The cumbia DJs of the streets : The Image Present : NPR

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The cumbia DJs of the streets : The Image Present : NPR


Individuals dance at Brenda Cazárez’s fortieth party as Sonido Colombia performs music within the Privada Cusco neighborhood of Monterrey, Mexico, on Aug. 12, 2023.

Ivan Kashinsky


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Ivan Kashinsky

That is a part of a particular collection, Cumbia Throughout Latin America, a visible report throughout six international locations developed over a number of years, overlaying the individuals, locations and cultures that maintain this music style alive.

In the midst of the mountains of Monterrey, there’s a Colombia chiquita, a Colombia regia, or royal. Monterrey is a metropolis of migrants who got here from the countryside to work on this industrial metropolis. Maybe it’s the eager for a previous life that related the migrant neighborhoods of Monterrey to the songs about rural life alongside the Colombian coast. That is the land of the “sonideros,” DJs who gather cumbia and tropical music data and appeared on the scene within the Sixties. To today, they convey their gear to golf equipment and avenue events.

A view of Monterrey from a building on December 24, 2022. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was installed more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas. Fixer: Ivonne Azpeytia +528113993653

A view of Monterrey from a constructing on Dec. 24, 2022. The town is often known as “Colombia chiquita,” or Little Colombia.

Ivan Kashinsky


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Lucy López is a sonidera (cumbia DJ) who broadcasts live to her fans daily on her Facebook page and plays cumbia records for them. He plays songs that his audience requests as well as messages or congratulations. In the photo, Lucy does her live show and her parents Pedro Niño Luisa López dance the Cumbias she plays for her audience. The world of sonideros is an activity dominated by men, there are very few respected sonideras in the field. Photo by Karla Gachet

Pedro Niño and Luisa López dance to cumbias performed by their daughter, Lucy López, a sonidera who broadcasts reside day by day on her Fb web page, on Dec. 25, 2022.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

Lucy Lopez is a female cumbia sonidera (dj) who transmits every day to her fans on her Facebook page and plays cumbia records for them. She plays songs that her audience asks for as well as messages or congratulations. In the photos she is at her house where she transmits her show daily. This day was Christmas Eve, so her and her family prayed to baby Jesus before she did her show. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was installed more than 50 years ago, when vinal records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas.

Lucy Lopez, a cumbia sonidera DJ, broadcasts her day by day Fb present from her dwelling in Monterrey, the place she performs requested cumbia tracks and messages for followers. On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2022, she and her household prayed to child Jesus earlier than going reside.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

MEXICO -Gabriel Dueñez, one of the best known DJs in Monterrey, who is credited for inventing cumbia rebajada, sits by his equipment in his house with his daughter, Gaby Dueñez, who is also a DJ and his wife, Jaunita Moreno, on August 11th, 2023, in Monterrey Metropolitan area, Mexico. Cumbia rebajada is cumbia slowed down. The style was created when the equipment of Dueñez began to Malfunction during a party. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was arrived more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas. MEXICO - Gabriel Dueñez, uno de los Sonideros más conocidos de Monterrey, a quien se le atribuye el mérito de haber inventado la cumbia rebajada, se sienta junto a su equipo en su casa con su hija, Gaby Dueñez, quien también es Sonidera y su esposa, Jaunita Moreno, el 11 de agosto. 2023, en el área Metropolitana de Monterrey, México. Cumbia rebajada es cumbia ralentizada. El estilo se creó cuando el equipo de Dueñez comenzó a funcionar mal durante un partido. Monterrey, México también es conocida como “Colombia chiquita” o pequeña Colombia. A esta ciudad del norte de México llegó la cumbia colombiana hace más de 50 años, cuando llegaron los discos de vinilo tanto de la Ciudad de México como de Texas.

