Earlier in the week I was discussing with my rooommates how our parents have influenced our taste in music. My roommates, Cooper and Paige, are caucasian so it was no surprise to hear that their fathers introduced them to bands like Hootie and the Blowfish, Led Zeppelin, and other “classics”. This led me to ponder my childhood and the type of music I was raised on.

It’s weird, the first record I ever bought was Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors and my first cd was Nirvana’s In Utero; my Mexican roots nowhere to be found. But if you look deep enough in my iPod you’ll find a pretty eclectic assortment of my parents’ favorite music. My love for the Gipsy Kings comes from my dad. I fondly remember listening to songs like “Volare” and “Bamboleo” on Saturday drives with him; not a care in the world, just a father and his daughter. My spirit jived with the infectious spanish guitar that could be found in every song.

Now my mom,on the other hand, she’s a different story. Having been born in 1967, she was an 80s kid growing up in Santa Ana where Mexican culture fused with SoCal culture creating a funky kind of Chicano. Bands like Mary Jane Girls, Teena Marie, and Rick James played the jams. She was also no stranger to new wave stuff like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears. As a kid I was fed all of this amazing music. Our home and car was always full of joy and dancing. As I grew older I gained a new appreciation for the music my parents listened to. It became a link to my childhood. Sometimes I’ll hear some Rick James on the radio and instantly think of my crazy mother belting out the words to Mary Jane. Other times I’ll turn on some Gipsy Kings just to be reminded of my calm father. When I was younger he used to play his Spanish guitar at night softly to himself. I would sit on the stairs and listen to him play, but made sure not to be seen; I wanted every sound I heard to be the sounds he felt, not influenced by an audience.

Music is such a huge part of not only our family, but I think Mexican and Latino families in general. We’ve got a rhythm in our souls. We’ll dance to any beat we hear on the radio or on the streets. I look forward to having children someday and watching them as they explore their own lives through music because it has been one of the biggest influences in mine.