Long time readers of Essentially Pop will remember singer, songwriter, author, and vocal coach Estani. Now based in Austin, Texas, the granddaughter of Rosita Lopez, one of the earliest voices of Conjunto and Tejano music, is paying homage to that style, which is still largely unfamiliar outside its cultural roots of South and Central Texas.
Estani started a project to encourage her grandmother to re-record her songs, and along the way she’s united pioneers and contemporary voices in a celebration of that sound, and along the way preserving a special genre. There’s an album and a documentary in the making, and the project has become much more than just an homage to Estani’s grandmother, and now sets to give light to a uniquely American traditional style, that is firmly rooted in the land and its people.
The first single, ‘Mi Suerte Ha Cambiado’ (‘My Luck Has Changed’), sees Estani breathe new life into her grandmother’s groundbreaking release from nearly half a decade ago. Alongside Grammy-award-winning Max Baca and Los Texmaniacs, it’s both nostalgic and yet rejuvenating, with its thumping backbeat, sparkling accordion, and luscious harmonies. The song magically captures the essence of the culture, while lifting spirits and encouraging listeners to celebrate.
The music video which accompanies ‘Mi Suerte Ha Cambiado’ features a live performance in the studio, with every instrument positioned with purpose, and all the musicians nodding, almost instinctively, to the beat. Nonetheless it feels beautifully organic, and maintains the captivating and timeless quality of the genre. Audiences are transported in time and space to the South Texas of the past, comfortably vintage and yet entirely contemporary. Surely there’s a Conjunto revival on the horizon.
You can find out more about Estani online on her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.