Gabriel Dueñez, one of many best-known DJs in Monterrey who’s credited with inventing cumbia rebajada, sits by his gear along with his daughter, Gaby Dueñez, who can be a DJ, and his spouse, Juanita Moreno, on Aug. 11, 2023, in Monterrey.

Ivan Kashinsky


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Ivan Kashinsky

Gabriel Dueñez is without doubt one of the greatest recognized “sonideros.” His daughter says that at a celebration, as a result of overheating of his gear, the tempo of a cumbia enjoying grew to become a lot slower than regular. Thus, by chance, the cumbia rebajada was born alongside its sluggish dances, just like the gavilán, or hawk, through which individuals dance hunched down low with their arms unfold large. This new type and the obsession with Colombia would change into an city subculture known as Kolombia, and its members “cholombianos.” They borrow Los Angeles’ cholo type from their neighbors to the north.

Merany Yusseth Avila, a member of Unión de Cumbia, a group of young people who dance cumbia “wepa” in Monterrey, Mexico, poses for a portrait on August 23, 2023.

Merany Yusseth Avila, a member of Union de Cumbia, a gaggle of younger individuals who dance cumbia “regia” in Monterrey, poses for a portrait on Aug. 23, 2023.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

Vinyls belonging to Jose Vazquez's collection in his home in the Independencia neighborhood on August 9, 2023. Vasquez is a renowned sonidero (cumbia DJ) in Independencia.

Vinyl data in Vazquez’s assortment at his dwelling in Monterrey’s Independencia neighborhood on Aug. 9, 2023.

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Jose Vazquez y su nieto posan para un retrato en su casa en la colonia Independencia el 9 de Agosto del 2023. Vasquez es un reconocido sonidero (dj de cumbia) en la Independencia. Jose Vazquez and his grandson pose for a portrait at their home in the Independencia neighborhood on August 9, 2023. Vasquez is a renowned sonidero (cumbia DJ) in la Independencia.

Jose Catarino Vazquez Villegas and his grandson, Jesus Alejandro, pose for a portrait at their dwelling within the Independencia neighborhood on Aug. 9, 2023. Vazquez is a famend sonidero, or cumbia DJ, in La Independencia.

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Ana Karen Domínguez dances cumbia with Robert Escareno Rivas at Ray Charles Bar in Monterrey, Mexico, on December 23, 2022. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was installed more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas.

Ana Karen Domínguez dances cumbia with Robert Escareno Rivas at Ray Charles Bar in Monterrey, Mexico, on Dec. 23, 2022.

Ivan Kashinsky


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A member of Unión de Cumbia, a group of young people who dance cumbia “wepa” in Monterrey, Mexico, poses for a portrait on August 23, 2023

Jeffrey Alexander Pérez Rivera, practically 8 years previous, poses for a portrait on Aug. 23, 2023. He’s a member of Unión de Cumbia, a gaggle of younger individuals who dance cumbia “regia” in Monterrey.

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Karla Gachet

In Monterrey, cumbia was thought of gang music as a result of it thrived in low-income and migrant neighborhoods known as colonias. At its epicenter is the colonia Independencia, or as everybody calls it, “Indepe.” In these occasions, younger individuals who self-described as gangsters fought for territory, and one in every of their subversive acts was to tag the partitions of the town with the verses of cumbia songs. Maikle Gutierrez lives in La Indepe and sells Colombian data and paraphernalia in entrance of the long-lasting Puente del Papa “Pope’s Bridge” the place “sonideros” like Dueñez offered cassettes with mixes made at their events within the ’80s. These recordings included shoutouts to household and buddies who’d migrated overseas. It’s uncommon to enter a sonidero’s home and never discover an altar devoted to Landero, the Binomio de Oro, or the Corraleros de Majagual, as if La Indepe was frozen in time, ceaselessly enchanted by the Colombian cumbia of the ’60s and ’70s.

A man walks over the iconic La Puente de Papa in Monterrey December 28, 2022. The bridge is a meeting place for the sonideros, or DJs, and is also where a sonidero named Gabriel Dueñez sold cassette tapes of Cumbia rebajada, or slowed down cumbia. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was installed more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas.

