RICANSTRUCTION
Defiant lyrics appeal to oppressed youth
By
Carlos Rovira
New York
The exciting sound of a new music band known as
Ricanstruction is gradually captivating many and winning
recognition as an expression of revolutionary youth. Those who
have seen the band perform at New York's nightclubs like ABC No
Rio, El Canay, CBGB's and S.O.B.'s will agree that
Ricanstruction is unique and creative.
The members of the band are Alano Baez doing vocals, Fidel
Paulino on guitar, Joseph Rodriguez on drums and percussion,
Arturo Rodriguez on bass, and Roger Vasquez on percussion. Most
of the group are Puerto Rican, except Paulino, who is from the
Dominican Republic.
The rebellious spirit of these musicians reflects the social
experiences of Latino youth raised in the United States. In the
four years of its existence, Ricanstruction has become known
for its defiant lyrics that condemn capitalism and project
optimism for the struggles of the oppressed.
Like the popular tune entitled "Liberation Day," the group
envisions a future celebration of Puerto Ricans on the day they
triumph over U.S. colonialism.
The group's devotion to the people's struggle has grown. As
a gesture of solidarity, Ricanstruction has signed over the
proceeds from its latest CD, entitled "Mumia Abu-Jamal," to the
struggle for the freedom of this political prisoner.
The band's members have performed at many political events
in the U.S. as well as in El Salvador and on the Puerto Rican
island of Vieques. Ricanstruction is now planning to visit Cuba
to perform there.
On June 24, at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the band will
present its music video and have an open discussion with
members of the audience. This event is a benefit for the
struggle against the U.S. military now taking place on the
island of Vieques.
In an interview with Workers World, vocalist Alano Baez
expressed some of Ricanstruction's views.
What motivates your use of political messages in
music?
Basically, our search is for an alternative form of music.
Artists have a social responsibility to contribute to the
betterment of society. We have a responsibility to combat
cultural conservatism, which perpetuates racist, sexist and
homophobic hatred.
What would you say to
the notion of art for art's sake?
It's a ridiculous notion. The development of music and other
art forms has never been isolated from what occurs in the
world. Music should not be meaningless or used as a tool by the
rich and powerful to divert attention away from real issues.
Artists are the product of one or another sociopolitical
current in the class struggle.
Now, let's ask ourselves, do the people in power use art for
just art's sake? Absolutely not! They use their control of big
money to manipulate all artistic means to promote war and
conquest, racism and the police, and to keep all of us ignorant
and divided.
So you see Ricanstruction as part of the growing
revolutionary movement of the oppressed and
exploited?
Yes. There's no two ways about that. Knowing the truth of
how Boricuas were invaded and colonized by the U.S., knowing
how Latinos are victimized in this country, obligates us to use
our talents as musicians for the liberation of our people.
We are nothing more than a detachment of that growing
liberation struggle. For us to conduct ourselves in a different
manner and do the contrary after having gained an understanding
of who we are and where we come from would be to disgrace
ourselves as musicians and, above all, as Latinos.
Can you tell us why your musical form is not Latino in
the traditional sense, like Salsa or Merengue?
Traditions are not written in stone. They're as relative as
anything else. We see our music as another form or distinctive
development of Latino music but deriving from a different
Latino experience.
Take, for example, break dancing, which developed and became
very popular during the late 1970s. On the surface, it appeared
as anything but Latino. What justified it being called a Latino
form of dance was that it was developed by Puerto Rican youths
raised in the South Bronx.
[End of interview.]
No matter how one describes Rican struction's music, it is
certain that its splendid incorporation of Salsa, Punk,
African, Jazz, Rock and other musical elements provides the
listener with a different perspective on music, one that points
to the familiar elements in different cultures that oppressed
peoples use to resist oppression.
For more information on Ricanstruction and its latest CD
release, you can write P.O. Box 205, New York, NY 10012; or
call (212) 539-8471; or their web page at
www.bigfoot.com/~ricanstruction.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
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