Concert Review: Three Pieces of Wisdom From The LAMC Conference
The LAMC conference, Latin Alternative Music Conference, is targeted towards the Latin American community to learn more about itself, and how to maneuver the music industry. Yet, as I interviewed artists, went to shows, and glimpsed panels meant to enlighten youth on how to survive the music scene. world, I had an epiphany. For better or worse, we are all the same, and figuring out how to overcome the same aggressions to achieve the same joys is simply hard.
If I could sum up the guideline I learned to success through LAMC, it would be confoundedly simple:
1) Be yourself.
We hear this term ALL THE TIME! Frankly, it depends where you are in life as to whether you absorb it. For Nina Dioz, she had to confront many struggles with addiction and sexuality to finally see that in avoiding who she is, she became something worse: unhappy and self-destructive. For PJ Sin Suela, it was seeing his nation of Puerto Rico grow more ignored and fractured by socio-economic devastation that awoke him to put his intelligence to rhythm. Yet, no matter what backstory, everyone concurred a similar result; being yourself is the only way you will be as unique and happy as you have always dreamed.
2) Lose the fear.
If there was ever a followup to the “Be Yourself” advice, it was let go of the fear. I have often concluded that systemic oppression feels double thanks to self-doubt. Every human being doubts their capacities, and that is completely normal. We are divided between internal voices that tell us we are great, we are bad, or that we are misunderstood. Yet, what negativity we choose to believe about ourselves can weaken us from showing the best of ourselves to others, especially the ones that feel entitled to dismiss us for our class, our gender, our race, etc. For some, like Delaporte, it took YEARS to get rid of the fear that perhaps they were not “special” enough to lead an electro-pop revolution in Spain. Even the fierce Ana Tijoux, has combated insecurities and fears that, perhaps, the world she is trying to inspire to be better truly wants to be worse. Yet, both combat fear to cherish and create what they love: music.
3) Have Fun
This is probably my favorite guideline because A) I love to have fun B) Sometimes, I forget to. It may happen quietly, but there are many times when our creativity becomes capped because we have turned or dreams or works into burdens. We think that obsessing over our art and desires pushes us to keep and prosper them. Yet, we choose our careers and projects out of how alive they make us feel. We all dream to work in what we love because then it does not feel like work; it feels like fun. Remembering that lesson allows you to carry the natural pressures of wanting to give your best self, something artists like Carlos Cros and DJ Raff completely agreed.
The LAMC Conference was incredibly impactful because it held iconic artists from all over the world that, oddly, shared the same stories and messages. No matter what prejudice or personal pain tried to enter their path, they all concluded they wanted their dreams more. This is a powerful remark that reverberated in both BRIC and Highline Ballroom showcases. From Mala Rodriguez to Marron, everyone showed and even stated that wanting your joy should be your motivation: more than money or pleasing others. For More Information On LAMC Click Here.
