Antigua Goes to the Studio: La Tortilla – Antigua all stars

La Raiz - Klay and Luis

For anyone that visits Antigua, there can be no doubt that one of the memories that they will take away with them will be of an afternoon or evening spent having a few drinks and listening to some of the quality live local music that this town has an abundance of. For those of us that choose to stay a little longer, this music is an essential part of life here, and Antigua living would not be the same without it. The musicians that contribute to the music scene are the lifeblood of Antigua, and night after night they play at various locales across town, keeping the pulse of this city beating. They come from countries all around the world, bringing with them a rich, diverse range of songs, sounds and melodies that weave together to form the colorful tapestry of the Antigua music scene. They each have their own distinctive sound, and their own stories of how they came to be here however one thing is always constant: ask any of the artists why they do what they do and you will always get the same answer: for the love of music.

This love of music was also the catalyst that sparked the creation of La Tortilla – a collective music project started here in Antigua by two local residents: Antonio Jueves and Corrina Grace. A few months ago, in a serendipitous meeting on the steps of Café No Se, they discovered that they both shared the same passion and vision for music, and had a common dream to find a way to take this music out of Guatemala and share it with the rest of the world.

Jueves – himself one of Antigua’s much-loved performers – has spent the last 12 months arranging festivals and playing music across Europe, and has just returned to play in Guatemala once again. Corrina is an engineer from Australia who has recently moved to Antigua where (apart from music projects) she has a non-profit project working on climate change in Guatemala. Together, they have spent the last few months working on the project which – in honor of its importance as an integral part of life in Guatemala – has become known as “La Tortilla”. The project is a not-for-profit collective music project, supporting and promoting the work of Antiguan musicians and providing assistance for new and emerging musical talent in and around Antigua. Jueves and Corrina are currently working on the production of La Tortilla’s first album – the Antigua All Stars. This album was conceived as a form in which the musicians of Antigua can promote their music both within and outside Guatemala. The vision of the album is to “create a compilation of original music from selected artists that sing in Antigua by which the music, like a seed, will travel to many places and create an exposition, individual and collective, of this musical vortex in which we live: La Antigua.”

Jueves - the other half of La Tortilla

The Antigua All Stars is a high-energy, low budget project. In a living room-cum-studio out in the hills of Santa Ana, a small group of enthusiastic people have been gathering each morning to record the artists – many of which are recording for the first time. In this studio, with the talented skills of the two sound engineers and the very inspired photographer Eric Stone, magic happens. It is the kind that gives you goose bumps and raises the hairs on your arms, as you watch how the time and energy of a community of people from around the world can come together to  make this dream a reality. As with any project, this has its challenges: one of which is trying to block out the noise of the numerous dogs, chickens and “Zeta Gas” trucks that pass by while artists are recording. However, one must recognize that these sounds are the flavors of Guatemala, and an integral part of the “handcrafted” essence that the album is trying to capture.

The recording process will continue through to the first few weeks of July, after which the production and promotion of the album will commence. The launch of the album is scheduled for the 22^nd of August, at a live concert to be held here in Antigua. The concert will be a celebration of music, featuring all the artists that appear on the album in a night of delights in the most eclectic of manners. It will be a night of music and dancing, of community and friends. A night not to be missed.

And what comes next? Well, since starting the project it has been clear that the idea and vision is one that appeals to people from all walks of life. Like a magnet, it draws people in – inspired by the music, the talent, the inspiration and the energy. It is a project that is shaking the strings of Antigua’s tribes and clans, resonating among the community to create a polyphonic tune that everyone can associate with. With this kind of response, the project will continue to grow organically – perhaps a Volume 2 here in Antigua, perhaps a Lago Atitlan All Stars. In the words of blah blah, to try and stop the music would be like trying to stop time. Impossible and inconceivable.

The Antigua All Stars will be a limited edition production. The album will be on sale at the launch event and at locations around town that feature live music. For more information on how and where to purchase a copy of the album, and for details about the launch event, visit the La Tortilla My Space page at www.myspace.com/latortilla.