Radio Mundial is two Chicanos from East L.A. discussing everything from music business to breaking into the craft beer industry. With over 20+ years of experience in the music industry, and currently running a gypsy brewing company, Rivera & Trejo offer a unique insight into startup culture, Latino…
We talk with Boyle Heights native, Viva Mescal (Mickey Miranda), on the importance of authentically cultivating a fan base, building leverage as an independent artist and what it means to be in control of your own career in a post pandemic music industry. As the founder of hip hop collective and production team, “East of the River,” Viva Mescal has positioned himself as the architect behind the current hip hop movement out of Boyle Heights/East LA. With a keen eye for marketing and branding, Viva Mescal is on the cusp of breaking nationally in the U.S. He continues to independently release music consistently while growing his reach daily. With international tours already in his repertoire, Viva Mescal is building a solid foundation for global appeal. Viva Mescal Links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5DKkWwiANj8Qtd6xXAHpYb IG: https://www.instagram.com/vivamescal/ Website: http://www.vivamescal.com/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera. *This interview was done remotely with everyone at their respective homes during the Covid-19 stay at home orders.
Nectali Diaz aka Sumohair, is a Los Angeles based producer & DJ. He's also one half of Mexican music duo, Reyna Tropical. Sumohair grew up in the musically rich city of Long Beach, CA. There he found an affinity for music while attending high school. Building his chops as a teen playing in punk bands, he grew into a multi-instrumentalist, After graduating HS, Diaz found himself pursuing a career as a hair stylist. Mastering the craft of styling hair and becoming an in-demand instructor for some of the industries most popular brands, Diaz found his way back to music. Seven years later, Sumohair emerges as one of LA's most interesting, eclectic and sought after producers of World music. He's known for performing DJ sets pulling heavily from the African diaspora which in turn makes him a modern day ethnomusicologist, turning vinyl into lesson plans. He holds strong to his mission of teaching listeners about world culture through music and unapologetically shining light on disenfranchised people all over the globe. https://www.instagram.com/sumohair/ https://www.instagram.com/reynatropical/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera.
We sit down with Jacqueline Martinez - Founder of the woman’s active apparel brand, Inner Artist. Listen as we get into the details of launching an apparel brand with $300, overcoming adversity as a new founder and what it’s like being a young Latina in business. Check out Inner Artist here: IG: https://www.instagram.com/_innerartist_/ Co. website: https://innerartistapparel.com/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera.
Amy Blackman is one of our most inspiring guests to date. We get deep and talk everything from being passionate about your work, what it means to be successful, personal growth, mental health and her amazing story of how she found her way into the music industry and why she left it all behind. After receiving an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Columbia, she moved to LA and had a successful 18 year run in the music industry, managing the global businesses of multi-Grammy Award winning music artists and producers. Her career culminated in being named a Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, producing public diplomacy missions in regions that had never before seen live music from the West. Dreams fulfilled, she sold her house, quit her job, and attended Georgetown University for a Global Executive MBA. She was recruited to run the North America subsidiary of a global multimedia design agency, then became VP at Contend Immersive, working with rogue, vanguard and brilliant strategists, designers, artists, and branders. Her latest venture is Founder/Principal at Fruition Co., an innovation strategy consultancy that coalesces her life, work, and academic adventures. For fun, Amy does international channel swimming expeditions. Amy Blackman can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/amyblackbeez/ https://www.hellofruition.co/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera.
It is no secret the craft beer industry is a thriving market. It's also no secret people of color represent a very small percentage of brewery owners. In that regard, Aurelio Ramirez is among a small group of Latino outliers in an industry that has historically held a high barrier to entry. Unlike most brewers who dream of owning a brewery after being introduced to the hobby of brewing beer at home, Aurelio got bit by the craft beer bug after one night of brewery hopping. With no previous insight on the beer industry and no knowledge of brewing, he recruited his now fiance to join him on his journey. Two years later, Feathered Serpent Brewery opened its doors in sunny San Dimas, CA. Listen to Aurelio tell us how he went from drinking mass produced macro beer, to selling his house and bootstrapping the first Mexican-American owned brewery in San Dimas. FSB IG: https://www.instagram.com/feathered_serpent_brewery/?hl=en Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera.
