So my burning question, as a humble fan, is really simple. Why has Austin, and no other city in the States, become a hotbed of Cumbia creativity? Whether it is DJ collectives, solo acts or groups, Austin is now the US capital for innovative Cumbia fusion music. Porqué?!

Well, here’s a great cross section of answers, directly from the mouths of the culprits themselves, and they all speak Cumbia fluently!

DJ Dusty Oliveira
Based out of Corpus Christi, Dusty has produced and worked with La Conquista, Kumbia Kings and Austin’s own Brian Ramos. In an announcement to promote Peligrosa coming to Corpus for the first time, Oliveira posted, as a joke, on his Facebook, “Reggaeton is Dead!” 

“Ahhh!, I didn’t really mean that, I do like to talk alot of shit, but I do feel like Cumbia is taking over the Latin game.  In all parts of the globe Cumbia is getting crazy with the Bersa discos dudes and Zizek in Argentina and Cali, Toy Selectah in Mexico fucking with Diplo and famous DJ's around the world, the Dallas cumbia Krunk-eros, Fantasma here in Austin rocking all over the place spreading the cumbia virus...

and you got us the Peligrosa crew in Texas trying to make it happen just like these other crews...  everyone is going Cumbia, it seems.  Austin is a place where you don’t have to play what the mainstream wants, you can experiment and set your own trends, and people will accept it, now you’re going to see it getting bigger in other places around Texas, when we all catch up...

we just did Peligrosa’s first date in Corpus, (which was a killer) we are working on making it a monthly, week-long tour across the state and possibly Mexico!”
 
Rocky Reyna | Este Vato:
“If you think about it, most of the musicians here in Austin are not even from here. They move here, not only from other Texas cities, but from ALL over the world, to try and make it as a musician. Therefore, each musician brings their own Latin music influences with them and incorporates them into their music/band. I, for example, grew up listening to old Mexican-American corridos from artists like Ramón Ayala and Esteban Jordan. Then, as I grew older I started listening to Tejano music, which consists of more modern corridos, cumbias, and huapangos from artists like Los Palominos, La Mafia, Grupo Mazz, Intocable and more. I mix that together with my other genre influences like Rock, Hip Hop and Raggae, You get music like Este Vato as the final product.”

Trey López and Manolo Black | Peligrosa All-Stars:
“Hmmm, well I don't really think it's Austin specific. West Coast, East Coast, Argentina, Mexico & Europe all gave DJ crews like us, rockin’ the cumbia. I will say that we (Peligrosa Crew) are the first DJ crew to get it going here in Austin. And don't forget about DJ Dus in Corpitos.  Look up Zizek, Bersa discos, what's up Buenos Aires?, Sonidero Nacional, in NYC "Que Bajo" monthly party. Man, even Diplo is getting into it.”

Anita Benner | Los Bad Apples:
"One of the reasons I love incorporating Cumbia into the “menudo” of sounds that Los Bad Apples creates is because it lends itself so well to the ethnic and musical fusions we pride ourselves on.  Cumbia in and of itself is a fusion of African and Amerindian influences, so for us to add Hip Hop to the mix feels like a natural extension.  Given that our bass player, Aldo Ramon, has played with Cumbia legends Kumbia Kings and Los Super Reyes, you can bet thatLos Bad Apples has plenty more cumbias in store!"

Nelson Valente | Maneja Beto:
“1) the sheer number of musical acts in Austin could be a factor. With so many bands come many different styles. Cumbia happens to be one of them.

2) Cumbia has always existed here in town, it just hadn't made it's way to "Sixth Street"… it took a band like Grupo Fantasma to bring it from club carnival to venues like Emo's or the Parish. As far as I'm concerned they were the band that made Cumbia "cool" here in town. Not only did they fuse musical styles together, but also brought with them a more palatable image. They have a more urban image, again it made it more accessible to mainstream Austin.

3) the cumbia rhythm/beat lends itself well in complementing other styles. You can mix it up quite easily. Also, who can resist the kick on a quarter beat?”

My buzzed mind eagerly awaits SX for many of these acts, but also after. After the music industry has gone away for another year, I wonder what amazing band is cleaning out their garage, sharpening their chops and will play on Red River soon. From live bands to a thriving crossover DJ scene, one could make the argument that from South America north up to Monterrey and up the corridor to Austin, the lure and legend of the Cumbia has flourished. Austin is the new Cumbia capital of the world!