{"id":214240,"date":"2025-09-10T01:09:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T01:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/214240\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T01:09:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T01:09:11","slug":"la-santa-cecilia-will-perform-at-cal-state-la-and-reacts-to-supreme-court-ice-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/214240\/","title":{"rendered":"La Santa Cecilia will perform at Cal State LA and reacts to Supreme Court ICE ruling."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amid growing fears of renewed mass deportations<\/a>, the beloved L.A. band La Santa Cecilia hopes its upcoming musical performances can provide moments of joy and humanity for Angelenos.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs musicians, we get the chance to open up a space like that for people to feel, to dance and feel happy,\u201d says La Marisoul, the band\u2019s lead vocalist, in a recent phone call with De Los. \u201cFrom that joy, we replenish ourselves to continue on in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Best known for its blend of Pan-American rhythms \u2014 including bossa nova, cumbia, rancheras and more \u2014 La Santa Cecilia will perform Sept. 13 and 14 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex<\/a> at Cal State LA, kicking off the theater\u2019s 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

The upcoming event series will also usher in Hispanic Heritage Month<\/a>, which begins Sept. 15 and is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of Hispanic and Latino people in the U.S. Yet, this year\u2019s festivities may be subdued, as many Latinos across the country fear racial and ethnic profiling<\/a>; on Monday, the Supreme Court<\/a> ruled that U.S. immigration agents may stop and detain anyone they suspect is in the U.S. illegally based on their appearance, language and location.<\/p>\n

Many Angelenos<\/a> are expecting human rights conditions to worsen \u2014 including members of La Santa Cecilia, for whom immigrant rights have been central to their message. Earlier this summer, the band\u2019s members attended the No Kings protests<\/a> against President Donald Trump and the mass ICE raids taking place across Southern California.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m concerned about relatives, I\u2019m concerned about myself \u2014 I\u2019m brown and Oaxacan,\u201d says Pepe Carlos, the band\u2019s accordion and guitar player, about the new Supreme Court ruling. \u201cIt\u2019s sad that I can be asked for my citizenship, for my residency \u2026 my humanity is not being respected.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the quartet\u2019s most famed songs, \u201cIce el Hielo,\u201d which was released in 2013, seems to underscore the current political dynamics at play. The song was inspired<\/a> by real-life fears, then released as Arizona passed its controversial bill SB 1070<\/a> into law \u2014 which allowed police to stop and detain individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully.<\/p>\n

Sung over a swaying bossa nova beat, the verses detail the plight of three undocumented immigrants who work toward a better life, but who are swept up by ICE officials: \u201cAhora los ni\u00f1os lloran a la salida, lloran al ver que no llegar\u00e1 mam\u00e1.\u201d (\u201cNow the children cry when they leave, they cry when they see that Mom isn\u2019t coming.\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, people do not understand that Mexicanos and Latino Americanos are indigenous to these lands. We\u2019re not illegal in any way, shape or form,\u201d says Miguel \u201cOso\u201d Ramirez, the band\u2019s percussionist. \u201c\u200aWe\u2019ll continue to play that song and we\u2019ll continue to use our platform to speak up on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have to show strength more than anything in these times if we are in a position of privilege,\u201d Ramirez adds. \u201cWe have to be strong and we have to question: What is legal?\u201d<\/p>\n

The track was part of their hit 2013 album, \u201cTreinta D\u00edas,\u201d which went on to win the Grammy for best Latin rock, alternative or urban album the following year. In the group\u2019s acceptance speech<\/a>, La Santa Cecilia dedicated the award to \u201cthe more than 11 million undocumented people that live and work really hard … and that still need to live a more dignified life in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a band from Los Angeles, we experience so many things as immigrants living here, growing up and becoming strong in our duality of being Latin American, Mexican American,\u201d says Alex Bendana, the band\u2019s bass player. \u201cI want people to feel proud of who they are and where they come from.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band has yet to issue a follow-up to its 2023 LP, \u201cCuatro Copas Bohemia En La Finca Altozano,\u201d but have released three singles since \u2014 including the new track \u201cHojas en el Aire,\u201d a wind and brass-heavy orchestra track inspired by the group\u2019s time in San Andr\u00e9s Solaga, Mexico. <\/p>\n

The homecoming L.A. concert is part of La Santa Cecilia\u2019s 2025 world tour, which includes stops in U.S. cities like San Jos\u00e9, Seattle, New York City and Phoenix, as well as three dates in Spain and a first-time visit for the band in Finland<\/a> for Womex, an international music industry exhibition. <\/p>\n