Fernando Lopez talks about his role in carrying the torch of a family legacy, co-founding the I Love Micheladas brand, launching the Michi Mobile, hosting a Youtube show and collaborating with the weekly food event Smorgasburg LA. After immigrating to Los Angeles from Oaxaca in the 90's, Fernando Sr., found success as a budding restaurateur. With rave reviews from the likes of the legendary food critic, Jonathan Gold, one venture led to many and Mr. Lopez was well on his way to building an empire. Then, the economic crisis of 2008 hit and all was lost. Facing bankruptcy and the possibility of losing the cherished restaurant business their father worked so hard to build, Fernando and his siblings decided to take the reigns. Several years later, La Guelaguetza is thriving and the family business has spawn multiple products at retail, including a cook book highlighting Oxacan cuisine based on recipes from the restaurant. The Lopez siblings have become some of LA's best known culture advocates, tastemakers on all things Oaxaca and preservers of a family legacy that epitomizes the American Dream. Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA. Mixed and edited in post by Ray Ricky Rivera.
Carl Lofgen is a well respected figure throughout the LA music scene. His downtown bar, La Cita, has become a hotbed for breaking local Latin talent. It was at La Cita Grammy award winning singer, Carla Morrison, was discovered. Famed DJ, Moby, used La Cita as a backdrop in his music video for "Perfect Life." Carl talks about the early days of launching a small tech startup called, The Super Dudes, and later selling to Myspace. We delve into his short lived career working in the music industry as an aspiring A&R guy, to coming full circle with his Gold Diggers trifecta of hotel, recording studio and bar business. Carl gives listeners some advice on the importance of having partners, seeking out investors and what to do when opening a bar business. http://www.lacitabar.com/ https://gold-diggers.com/ https://eldo-stowaway.com/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA.
We sit down with Long Beach resident, Sarah Bennett, and talk candidly about all things Long Beach, losing her mother at an early age, exploring subcultures of Los Angeles and her rise from struggling writer to nationally recognized journalist. Sarah Bennett is an award winning journalist who is currently a Media Studies Professor at Santa Ana College. As a freelance journalist, her words have been published in the L.A. Times, L.A. Weekly, O.C. Weekly, Time Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, CNN, NBC News, Paper Magazine, Thrillist, First We Feast, L.A. Record, Beer Advocate, City Beat Long Beach, Drink Me! Mag, The District Weekly, Vienna’s Der Standard, Culture Magazine and more. In addition to teaching full-time at Santa Ana College, Sarah is also the host of, Suppertime In The LBC, with food writer Brian Addison. https://lbpost.com/tag/suppertime-in-the-lbc/ Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA.
We sit down with television/music industry veteran Vicky Cabildo. Listen as we cover Vicky’s expansive career from managing major label artists at Universal Music, to programming talent for the likes of MTV3, Telemundo’s Mun2 & LATV Network to her current position as talent buyer for the historic music venue The Paramount, in Boyle Heights. Vicky Cabildo has a wealth of knowledge from her 20+ years working in the U.S. Latino entertainment industry. A definite must listen for anyone looking to get some insight on this industry. Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-ma…Qe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA.
Gilbert Gastelum is an industry trailblazer. As the CEO and Founder of Cosmica Artists, Gil has helped discover and break independent Latin-Alternative acts into globally recognized Grammy award winning talent. With critically acclaimed stars on his roster including; Mexican indie-pop singer, Carla Morrison and Guatemalan singer-songwriter, Gabby Moreno, Gastelum has taken Cosmica from a boutique bedroom operation to a full fledged indie force of irrefutable talent. Listen in as we talk shop and learn how Gil has built a successful modern day record label, what it takes to handle day to day management, and get his view on the current state of the music industry. Intro Music Used By Permission Artist: 40 Watt Hype. Song: Mas Y Mas https://music.apple.com/us/album/mas-y-mas/369229887?i=369229987&fbclid=IwAR1dhx4RKqx9G7jubS5I_qB7CTyM0RleLn3Re8hbkoQe8--12p0TF-qvSS0 The Radio Mundial Podcast is recorded by Elijah Raziel at La Banda Elastica Radio in Highland Park, CA.
Wildog Abers is the co-founder, bassist and vocalist of the ground breaking, social-political, multi-Grammy award winning band, OZOMATLI. He is a successful producer and entrepreneur in his own right. Abers chronicles his start in the music industry, the importance of having a manager and gets deep about social awareness and his experience of being white while assimilating into LA Latino culture.