Locarno is the Latin project of Juno award winning musician and Paperboys frontman, Tom Landa. The music, like him, is part Mexican but with strong doses of Cuban Son, Folk Music, Pop and Funk. The music is truly original, offering a new flavour in the Latin music genre.
Born and raised in Mexico City to a Mexican father and a Canadian mother, Landa moved to Ontario during his teenage years where he put his Mexican musical roots behind him in favour of the sounds of his new environment. However, on hearing the Mexican American band, Los Lobos, he rediscovered his musical roots, and began not only to learn more about this music, but also to write and arrange songs in this genre.
Landa’s goal is to create music which is heavily influenced by Mexican music, but using the elements and musicians around him in his hometown of Vancouver. He has partnered with Alex Cuba’s Juno award winning producer, Joby Baker, to create songs in both English and Spanish. Surrounded by the finest of BC's Latin musicians, including trumpet, percussion and drums, violin, trombone, and vocals, Locarno's debut album “percolates with warmth and groove,” and achieves “an authentic cultural reference,” according to Worldbeat Canada radio.
Arriba! Enjoy this exciting sound at the Bella Coola Music Festival on July 20-21!
