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Drawing by Melanie Cervantes
BIOGRAPHY:
In Lak Ech is a Mayan concept meaning you are my other me-tu eres mi otro yo. In the flesh, In Lak Ech is a performance poetry and song collective of Xicana multi-media artists, writers, students, and organizers uniting to tell Her-story through poetry. In Lak Ech is comprised of Marisol Torres, Felicia Montes, Claudia Mercado, Cristina Gorocica, Rachel Thorson Véliz, Liza Hita, and Marlene Beltran. Their flowering words, which express their urban indigena realities are offered to the past, present, and future generations. Since their birth on International Womens Day, 1997, they have been heard from the jungles of Chiapas to the concrete jungles of Mexico City, Los Angeles, and beyond.
In Lak Ech has traveled throughout California and the southwest to give a voice to the many who struggle for dignity, culture, and life. Through canto, comedy, poetry, and observation, they are a unique blend of modern day oral tradition, exploring politics, spirituality, love, and pain.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the women of In Lak Ech not only perform poetry and song but also organize cultural celebrations, participate in conferences, and conduct workshops for diverse communities. These performances have been used as tools for expression, healing, communication, and organizing at various community centers, festivals, high schools, universities, and indigenous ceremonies.
In Lak Ech utilizes words to bring awareness and empowerment to the issues of women, family, humanity, and mother earth. As a result, In Lak Ech is the seed that has inspired creative women circles such as Mujeres de Maiz. The collectives have become a significant presence particularly in East Los Angeles through art shows, performances, and organizing efforts including magazines and recordings for the Peace and Dignity CD compilation on the Xican@ Records and Film label. In Lak Ech's newest project is the creation and premiere of their first spoken word and music CD released in August of 2007.
"Mujeres con Palabra" is NOW AVAILABLE here or at www.inlakech.net
HEAR WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT IN LAK ECH:
CHERRIE MORAGA
I am impressed at a heart level with the work of In Lak Ech because it responds to a Xicana-Indígenismo thirty-five years in the making. Blending Northern Native musical influences with Southern Indígena filosofía, the CD celebrates the myriad spiritual and political roads Xicanas have walked to acquire a living uncompromised identity and cultural practice in the United States.
Here Medicine Songs are spoken hip hop style and a few tracks later, sung with tambor as a prayer in Ceremony. Here the Pre-Columbian flauta poeticizes the natural lyricism of a honoring poem en Español, and another poet employs her best Chicano English as the fierce language of revolution.
There is wonderful satire in the work, where the artists take cultural clichés and throw them back at us. Less than truly "revolutionary" brothers are referred to as "cucaracha[s] running scared without direction when somebody turns on the bathroom light." And even la Mujer Madre names herself "fertilizer," "the Manure of Life." All along the collection strives to politicize those connections between the Xicano/a experience and world trauma, between "Iraqi and Chiapan coffins" and the bitter irony of using "Taco Bell esquincles to end our hunger."
Listening to this CD, I laughed out loud and even sighed a little in the great tradition of the Mexican Suspiro. Because nuestra pueblo (especially our sons and daughters and grandchildren) needs this work and so much more. It is no accident that the artists chose to open and close this CD with the voice of a child, hers is the voice of the future.
At its heart, In Lak Ech reflects all of what it means to be us in 21st century Aztlán: mujer, madre, artista-activista, meXicana -- humilde ante de dios y brava ante la cara del "patrón."
Gracias for the great esfuerzo, hermanitas.
Cherríe L. Moraga
Oakatlán, Califas
10 enero 2008
_________________
ANA CASTILLO
"In Lak Ech will blow you away. In the tradition of Sweet Honey in the Rock, they are fierce warrior women who, like our ancestors, do battle with poetry and song, and thrown in the mix, some humor that also keeps us strong.
!Adelante, Xicanas!
-Ana Castillo
IN LAK ECH VIDEO MONTAGE OF OUR PERFORMANCES:
Click on the image to purchase the IN LAK ECH "Mujeres Con Palabra"
T-shirt & CD combo for $25 plus shipping & handling
Size & Color
S Black
M Black
L Black
XL Black
S Sangria
M Sangria
L Sangria
XL Sangria
Click on the image to purchase the IN LAK ECH "Mujeres Con Palabra" T-shirt $15 plus shipping & handling
Size
M Black
L Black
XXL Black
XL Black
PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TRACKS HERE:>BR>
