Los de Abajo started as a group of friends and students of music and other subjects. Belonging as they did to this university student class and living the day-to-day hard reality experienced by the Mexican people, they began searching the perfect musical tool to spread information and denounce injustice.
Los de Abajo, their name taken from Mexican writer Mariano Azuela’s novel of the same name, forged their identity on this revolutionary spirit and by playing at students' and workers’ rallies, with artists, Zapatista soldiers, gay- and womens-rights movements, and many other groups of free-thinkers and others outside of the mainstream.
On September 15th, 1992 Los de Abajo played at the Mexican Independence Anniversary; this performance was the first step in a long road of struggle for a different way of living and thinking.
Using their music, made up of salsa, merengue, cumbia, punk, rap, reggae, rock, and Mexican traditions such as son Jarocho, Northern music, and banda sinaloense, Los de Abajo began to spread information and ideas.
Los de Abajo didn’t fit any of the Mexican music market stereotypes; therefore, their first recording, simply called “Los de Abajo,” was produced by the New York label Luaka Bop, owned by musician and producer David Byrne. This launched the group into the world market. Their second album, “Cyber Tropic Chilango Power” was marketed by the same label and was produced by the Chirusa brotherhood (Danny Macaco, Martín Fucks, and Carlos Jaramillo). In 2002, Los de Abajo was awarded the BBC “Award for World Music, Americas Category”. In Mexico, the “Latin Ska Force” album sold 50,000 copies on average, impressive for an independent, underground-distributed production.
For over 27 years, Los de Abajo have made people dance in more than 30 countries, have set foot in four continents, and have participated in prestigious festivals such as the Glastonbury Festival, the Paleo Festival, the Gurten Festival and WOMAD.
Their 2006 release, "Los de Abajo Vs. the Lunatics", including a cover of Fun Boy Three’s "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum", was recorded for Peter Gabriel’s "Real World" label. This album took them to Jules Holland’s TV show.
Los de Abajo is currently finishing their seventh album. It will be an explosive combination of North Mexico music, timba, music from the Balkans, reggae, cumbia, and rap and hip-hop, with a deep social content and dazzling energy spicing their work, as usual.
After all these years full of experience, struggle, and learning, Los de Abajo now offer a powerful and danceable musical experience.
