Los De Abajo

Los De Abajo

Los De Abajo are a ska group from Ciudad de México, active since 1992. They form in 1992 as a Latin ska four-piece and later expand to an eight-member line-up, while also widening their sound beyond ska to include rock, salsa, reggae, cumbia, Son Jarocho and banda sinaloense.

Formation and line-up

Founding member Líber Terán is the main vocalist and writes many of the songs. The group operate with equal pay for all members. Their line-up includes Líber Terán, Carlos Cuevas, Yocupitzio Arellano, Vladimir Garnica, Canek Cabrera, Carlos "Coca" Cortés, Odisea Valenzuela, Edgar Chávez, Mauricio Díaz, Heliot Mendiola, Pavel Sandoval and Javier Zúñiga.

Recordings and recognition

The band first release Latin Ska Force independently after failing to secure a record deal in Mexico, where their music is judged to be too little commercial. In 1999 they sign to David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label for their international debut, Los de Abajo. Their 2002 follow-up Cybertropic Chilango Power wins BBC Radio 3’s World Music Award for the Americas.

Later work and collaborations

On LDA v The Lunatics from 2006, Los De Abajo continue to draw on global influences and include a Spanish-language version of The Fun Boy Three song “The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)”, with Neville Staples appearing on the track. “Resistencia”, the opening track on the album, features Comandante Esther of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

Political affiliation

The group support the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and play benefit concerts for the movement.