MAS Magazine / 11 - 4 - 2005

CULTURE. PRIDE. C O M M U N I T Y .

Nu単ez: A Singer Inspired by Poetry

10 Ways to Make Women Feel Special Spotlight on Judge Robert Tafoya NOVEMBER 4, 2005

Volume 1, Issue 8

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The Music of Alejandro Nuñez MATT MUÑOZ Special to Más

Alejandro Nuñez is on a mission to be heard.

At 23, the singer-songwriter and guitarist, who also uses the stage name Nuñez, is leading a new wave of local Bakersfield artists creating a sound based on classic poetry.

“For years, I was imitating other artists playing in different bands,” says Nuñez, “but now, I’m finally being myself on stage and in song.”

He describes “being himself,” as “A Latin singer, first and foremost.”

The Nuñez sound is a combination of Mexican romanticism, mixed with an identifiable American folk rock influence. “I like to combine cultures,” says Nuñez. “Mexican and American music with Cuban melodies,” adding that, “If a Mexican was to hear my song, they would be able to identify the style approach right away, just as a Cuban listener would know that my sound has a direct Afro-Cubano influence.”

To understand Nuñez’ musical message, you must first get acquainted with his colorful past.

One of five siblings born to parents Esthela Margarita Nuñez and Sergio Antonio Leon in the California border town of Calexico, Nuñez’s life was filled with the everyday struggles of an immigrant family. These experiences would ultimately shape his developing artistic nature.

Describing his artistic philosophy as “Nuñezvision,” the young artist points to his mother as one of his biggest influences. “Growing up, I used to see my mother always helping peoplw where we lived. I want to help everyone the way she did.”

A close knit and traditional Mexican family, Nuñez said his household was a place of warmth and love growing up. Some of his fondest memories include his grandmother, Victoria, who sang every morning to the children of the house.

“When my grandmother cooked, she always sang, especially when making tortillas or our favorite breakfast crepes. That’s how she woke us up every morning,” he said.

“It was beautiful.”

He also remembers the sounds of romantic Mexican crooners Rigo Tovar, “El Puma” Jose Luis Rodriguez, and of course, José José. “The radio was always on and my mother and sisters loved those singers,” Alejandro says gleefully.

Although the Latin sound was the music of choice in the Nuñez residence, it was his second -grade introduction to the British rock band Queen that would change his life. “One day,” says Nuñez, “someone brought a Queen tape to school. I just listened asking myself, “What is this?” I had never heard anything like this before.”

Soon thereafter he visited his local music dealer specializing in bootleg music cassettes and purchased every tape available by the classic rockers.

Into his teens, Nuñez also became fans of Mexican rockers Califanes, Café Tacuba and Maldita Vecindad, whose multicultural styles resonated through youth oriented, rock music communities on both sides of the Mexican/American border.

As Nuñez began to develop his musicianship at home, he also became more aware of his spiritual identity.

Raised Catholic since childhood, his uncle, Francisco Nuñez Jr., introduced the young Nuñez to the ways of Santeria, the Hear age-old Caribbean religion popuAlejandro Nuñez’s music lar in many Latino communionline at ties. Santeria is closely related to Catholicism http://www.myspace.com/thenunezproject in that its belief system includes many saints, or deities, Upcoming performances: known as orishas. Each initiate, or Santero, as they are known, is assigned its own deity as a spiritual guide and protector:

Elegua is the key to open and close doors and was received by Nuñez during his initiation into the Santeria religion.

Nov. 16, 9 p.m., at Azul, 1514 Wall St. Nov. 23, 9 p.m., as part of Hometown Throwdown 1 at Fishlips, 1517 18th St. Nov. 25, 9 p.m., as part of Hometown Throwdown 2 at Lengthwise Brewery, 6720 Schirra Court Nov. 26, 7 p.m., as part of Hometown Throwdown 3 at Amigos Cantina, 8020 District Boulevard

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Nuñez’s orisha is named Elegua, the patron deity of thresholds, transitions, beginnings and crossroads.

“I became a student of student of Santeria four years ago,” says Nuñez, “but officially initiated as a Santero two years ago.”

Nuñez said his strong belief in mysticism is “all for the good of his fellow human beings.” Similar to guitarist Carlos Santana’s belief in “oneness,” or all people being in tune with one universe, Alejandro also wants the world to become united for peace. “We live in one world,” says Nuñez, “and we all need to get along.”

The combination of his spiritual background, musical influences and strong family ties shaped Nuñez’s musical journey upon his family’s arrival in Bakersfield nine years ago.

“I played with a few local bands,” He says, “Buena Suerte (Good Luck,) who sounded cute and Brit-poppy, and Califanes, who became LIKHY2 after I left. We used to play at Jerry’s Pizza all the time.”

After years of feeling out of place in the local music scene, Alejandro knew it was time to go out on his own.

“It was time to stop pretending,” he says, “I just want to be myself.”

Looking for inspiration, Nuñez turned to his family once again, discovering a wealth of poetry and songs written by his grandfather, Francisco Nuñez Gomez, Sr. “I discovered eight books of beautiful poetry and songs written by my grandfather,” says Nuñez. “I read them and found that I could interpret his words into songs.”

In addition to being a poet, Francisco Sr. was also a major figure during the early days of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW.) Nuñez displays some of his grandfather’s work and a letter dated 1974, direct from UFW headquarters. “Someone from the University of Los Angeles was a fan and offered him a job writing songs and poems for their newspaper, El Malcriado (The Bad Mannered One,”) says Nuñez, “He ended up writing for them for years.”

Many of the poems written by his grandfather had similar themes: poverty, work, everyday struggles, politics, but “most of all,” says Alejandro, “lots of love.”

Taking a cue from Francisco Sr.’s love poetry written for his beloved wife, Victoria, Nuñez enjoys playing soothing melodies on guitar.

Never shy about his talent, Nuñez will gladly sing you a song upon request. “Let me play you a song,” he says, as he picks up one of his two guitars on display near his altar dedicated to his orisha. “This one’s called “Dios Mio. It’s a song is about admiring a woman’s beauty and asking God to help you find a way to her heart.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Alejandro Nuñez's grandfather, Francisco Nuñez Gomez.

Alejandro Nuñez's inheritance is a portion of his grandfather's poetry, who has compiled nearly a thousand poems stored in notebooks.

"Dios Mio" is one of the first Nuñez wrote music for and what he considers to be a favorite of his fans.

Gracefully strumming each note with a Latin flair, Nuñez clearly loves his art. Without distraction, he seems to channel divine energy through his soul and into each verse in a seemingly, trance-like state. After a few numbers, Nuñez goes on to show me more of his grandfather’s songs and even some of his own originals, including “Quisiera,” “Casa Vieja,” and “Mujer Masochista,” a song dealing with the problem of spousal abuse.

“My songs range from happy to sad and back again,” says Nuñez. “My song, Mujer Masochista, for example, asks the question, ‘Why do women stay with abusive men?’ I like to talk about everything in life. We need to talk about things to find answers.”

“I’m flavoring my music with what I have inside, my ‘Latinidad,’” Nuñez said. “I know what my background and culture are. Now I want the world to know who Nuñez is!”

Alejandro Nuñez at home in Bakersfield Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005.

PHOTOS BY LYDIA GONZALES