SXSWORLD

Despite Shadow of Fear, Mexican Musicians Keep On Touring by Claudia Alarcòn S extreme violence in various regions of Mexico at the hands of drug cartels. Th ese tragedies have brought a general sense of insecurity for residents and almost demolished the tourism industry, one of the country's most important sources of revenue. Th e violence has also touched the music industry. At last year's SXSW, a group of industry insiders debated the problem in the "Touring in Mexico" panel. Th e group included promoter Carlos Verastegui, partner in Mexico City-based ACHE Productions, who is presenting a SXSW 2012 indie band showcase featuring Torreblanca, Los Bunkers and Andrea Balency. He blames the media for much of the fear. "A lot of what we see in the news is violence because it sells," he says. "While there are some hot spots, especially in the northern states and along the border, the bigger cities are safer and no more dangerous for touring bands than L.A., New York, or Rio. Because of its proximity to the border, Monterrey has suff ered, but Mexico City, Guadalajara and even Puebla have fl ourished." SXSW veteran Lila Downs agrees: "Aside from several pockets ince President Felipe Calderón declared his "war on drugs" in late 2006, the news has been inundated with reports of Lila Downs Juan Cirerol already part of everyday life. Mexicali native Juan Cirerol, who sings corridos norteños with powerful lyrics and a punk-meets-Dylan raging style, has lived the situation closely but shrugs it off with a signature catchphrase: todo fi ne. "Th ere are some isolated areas where it is not very safe to go, but I have not had any trouble playing anywhere," he says. "My songs have 40 SXSW ORLD / FEBRUAR Y 2012 of drug-warring cartels, life goes on pretty much normally here in Mexico," says the singer. "Th ere is a lot of live music and a lot of touring, so most bands that have a following in Mexico continue to tour here," as evidenced by upcoming dates from Radiohead and Noel Gallager's High Flying Birds in the country's main cities. However, these bands only book two or three dates and have constant security, while Mexican bands have to perform in many other smaller cities, "and sometimes traveling can be dangerous in certain places like Culiacan or Tijuana," says Verastegui. "It really depends on where one is touring, and what kind of music one is singing," continues Downs. "Th e main threats have been to singers of narco-corridos, who might be embraced by a drug lord, and therefore a possible target." For artists that come from northern and border cities, threats are many meanings and tendencies, but I'm not in any way linked to the philosophy of drug traffi cking." Carmen Ruiz Cirerol's record and is also a member of Torreblanca, adds: "I have seen cancellations by booking companies due to the insecurity prevailing in our country, especially if the dates in the north. Sometimes we go ahead and do it, as people are keen to see the artist and we don't think it's fair that due to the situation we can't put on a show, but we are very careful." Ruiz Correa also works with Intolerancia, City-based label Correa, who produced a Mexico media structure that practically kidnapped the public's taste in music and regulated it to the point of near control, these are truly liberating times for our independent talent." But what of traditional Mexican music like cumbia, norteño, Mexico's new independent music. Artistic Director Gerry Rosado sees that the violence has aff ected the music industry primarily in the north, which has led to an artist exodus to Mexico City, creating market saturation: "However, I have never seen an opportunity so attractive or interesting for creating music in Mexico; I believe this moment of crisis requires that the artists strengthen their search for meaning in their work. Th e Internet has democratized the dissemination of music, so anything worthwhile ends up being heard. In a country that for years had a focusing on grupero or ranchero, whose fan base resides in northern and border states? Monterrey-based Apodaca Music Group has more than 30 years of experience representing such massively popular groups as Bronco, Selena y Los Dinos and Boundary. Apodaca is presenting its fi rst SXSW showcase this year, bringing a "who's who" of artists from these musical genres, including El Poder Del Norte, Emilio Navaira, Bobby Pulido, Sonora Dinamita, German Montero, La Banda Original Limon and Tropical Panamá. Th is is certainly a sign that the music maintains its audience amidst the turmoil, especially among people who have fl ed the turbulent border regions for safer areas across the border in the U.S. As for a solution to the upheaval that the cartel violence has caused, Rosado describes music as "a major player in building a moral condition which allows us to break the vicious circle in which we fi nd ourselves as a country … a source of exchange, happiness and social cohesion. Whatever the reality of our country, musicians have a duty to help create a better sense of ourselves as Mexicans." ■ COURTESY OF CARMEN RUIZ CORREA RICARDO TRABULSI

• Cover