On eve of elections, Mexican Institute of Sound calls his country rotten
Camilo Lara, a.k.a. Mexican Institute of Sound, sports a #YoSoy132 shirt.
By NURIA NET
Camilo Lara, the former record label executive-turned-recording artist who goes by the moniker Mexican Institute of Sound (and/or Instituto Mexicano del Sonido; he’s bilingual) has come up with something unexpected for his new album, titled Politico.
The artist, known for his happy-go-lucky party tracks and a fondness for Mexican folk mixed with electronica, has turned serious, and yes, political. Just in time for Mexico’s elections this Sunday, Mexican Institute of Sound has released the music video for a track titled “Mexico,” a somber, almost desperate cry to his countrymen and women for self-dignity and action in these hard times.
“Es una nación podrida con una población herida,” he sings, with wailing tubas in the background. He talks of mass murders in Veracruz, of El Chapo’s dominance, and fear, while the video (directed by Jonás Cuarón, brother of Alfonso) shows gruesome images of real-life crime scenes and military assaults.
The video was shot a few weeks ago in the Zócalo area of Mexico City, with real-life parents of the 49 children killed in a fire at a kindergarten in Hermosillo, Sonora in 2009. The kindergarten, Guarderia ABC, was located next to a warehouse owned by the local government where the fire originated (and was subletted to the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, or the social security ministry, a play on the artist’s name).
Watching the parents of victims and sympathizers stand up to demand justice, reminiscent of the student movements of #YoSoy132, I can’t help but think that in this chant, Lara still remains hopeful for what Mexico can become.
(Photo: InstitutoMexicanodelSonido.tv)
