Music Sin Fronteras: Nancy Sanchez

Mexican-American Novio, Ep by Nancy Sanchez

I have been following Nancy Sanchez since we first met in 2014. She has been one of the major influences that led me to embrace music without borders – the blends of Mexican, American, and music from other countries that is now the theme of this column and the focus of my musical life here in Mexico.

 A cultural blend herself, born in Mexico, raised in Orange county and Los Angeles, she mixes  regional Mexican, Mariachi, alt Latino and American blues and jazz. But she does it with an awareness of the larger cultural, musical, and even political ramifications of what she is doing. She can sing to you personally, and at the same time set an agenda for social change. There is power in music, and Sanchez knows that and wields it with a beauty and grace that entertains as it teaches and makes change. She sings in Spanish, English, Spanglish, and effortlessly switches among them, as our culture is slowly learning to do. 

The release of “American Novio” in 2-217 and the absolutely brilliant “La Gran Civilizatiòn” with rapper Olmeca cemented her talent and her influence.

In its profile of Sanchez, the Los Angeles Times quoted her, “These (American Novio”” and “La Gran Civilizaciòn” ) are without a doubt the most important works I have done so far, because they have told the most personal part of my experience as a woman, as a Mexican-American, as a Tolucan native and as a resident of Los Angeles,” the singer-songwriter said. “They have been a fusion of everything I have experienced and they are the ones that best represent me.”

And they best represent the multi-lingula, mulita-cultural wonder that America is becoming.

I have seen her at the piano singing hot sultry blues and onstage with her mariachi band many times. And I listed to her many blends over the years with a growing appreciation of not only Snachez’s talent, but of the Mexican America culture that was all around me as I grew up in Los Angeles, but never really contacted with until Sanchez and other Mexican-American artists  like Irene Diaz showed me he wonderful culture I had missed as a child but now appreciate so much as an adult.

Mexican-American Novio is a tour through her musical  range and the thriving Mexican -American society in Los Angeles, and elsewhere in the country. Six songs , some updated from her earlier releases and others popular songs in her own style.

She begins with “La Bikina”  a popular Mexican song composed by Rubén Fuentes covered by many. Her take on it is a blend of high tempo Mexican music, jazzy trumpet, festive piano, and just plain fun. 

She moves on to “Mexican-American Novio (boyfriend), an update of her 2017 song “American Novio”, itself a statement of the changing culture, and an earworm to boot.  The new version follows the same bouncy blended music with a hooky chorus but updated lyrics, reflecting the new generation of Latinos who are now bi-lingual and bi-cultural.

Money Pa’la Fiesta””  is an ultimate party song and Sanchez thoroughly enjoys herself, as we do,  in the updated version with a heavier Latin beat,  the same hooky chorus (she is very good at that) and  a modulated voice that reminds me a little of the music I hear the Malecon in Ajijic. 

“No Siento Nada” (I Feel Nothing) an Sanchez original, is a soft, alluring story that would be at home in a smokey nightclub, even Spanish. Nancy uses her personal storytelling voice, bringing an intimacy to this song that is mesmerizing.

“Sentimental Journey”, the jazz standard first recorded in 1944 by Les Brown and His Band of Renown with Doris Day, lets Sanchez  show us how  in her hands jazz can fit perfectly in any collection music sin fronteras.

The EP closes with “You Are” an Sanchez original love song. I love coming home to you, she sings – how can it get any better. The song encapsulates the feeling when you find the perfect Mexican-American Novio, or Novia, or any partner.

Sanchez is always innovating, mixing it up, crossing borders, and genres and lines. And in doing so she shows us how it’s0 done, how our society, our world, our hearts also know no borders and trapped inside of lines. Just listen and enjoy.