Celebrating Latine Heritage Month, Latin Mix by Miss DJ Bliss
We are officially one week into Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month! Prism DJs is excited to celebrate and honor the charismatic music brought to us by Latin culture. However, as we uplift this proud heritage, we must also understand where it comes from and why it's important to observe and respect.
Spanning from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month was signed into law in 1988 by President Reagan. Prior to that, it had been a week-long observation starting in 1968 with President Johnson. This month of recognition for Hispanic heritage symbolically begins on September 15, the day Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua gained their independence. The 30-day observation also includes the independence days of Mexico (9/16) and Chile (9/18), as well as Columbus Day, or Dia de la Raza (10/12). During this month, we celebrate the “histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America,” as it says on hispanicheritagemonth.gov.
In addition to taking time to discover and appreciate Latin culture, this month is also a necessary time to reeducate ourselves on proper terminology and identifiers. Language is changing all the time in order to become more respectful and inclusive, and terms regarding the Latin population are no different. The term ‘Hispanic’ has been around the longest, originating in 1975 to identify Spanish-speaking people. However, this term has a troubled past due to its roots in forced assimilation, colonization, and even attempted genocide, therefore diminishing the Indigenous and African American ancestry shared by many people in this category. Most recently, the terms Latinx and Latine have been utilized to identify Spanish-speaking peoples in a more gender-inclusive way.
Because Prism DJs is part of the music industry, we also like to use Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month to get acquainted with the original music that comes from this dynamic culture.
Salsa is probably the most well-known type of Latin music, known for its quick tempo and eclectic, always-evolving sound utilizing diverse instruments.
Cumbia music comes from Colombia originally and is more folk-sounding in style, reflecting elements of African and Indigenous techniques.
Reggaeton has become popular with younger generations by musicians like Daddy Yankee and DJ Playero, who blend hip-hop and reggae with rapping and singing.
Bachata music originated in the Dominican Republic, uses five specific instruments, and has been influenced by Spanish, African, and Indigenous elements.
Merengue, also from the Dominican Republic and sharing the same influences, has a slower, five-beat tempo, and it is traditionally more sentimental.
Bossa nova was born in Brazil in the sixties by Joao Gilberto, who combined elements of samba and jazz.
Rumba is a popular, upbeat, Afro-Cuban style of music.
Son is an important type of music in Cuban culture and has been the foundation for much of Cuba’s music culture.
Tango comes from Argentina and Uruguay and is performed by piano, double bass, two violins, and two bandoneons.
Latin Pop became prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s with artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and more.
Like Latin Pop, Rock en Español blends the pop and rock genres with the rich Spanish influences of the other types of Hispanic music outlined here.
To celebrate the contributions of Latin culture in the music industry, Prism DJs will spend the month making mixes that include Latin and Latin-inspired music. Our DJs will scour the hottest Latin beats from the genres listed above and the artists that utilize them, and we’ll bring them to you in mixes that will dare you not to move your feet. We’ll be sharing one mix per week on our Instagram.
Our first Latin mix comes from Miss DJ Bliss. Bliss was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, and she grew up immersed in a variety of Latin, American, and Asian music. Her unique musical background, versatility, and creativity, paired with over a decade of party rocking skills, make her one of the most sought-after DJs in Los Angeles. Bliss has been invited to DJ all over the US, Asia, and Europe, and she spins weekly at some of LA’s hottest nightclubs and lounges. She’s also worked with clients like Nike, Disney, Dior, and Jimmy Choo. Bliss’s infectious energy combined with her passion for music creates a vibe unlike any other experience. We are thrilled to work with her, and we cannot wait to drop her unique Latin mix as we kick off Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month.
Click here to listen to Miss DJ Bliss mix for Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month. Stay tuned for more phenomenal mixes from our collective in celebration of this vital time.