Los Güiros Share Cumbia Roots in "The Milky Way" Before Jazz Fest 2023

Corina Hernandez of Los Güiros, by Greg Miles

New Orleans’ psychedelic cumbia band gives us a crash course in cumbia.

Los Güiros will play Jazz Fest’s Jazz and Heritage Stage at 1:25 p.m., and we asked singer Corina Hernandez to introduce the band through “The Milky Way,” where the band identifies the eight songs that make up their musical universe. Hers is particularly useful because Los Güiros are a psychedelic cumbia band. The acts and songs that influenced them will be new to most of us. Me, certainly.

She also gamed the system a little and found a way to wedge in a few extra choices as she introduced herself.—Alex

Los Güiros is a beautiful project that we started about two years ago, and it has been humbling and overwhelming, all the love and support we have been receiving for the community here in New Orleans. We play every second Tuesday of the month at Saturn Bar and every last Thursday of the month at St Roch Tavern. We started off as a cover band playing our favorite cumbia music, and we have written seven original tunes that we are looking forward to record and publish soon. So far we have one single out, “Cumbia Mezcal,” which is a based on an old Mexican saying: “When things are bad, Mezcal. When things are good, also Mezcal. When there’s no solution, two bottles.” We added a cumbia.

My name is Corina Hernandez. I was born in Germany, but all my family are Spanish immigrants. We moved back to Spain when I was 10 and I started traveling a lot by myself during my late teens and throughout my 20s, I have always felt a deep love and connection to music but didn’t dare to start performing until my 30s.

In my travels, I made wonderful friends and acquaintances that exposited to their favorite music. From an early age, I’ve felt specifically drawn to female vocalists. While in Norway, a friend introduced me to an album by Mari Boine, a traditional Norwegian singer, and it really sticks with me. Over the course of my travels, I’ve learned about the Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa, and the power and range of Sainkho Namtchylak. Some of my other favorites include Billie Holiday and Sade.

The question, though, was not specifically who influenced me but what songs influenced Los Güiros.

“La Candela Viva” - Toto la Momposina

This album is the first cumbia I heard, She is the queen of cumbia in Colombia. I love how powerful her voices and the fact that it is only voices and drums.

“Cariñito” - Los Hijos del Sol

A cumbia band from Peru. This one in particular is such a special song. So joyful! It is impossible to listen to it, and not dance. This was the first electronic cumbia band I listened to. They have such great electronic guitar lines and sounds.

“Paloma Negra” - Chavela Vargas

I admire this woman, so much—her voice, her struggle, her strength. She is such an icon for the LGBTQ community, especially in her times. I love how in this song in particular, you can hear her delicate voice at the beginning, almost like a whisper, and then she pulls out this incredibly raw and passionate voice.

“Como la flor” - Selena

I mean, who is not in love with Selena, the Mexican cumbia queen of the late ‘80s and ‘90s? She was so stunning and charismatic. I love the cheesy synth sound and the electric drum sets. “Como la flor” is my favorite song, but I also love her mariachi songs. Her voice is just like velvet, and her wide vibrato is breathtaking. And it was just the beginning.

“Elsa” - Los Destellos

They are the Peruvian chicha band. We definitely are highly influenced by this band’s sound in arrangements. Love the groove, synth  and guitar lines.

“Cumbia Poder” - Celso Piña

Piña is the King of north Mexican cumbia. The singer, and accordion player put his own spin and sound on the genre. This song has an amazing arrangements. I love the groove, and the title translates to “cumbia power,” which is very appropriate. It starts off with a strong, headbanging guitar intro, followed by a beautiful accordion line, then the sing-along chorus. It has a freestyle rap through a megaphone at the end before the headbanging outro. I mean, come on! What a party of a song.

“El Santo Cachon” - Los Embajadores Vallenatos

My favorite Colombian vallenato band. Just really fun, party music and the accordion lines in the vallenato style are very so bouncy and romantic.

“Atrevete-te-te” - Calle 13

Even when it comes to reggaetón  we are old school. Can’t go wrong with this classic. Cumbia is still very present in this song, the lyrics are so much fun, and everybody goes crazy on the dance floor with this one.