Assemble the chambelán: the Latin Alternative Music Conference descends upon New York City this July 8 – 12 to ring in its quinceañera. This week the festival announces its lineup of some of the best in Latin alternative for the annual festival-curated Indie Showcase, set to take over the Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, July 9th. This year’s showcase features up-and-coming talent Caloncho (MEX), Sante Les Amis (URU), Los Crema Paraiso (VEN/COL), (me llamo) Sebastían (CHL), El Mato a Un Policia Motorizado (ARG), and Danay Suárez (CUB); tune in to the Spotify playlist below for a preview.
Pro tip: Unlike the free, open to the public SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn events during LAMC week, the Indie Showcase requires conference registration. There’s two weeks left to grab $99 early-bird discounted registration on the LAMC site.
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CALONCHO [MEX]
Caloncho arrives to New York this summer with perfect timing for blissed-out, acoustic vibes. The Guadalajara-based artist brings his sun-drenched breed of tropical-funk to present his Fruta EP, produced by Grammy nominee Siddhartha Bubler.
SANTE LES AMIS [URU]
Join us on the dance floor for the full audio-visual experience of Montevideo-based disco punk band Sante Les Amis. We’ve watched the group create a name for themselves in the indie circuits with their strain of soulful, electro-funk rock, just this week having released their full length debut Sudamericana to support their notorious high energy, phosphorescent live performances.
LOS CREMA PARAISO [VEN/COL]
Superstar band Los Crema Paraiso is formed by Neil Ochoa (Si*Sé) on drums and percussions, José Luis Pardo (Los Amigos Invisibles) a.k.a. DJ Afro on guitar and effects and Alvaro Benavides on bass. The group produces a concoction of high-speed bossa nova and Venezuelan folk music grounded with understated electronic percussion.
(me llamo) SEBASTIÁN [CHL]
Gender binary-destroying Chilean pop artist (me llamo) Sebastían takes the stage fresh from his streak of boundary-pushing videos “Niños Rosados” and most recently “Varita Mágica,” produced in collaboration with Santiago-based director Jean Vargas.
EL MATO A UN POLICIA MOTORIZADO [ARG]
Based out of La Plata district of Buenos Aires, El Mato a Un Policia Motorizado brings dreamy, lo-fi alt-indie sounds reminiscent of 80s/90s noise rock glory days. The band delivers a distortion-heavy live performance that’s carried them across their self-dubbed “El Nuevo Magnetismo” tour, which has already routed them across Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and more.
DANAY SUÁREZ [CUB]
Dynamic Cuban hip hop rhymer/songstress Danay Suárez came up through the Cuban rap movement as a self-taught vocalist, building recognition over the years for her conscious lyrics, compelling flow, and impeccable delivery. We’re watching closely to see what’s next, as Suárez has already released her acclaimed third independent album Polvo de la Humedad, successfully organized a tour across Europe, and asserted herself as a force in collaborations across hip hop, jazz, soul, reggae, and more.