Friday morning arrived with some other sessions on new spaces for Latin music, the digital arena and the challenges it creates for musicians and one last session on radio and it’s real power this days. This panels happen with a small crowd attending, mostly newcomers to the conference. Later we went to Brooklyn to hear the super powerful Kinky raising temperature on an already hot and humid summer night. This band mix electronic beats with Mexican music from the north, and is really worth seeing live.

Kinky

Closing on Saturday, there was a panel on the situation of women in the industry. Andrea Echeverri, lead singer of Aterciopelados made some interesting remarks on how badly women are portrayed in musical videos and advertising these days, and the problems it carries all over the continent. In her opinion, Latinas are worse now than 15 years ago, because now they need to pretend to be meaner, sexier or just bitchier to make an impression and be respected.

Andrea Echeverri

This is an event that lets American people open their eyes and ears to Latin music. Broad in range and styles, well organized in venues and options, there is a lot to discover. The only comment would be on the panels, since they are only sessions to discuss, with no multimedia support. It would be great to have slides, sound or video in these, to let people that don’t know well the culture or the actual trends in the industry have a proper understanding of the issues raised.

The 6th Annual Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC)
Date: August 3rd – 6th, 2005
Place: Central Park etc.
info@latinalternative.com
https://www.latinalternative.com