In this episode I chat with Stephani Candelaria, a queer third-generation Xicana. She fronts a popular Los Angeles-based cumbia-salsa band, La Mera Candelaria. We talk about community, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated music scene, opening for Los Tigres del Norte, activism, La Mera's new album, and so much more.

Find out why Stephani loves cumbia - and why you might learn to love it, too.

Clips featured in today's episode:

Dame un Beso https://open.spotify.com/track/5DHk96CdxrCCrXaX9Y0xvI?si=eL7oMxXnRjK1souQ03SsHQ

Si Reina https://open.spotify.com/track/1fMawNslsYZ33CdK1DpJIX?si=-HfhCf6BQsa1fepW3MoPyg

Where to find La Mera Candelaria:

https://lameracandelaria.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/78B222PvMskJuGFOeFD0fv https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/la-mera-candelaria/1352059262 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyHkv3v_1ydyuZVxFaCjrDA https://www.instagram.com/la.mera.candelaria/ https://www.facebook.com/LaMeraCandelaria

Stephani's favorite nonprofits: Black Lives Matter The Okra Project

Take action today:

https://blacklivesmatter.com https://colorofchange.org http://www.wetheprotesters.org https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/ https://eji.org https://www.higherheightsleadershipfund.org/ https://www.naacp.org/naacp-leadership/naacp-foundation/

Additional editing by Mindjam Media http://www.mindjammedia.com/

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Hang out with me at https://instagram.com/lovewhatyoulovepod or https://twitter.com/whatyoulovepod

Check out my books at https://juliekrose.com

LWYL Music: Inspiring Hope by Pink-Sounds https://audiojungle.net/user/pink-sounds