Alternalido Artist Spotlight: Natalia Lafourcade's GRAMMY-winning album involves a whole community

'It's about my people, Mexico, my music, the story that we have here in our country'
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By , Audacy

Host Canyon Cody was proud to welcome singer and songwriter Natalia Lafourcade for an exclusive chat this Sunday, April 4 during our special Alternalido Artist Spotlight.

Last fall, Natalia took home some big awards including the beloved Album of the Year trophy at the Latin GRAMMY Awards as well as Best Alternative Album, and Best Regional Song. She also took home the prize for Best Regional Mexican Music Album at the 2021 GRAMMYs just a few weeks back. You could say it's been a big year... but Natalia's had quite a few of those already.

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Natalia's latest album, Un Canto Por Mexico, Vol. 1, released in early 2020 is a walk through the sounds of Mexico, featuring two brand new tracks by Natalia, "Una Vida" and "Mi Religión," plus moments for new classics of Mexican songwriting like “Ya No Vivo por Vivir” with Leonel García and “Hasta la Raíz” with Los Cojolites and Los Auténticos Decadentes, as well as the songs “Sembrando Flores” with Los Cojolites and a Regional Mexican version of “Mexicana Hermosa” with Carlos Rivera. The record succeeds in breathing new life into traditional Mexican favorites through arrangements made by Natalia and Nando Hernández as well as Kiko Campos, the project's musical director.

Speaking with Audacy's Canyon Cody, Natalia explained how the project came about as a fundraiser for the Centro de Documentación del Son Jarocho (CDSJ), a cultural and community center that was gravely affected by the earthquakes experienced in Veracruz, Mexico in 2017 -- a place she says "where many children can learn music, their families can be together and live all the tradition around Son Jarocho," which is an important national hub for folk music.

"We wanted to help these people and this place after the earthquakes in 2017. The place got damaged..." Natalia explained, "and we wanted to find a way to rebuild it. So, at the end we ended up making this wonderful, huge, and amazing project that involves a whole community now. It's music, but it's also many people building this place."

Natalia also shared her happiness that the project is getting attention across the globe, "because it's about my people, Mexico, my music, the story that we have here in our country and our traditions."

The record features numerous tracks with Los Cojolites, "the founders of this amazing place," she says. "They have been working for about 25 years to have this community center... and they also have this amazing music. We became really close friends, and I always wanted to share music with them." After the devastation at the center in 2017, they knew they had found a way to make it happen. "We wanted to build a better place for the people," Natalia adds. "So we said, 'let's do this,' but using the music as a medium for making it happen."

Watch the full interview with Natalia above, and be on the lookout for Un Canto Por México, Vol. 2 which is set to be released this spring. "Right now, we're in the middle of working on mixes," Natalie says. "And it's beautiful as well... many beautiful artists. Hopefully, you can hear it soon."

Alternalido is your new favorite mixtape of vibrant Latin Alternative sounds. This English-language show features music that is bold, daring and different, from a wide array of artists spanning the U.S., Latin America, and the world. Airing Sunday nights 10-11PM hosted by SUBSUELO members Canyon Cody and DJ ETHOS.

Listen on your favorite Audacy Alternative stations, including KROQ in Los Angeles, ALT 103.7 in Dallas, ALT 107.5 in Las Vegas, 104.3 The Shark in Miami, ALT 92.3 in New York, FM 101.9 in Orlando, ALT 94.7 in Sacramento, ALT 94.9 in San Diego, and ALT 105.3 in San Francisco.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Manuel Zúñiga