“Couldn't have asked for a better experience. After a brief conversation with Jamie where we discussed my desires for music genres and goals for the party, Jamie hooked us up with Jackie who was absolutely the perfect fit for our party. She knew the genres I was looking for (cumbia, bachata, etc.) and was able to score a perfect lineup of music that kept us dancing all night. I highly recommend Ceremony DJs” —- Raquel

Raquel’s 40th Birthday Party : Latin Rhythms Reverberate in the Oakland Hills

I currently live most of the year in beautiful Mexico City, where I have had the great fortune to learn about forms of music that as an American with an anglo ancestry, I had not been exposed to previously. In fact, when I first came to Mexico, I was a little afraid to open the door to Latin music, knowing that it was such a huge subject, that once that door was opened, I might not be able to hold back the incredible flow of sounds that would come pouring out! Be that as it may, you basically can’t spend any time living in Latin America without becoming exposed to (at the very least) cumbia, and I definitely became a fan.

Cumbia, salsa, bachata, banda & reggaetón for a private residence party

When I was contacted about my first non-wedding gig for Ceremony DJs, it seemed like a natural match. Raquel, whose parents grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, was celebrating her 40th birthday, and requested not only cumbia, but salsa, bachata, reggaetón, and other Latin-flavored urban/pop, Not only was I familiar with the music she was looking for, but I had a lot of it on vinyl, acquired abroad in Mexico and Colombia, which always makes for a special touch.

Music ideas for an event: What do you like to listen to?

Although I sometimes get to play some of these types of music in my American wedding gigs, it is quite apparent to me as someone straddling two different countries and cultures how much the music of weddings (and birthdays) as the music of nostalgia is completely different. We often think of Top 40, the hits of the moment, as being the most popular music for events, but actually a big mainstay is music of the past, the music that was popular when we were growing up. Sometimes when I am speaking with wedding clients who are having difficulty talking about what kind of music they like, I ask them about when they started courting- it helps me get an idea of what was popular at the time that they were getting to know each other, and is a good jumping off point from which I can make some educated guesses.

Living in Mexico, I have learned that the music that people grew up on here, and the music that has been the most popular in past decades, has often been completely unrelated to the biggest pop hits of the same time in the USA. We had Madonna in the USA, Mexico had Gloria Trevi. Pitbull and Daddy Yankee were making dance killers popular throughout the Latin world long before they had become superstars in the English speaking one. Not to mention the entire cultures and dances of cumbia, salsa, and bachata.

Currrent pop hits, classic hip hop, banda, and more!

Raquel’s birthday incorporated some current English language pop from Dua Lipa, Kygo, and the Weeknd, as well as some classic hip hop from the Roots and a Tribe Called Quest, but it leaned heavily on the Latin in all its many flavors. There was “banda,” a genre originating from the northern border of Mexico where German immigration brought brass instrumentation to mix with sad, poetic lyrics about lost love and heroic exploits. We heard from singer Vicente Fernandez, who is practically an icon of his nation. “Bachata” from master of the genre Juan Luis Guerra – a romantic rhythm which originated in the Dominican Republic but which has its roots in Cuba and Africa.

Cumbia

Cumbia is an enormous topic. Originally from Colombia (but again, tracing its roots to the Carribbean and Africa), but bleeding out all over the Latin world, Mexican cumbia has its very own special flavor made popular by “sonideros” - pop-up street sound systems where you might find yourself drinking cheap beer from a styrofoam cup on a weekend and dancing until dawn. Arguably one of the greatest bands of Mexican cumbia has to be Los Ángeles Azules, with their classic “Como Te Voy a Olvidar,” a personal favorite with its spooky opening organ riff.

Modern Latin Rock & Pop

Raquel’s taste also dipped into modern Latin rock from bands such as Maná, los Enanitos Verdes, Natalia Lafourcade, and Bacilos- artists who are massively popular in Spanish speaking countries, but who somehow seem to hit a barrier up against the English speaking frontier. Marc Anthony has had a measure more of success, but one could argue that this has something to do with his former identity as Mr. Jennifer Lopez.

Putting it all together to celebrate a milestone birthday

The day started out with slower, more romantic baladas, bachata and banda to laze in the warm Oakland summer, and digest the heavy carnitas tacos that Raquel’s parents were preparing. As the sun set, the music heated up. Cumbia and salsa picked up the pace and finally gave way to current reggaetón and Latin-urban masters Rosalía and Bad Bunny. Even if you are not a Spanish speaker, I recommend these two artists if you are not already familiar; not only are their beats hot and their tunes catchy, but their delivery is unusual and very distinctive, even if you cannot understand what they are saying. The last song of the night was Kygo’s remix of Whitney Houston’s “Higher Love,” which was very much of the moment- a perfect end to the night just before the cops were called to break up the party, which at that point was echoing throughout the Oakland hills! What a fun way to ring in a milestone birthday.

— Jackie