident that schedules just were not going to mesh.

LSC was on my radio show several times in LA and I talked with La Marisol at the last FIMgdl music convention, so she and the band are people I follow and admire. Not only is their music addictive, but they are always finding ways to make the world a better place.

So, while I kick myself for missing their show, I have their latest song to console myself with, Los Anos.

Los Anos was released by La Santa Cecilia in late January 2025. It is a “soft” cumbia with elements of bolero and regional Mexican music. Its theme revolves around a romantic relationship that endures over time, with a nostalgic feel to the composition.

The song was a prelude to LSC’s Mexican tour, which I just missed. The song showcases La Santa Cecilia’s ability to blend different musical styles, which has been a characteristic of their work throughout their 17-year career, a long time for a band to stay together.

For those who may not know them, LSC is a band based in Los Angeles, California, that was formed in 2007, and named after Santa Cecilia, the martyred patron saint of musicians. Their music represents a bicultural identity, deeply rooted in their Mexican heritage while embracing contemporary American sounds. La Santa Cecilia has a history of creating music that combines various genres, including cumbia, bolero, bossa nova, and rock, In my humble opinion, “Los Años” happily continues this trend of genre-blending.

The core members of La Santa Cecilia are Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez (lead vocals), Jose “Pepe” Carlos (accordion and requinto), Miguel “Oso” Ramirez (percussion), and Alex Bendaña (bass). Additional members include Andres Torres (drums) and Marco Sandoval (guitar). La Marisoul, known for her powerful and emotive vocals and swift and funny repartee on stage, began her musical journey as a child, singing on the streets of Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Pepe Carlos, the band’s accordionist, has a personal connection to the immigrant experience, having crossed the border with his parents at the age of six.

La Santa Cecilia has worked themselves up from the street corners to the heights of the music industry. Their breakthrough came in 2014 when they won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for their full-length studio album “Treinta Días”. This success was followed by nominations in the same category for their albums “Buenaventura” in 2017 and “Y Vivir” in 2018. The band has also been nominated for Latin Grammy Awards, including a nomination for their debut single “La Negra” from their first album “Noche y Citas” in 2011.

The last time I saw LSC they were playing at Walt Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles, and La Marisoul pointed out that a few years earlier they were playing on the street in front of the same hall for tips. Quite a success story.

The band also uses their platform to advocate for social causes, particularly immigration reform. Their song “El Hielo (ICE)” became an anthem for undocumented immigrants in the United States and was featured in a New York Times article. In 2014, they had the honor of performing at the LULAC luncheon in New York, where La Marisoul sang the national anthem for First Lady Michelle Obama and over 1,500 Latino leaders.

La Marisoul became a mother in 2020 and has said in interviews that motherhood has definitely affected her music and her career. Sometimes she takes her daughter on tour and she lets slip that her daughter likes certain songs from their new album, indicating that her child’s tastes may follow her mom’s. Many fans hope that it also means a second generation of LSC is in the wings. That would certainly make the world a better place.

Patrick O’Heffernan

Patrick O’Heffernan, PhD., is a music journalist and radio broadcaster based in Los Angeles, California, with a global following. His two weekly radio programs, MusicFridayLive! and MusicaFusionLA are heard nationwide and in the UK. He focuses on two music specialties: emerging bands in all genres, and the growing LA-based ALM genre (American Latino Music) that combines rock and rap, blues and jazz and pop with music from Latin America like cumbia, banda, jarocho and mariachi. He also likes to watch his friend drag race.