RegueRok a genre that unites everybody
What is the mission of Los Meskales?
Have fun while we do what we do for joy, with a lot of joy.
What is the vision of Los Meskales?
To make music that people are used to hearing, especially when it comes to lyrics, to not make a song without saying something that is worth saying.
What was Los Meskales’ first concert?
Villa Palooza, Chicago
What is the purpose of Los Meskales post COVID-19?
To continue making music for our little, but faithful fanbase in Madison and Chicago. Continue composing and offering music to our new audience.
What lesson would you say this pandemic taught Los Meskales?
You never know what you have until it’s gone.
Why was Los Meskaless born?
The uneasiness to continue making this kind of music. Not really commercial, but something that personally fills me with satisfaction and is fun because of the facts that it is such a versatile genre.
What does your fanbase like the most about Los Meskales?
The energy and the good vibes of the music and the band.
Who is your music directed to?
The youth and older adults, despite it always surprising us to see elders and children enjoying the music we make.
Where is everyone in the band from?
(Carlos Valenzuela) bajista. Perú.
(Jesús Cordero) baterista. Guadalajara México.
(Liliandra Allison) trombón. madison wi, USA.
(Juan Morales) Texcoco México.
(Salvador Luna) guitarra. León Guanajuato, México.
How long has this band been around?
We are turning 5 in May.
Where do you guys usually perform?
Mostly bars, sometimes festivals
How does Los Meskales influence the Latin community?
Awaking the uneasiness of fighting for our rights in the community and we try to plant that little seed of uneasiness of discovering other types of music genres that are less ordinary than the commercial genres people already know about.
What does the band for the Latin community?
Every year, we perform at the festival, Wurst Times with the goal of fundraising for the musical education of the youth in Madison.
How does the band identify with the Latin Community?
I think in a lot of ways. Musically, 50 percent of the community that surrounds us are musicians or have some sort of relation in the musical ambit. I also believe that most of the musicians that make us this band are or were migrants and also share the same uneasiness and social of labor issues.
How did forming this band help the latin heritage?
I feel like each of us brings our own essence to the band, musically speaking. Each of us brings our own feel that characterizes each band or musical group.
What values does Los Meskales identify with?
Respect, equality, liberty.
What role does Los Meskales play in the city of Madison?
We haven’t had the opportunity to have too much exposure in the city, but the few that we have gotten in the city honestly is always very well received, people like what we do.
At any moment have you felt any discrimination as a Latin group?
Yes, in the beginning due to us playing a genre that is in spanish, we found it challenging to enter the american market after two years we gained the tr\sut of the american audience at a festival called Wurst Time in 2017. Currently we perform at 10 or 15 events each year between Chicago and Madison.
What motivated Los Meskales to play in the city of Madison?
We were invited to the festival, Wust Times, that was our first time we played on a more formal stage here in Madison. Honestly, we were very nervous because we knew that festival was not going to necessarily be directed towards the Latin audience but I think it was a little catalyst so to say, because after the festival they began to call Los Meskales to different events.
What frustrates the band the most?
The lack of space for us to play at.
What motivates you all as a band?
Our friendship, more than just as bandmates, we are really good friends. In addition, we share the same like for the genre, music and we have the same vision.
What is the band’s filosophy?
As long as we are having fun and we like what we are doing, everything is just extra.
Which one of the bandmates is the most fun?
All of us
Which one of the bandmates has the strongest temper?
Me, the bass player.
What motivates you all as people to stay together as a group despite the adversities?
The desire to continue doing what we like while keeping in mind that being part of a band is a lot like family, we fight and we can be angry with each other but the next day we’ll be planning the date and time for the next rehearsal.
What is the importance of the Latin community going out to vote for the next election?
Very Important! There are a lot of us that cannot count with the opportunity of being able to do that for different reasons, and the people of our latin community that do have that opportunity of doing so becomes our voice in this case.