We can’t wait to welcome Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist Sonia De Los Santos (11/18) to the Hylton Center for a bilingual family-friendly concert you and your children will love! Santos is a Monterrey, Mexico native whose music has a soulful sound and a message of hope. The songs in her three albums highlight her experiences growing up in Mexico, moving to another country, and developing connections to her heritage and community. They radiate hope and seek to inspire all of us to find gratitude in one another.
Enjoy our recent Q&A with Sonia De Los Santos to learn more about her newest album, and how her experiences of growing up in Mexico inspire her music.
What is special to you about performing music specifically for children?
Music is my favorite way of expressing myself and I couldn’t see my life without it. Playing for children and families feels very special to me because it brings different generations together. I love to see those moments when babies, kids, parents, and grandparents are having fun with one another, finding common ground in a musical shared experience. The memories that come from those moments are powerful and can stay in people’s lives forever.
What inspired your newest album, Esperanza?
Esperanza is a bilingual collection of songs that explore hope: looking back at our own journey, cherishing our homes, being grateful to one another, dreaming of a better future, marveling at nature, and finding light within ourselves. During the pandemic, I found comfort in making these songs based on some of my life stories; and thinking about how music can inspire us to reflect upon our daily lives, follow our dreams, and find beauty and meaning on our journeys.
How does playing the jarana contribute to the overall sound of your music?
The jarana is a traditional guitar from the south of Mexico, my native country. I chose that instrument because it represents part of my cultural roots; and when I play it, it feels like home, and that translates to our music. Having the jarana allows me to tell my migrant story, and it makes our sound unique. Part of my mission as a creator and performer is finding ways to make my art a vehicle for people to connect to their cultural roots and be proud of who they are. To me, learning how to play the jarana, which I’m still trying to do, is a big part of the connection to my culture.
What do you hope audiences will enjoy most or take away from your upcoming performance at the Hylton Center?
I know audiences will sing, dance, and have fun with one another as they learn from musical instruments and rhythms from Latin America! I also hope our songs and messages resonate with them, whether the songs are in Spanish or English. At the end of the day, music is music, and it doesn’t matter which language we are singing in, the feelings that music can evoke are universal.
Bring the entire family to Sonia De Los Santos (11/18) and hear for yourself the Latin American rhythms of “one of the Latin Children’s music artists you should know” (Billboard):