A person walks over the long-lasting Puente del Papa in Monterrey on Dec. 28, 2022.

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Records hang from the ceiling in Maykle Gutierrez shop on August 12, 2022. He is a key player in La independencia/s sonidero culture. He buys and sells cumbia vinyls and any other Colombian memorabilia in a store under the famous Puente del Papa. Sonideros come trade or just hang at this store on the weekends.

Data grasp from the ceiling in Maykle Gutiérrez’s store beneath Monterrey’s Puente del Papa on Aug. 12, 2022.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

MEXICO - Alberto Aldaba Zuniga warms up before jamming with his band, Canto Negro, in Monterrey Mexico, on December 27, 2022. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was arrived more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas.

Alberto Aldaba Zúñiga warms up earlier than rehearsing along with his band, Canto Negro, in Monterrey, Mexico, on Dec. 27, 2022.

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On the flip of this century, organized crime took over the town, growing violence, particularly within the colonias, which had been taken over by the cartels. Due to this, many adolescents had been recruited and used as cannon fodder. Every little thing modified. Throughout this darkish interval in Monterrey, avenue events had been moved indoors for safety. The town was taken over by worry.

Cumbia party in Monterrey, Mexico, where the band Los Kombolokos played for a crowd. A lot of the attendees where families.

Individuals dance at a cumbia get together in Monterrey because the band Los Kombolokos performs for a crowd that features many households, on Aug. 10, 2023.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

People dance at Wateke as the cumbia band Fusion Colombiana plays in Monterrey, Mexico on December 28th, 2022. Manager: Efraín Rico 8121114398

Individuals dance because the cumbia band Fusión Colombiana performs on the bar Wateke in Monterrey on Dec. 28, 2022.

Ivan Kashinsky


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Ivan Kashinsky

Juan Carlos Ovalle Lucio, a DJ that goes by Sonido Colombia, plays cumbia records in La Molienda, a bar, in Monterrey, Mexico on December 23, 2022. Monterrey, Mexico is also known as “Colombia chiquita” or little Colombia. In this city in northern Mexico, Colombian cumbia was installed more than 50 years ago, when vinyl records arrived both from Mexico City and Texas. Photo by Ivan Kashinsky

Juan Carlos Ovalle Lucio, a DJ who goes by Sonido Colombia, performs cumbia data at La Molienda, a bar in Monterrey, on Dec. 23, 2022.

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After greater than a decade of maximum violence, cumbia returned to the streets. “Cholombianos” disappeared attributable to fixed police persecution for carrying dishevelled pants, Converse and eccentric hairstyles. Many younger individuals who survived the violence of these years are actually discovered at household events, ceaselessly distancing themselves from the streets. Elizabeth Hernandez, a member of Union de Cumbia, says that when she dances, she even forgets she has a boyfriend. She dances so long as her physique holds out.

A bar scene in the "La Independencia" neighborhood of Monterrey, Mexico, on Aug. 13, 2023. The bar opens on Sunday nights and fills with dancers from the neighborhood.

Dancers fill La Esquina Sonidera bar in Monterrey’s La Independencia neighborhood on Aug. 13, 2023. The bar opens Sunday nights, the place some ladies stand on the bar and males pay them for dances.

Karla Gachet


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Karla Gachet

This protection was made with the assist of the Nationwide Geographic Society Explorer program.

Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky are photojournalists based mostly in Los Angeles. You’ll be able to see extra of Karla’s work on her web site, KarlaGachet.com, or on Instagram at @kchete77. Ivan’s work is obtainable on his web site, IvanKphoto.com, or on Instagram at @ivankphoto.

This work was additionally featured in a video produced in collaboration with editor Alejo Reinoso, and was acknowledged by the 2025 POY Latam Awards within the multimedia class.



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