Aztlan Records was an independent record label based in San Francisco, California, first established in 1986.[1] The label released music in the genres of Latin indie rock, swing, and ska.[2] It was described as the first label in the country "to devote itself exclusively to U.S.-bred rock en español."[3] The label had a small staff, limited budget, and no mainstream radio support. It serviced the notably small rock en español scene of northern California, which was comparatively smaller than that of southern California.[4]
| Aztlan Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
The first album the label released was Señor Cementerio by Los Angeles-based Ley de Hielo in 1995.[3] It merged out when joining another Latin independent label Grita! Records in 1999.[2] The last album release credited to the record label was Sonero de Cuba by Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro.[5] The label was described as defunct in a November 2000 issue of Billboard.[6]
Fernando Ramirez, lead singer of Latin rock band Maria Fatal, recognized the label's importance in the scene, stating "if it weren't for Aztlan Records, I don't know where we'd be."[4] In an article for ColorLines, Hua Hsu noted that "labels like Aztlan, Xicano, Grita!, and Pinche Flojo [fought] to carve out space for Latinos in genres like ska, punk, and indie."[7]
References
edit- ^ Laufenberg, Cindy (1995). 1996: Songwriter's market. Writer's Digest Books. p. 143.
- ^ a b Sciarretto, Amy (30 August 1999). "Industry Profile: Tiffany Hamilton". CMJ New Music Report. 59, 11 (633).
- ^ a b "The Center". Race File. 5–6: 44. 1995.
- ^ a b "Aztlan Records". Frontera Magazine (1–8). 1996.
- ^ "Aztlan Records". Allmusic.
- ^ Cobo, Leila (4 November 2000). "Sebastian moves beyond Ranchera". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 45. p. 46.
- ^ Hsu, Hua (30 April 2000). "Race-Ing Rock: Hua Hsu Wonders if Bands of Color Can Make Rock Revolutionary Again". ColorLines. 3 (1): 41.