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    Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion : The Image Present : NPR

    Olivia CarterBy No Comments6 Mins Read
    Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion : The Image Present : NPR

    Spaghetti Cumbia posa para un retrato en Vasquez Rocks, en el norte del condado de Los Ángeles, el 26 de marzo de 2022.

    Spaghetti Cumbia poses for a portrait at Vasquez Rocks in northern LA County on March 26, 2022. The band created their very own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western kinds and rock and roll.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    That is a part of a particular sequence, Cumbia Across Latin America, a visible report throughout six nations developed over a number of years, overlaying the individuals, locations and cultures that maintain this music style alive.

    Marcel Campos, the lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, typically talks about being caught in between two cultures — not Mexican sufficient for Mexicans and never American sufficient for Individuals. Ni de aquí, ni de allá. The Spaghetti sound was born out of a fusion of the 2 cultures. The members of the band all have deep connections to their Mexican roots. They grew up listening to Latin music of their houses and at household events in Boyle Heights and East LA. Paulo Paredones, the bass participant, often known as El Maniacs, remembers yelling at his dad to show down the cumbia. However rising up in LA, they have been additionally closely influenced by basic rock, punk rock and hip-hop. The band created their very own model, mixing cumbia with all their influences and including a Spaghetti Western sound.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player and vocalist in Spaghetti Cumbia, plays his guitar surrounded by the crowd at a show El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on December 29, 2024. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Pedro Zapata, often known as Pedro Pistolas, a guitar participant and vocalist for Spaghetti Cumbia, performs his guitar whereas surrounded by a crowd at a present on the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Dec. 29, 2024.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, the guitar player, and Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player head to their show at La Cita, in Los Angeles on March 15, 2025.

    Bobby Guerrero, often known as El Gallo Digital, and Zapata, who each play guitar for Spaghtti Cumbia, head to the band’s present at LA’s La Cita bar on March 15, 2025.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Adolfo Mercado plays the drums at a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on June 17, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Adolfo Mercado Jr. performs the drums at a present at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on June 17, 2022.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    Within the early twentieth century, the land east of the Los Angeles River grew to become a vacation spot for immigrants, and by the Nineteen Forties, the world was principally Latino. As we speak, East LA and Boyle Heights are each about 95% Latino, and Los Angeles County has the most important Hispanic inhabitants within the nation, with 4.8 million individuals.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Adolfo Mercado, the drummer of the band, lays on the floor at the end of practice session in Los Angeles on May 18, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Mercado lays on the ground on the finish of a apply session in LA on Could 18, 2023.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    The band Spaghetti Cumbia hangs out before practice, where they played in a garage, at the house of the drummer, Adolfo Mercado, on April 22, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    The band hangs out earlier than training in Mercado’s storage on April 22, 2023.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, gets ready for a show in his bathroom in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families. ESTADOS UNIDOS, LA - Marcel Campos, cantante principal de Spaghetti Cumbia, se prepara para un espectáculo en su baño en Alhambra, Los Ángeles, el 3 de noviembre de 2023. Es el bajista de Spaghetti Cumbia. La banda Spaghetti Cumbia creó su propio subgénero combinando la cumbia con estilos occidentales y rock ’n roll. Crecieron en el lado este de Los Ángeles cuando la violencia de las pandillas plagaba el área; Los miembros recurrieron a la música como un camino alternativo. Ahora, triunfan en los clubes del centro de Los Ángeles, mientras mantienen trabajos diarios para mantener a sus familias.

    Campos, the band’s lead singer, will get prepared in his toilet forward of a present in Alhambra, a metropolis simply northeast of LA, on Nov. 3, 2023.

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    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, hangs out with his son, Ethan Luke, before heading off to a gig at his home in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos hangs out along with his son, Ethan Luke, at his house in Alhambra, Calif., earlier than heading off to a gig on Nov. 3, 2023.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    The band members have been youngsters within the ’90s when gang violence was at its peak on town’s east facet. Pedro Zapata, or Pedro Pistolas, one of many band’s guitarists and vocalists, remembers when over half of his buddies have been becoming a member of gangs. Like a few of the different band members, he was tempted to observe. Wanting again, they are saying they’re grateful they did not — a lot of their buddies have been shot down within the streets or ended up spending their lives in jail. Their love for enjoying music could have saved them by connecting them with a unique crowd. There was no time to spend on the streets with rehearsals and studio recordings.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, visits the grave of an old friend in Lancaster before a gig on March 26, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos visits an outdated buddy’s grave in Lancaster, Calif., earlier than a gig on March 26, 2022.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    A view of Los Angeles on November 6, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    A view on Nov. 6, 2023, of downtown LA, the place Spaghetti Cumbia would play repeatedly on the mezcal bar Las Perlas.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos, lead singer of Spaghetti Cumbia, heads off to a show from his home in Alhambra, Los Angeles on November 3, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos leaves his house in Alhambra to move to a present on Nov. 3, 2023.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    Though Marcel plans to construct a “Spaghetti Empire” and the band members dream of hitting it huge, proper now, all of them work a number of jobs. Campos works at Costco and delivers for Instacart, typically sleeping just a few hours. Due to the price of dwelling in California, he should hustle to help his household. Because the band performs bigger venues, the additional revenue actually helps to make ends meet.

    UNITED STATES, LA - Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, and a guitar player in Spaghetti Cumbia, folds the American flag at a school in Los Angeles where he works as a janitor on May 12, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Guerrero folds an American flag at a faculty in LA the place he works as a janitor on Could 12, 2023.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    Paulo “El Maniacs” Paredones, the bass player for Spaghetti Cumbia is blessed by his son, Tekuanotl Huitzitzilin, before he leaves for a show in Boyle Heights on March 30, 2023. He is the primary care giver to his son. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Paulo “El Maniacs” Paredones, Spaghetti Cumbia’s bass participant, is blessed by his son, Tekuanotl Huitzitzilin, earlier than he leaves for a present within the metropolis’s Boyle Heights neighborhood on March 30, 2023.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    UNITED STATES, LA - Marcel Campos lights a stick of palo santo, a ritual to bring good energy to the room, before a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on April 28, 2022. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Campos lights a stick of palo santo to convey good vitality to the room earlier than a present at LA’s Las Perlas bar on April 28, 2022.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    Spaghetti shaped 9 years in the past and commenced taking part in in a small mezcal bar in downtown LA, known as Las Perlas. Campos or Paredones would mild a stick of palo santo earlier than performing to wash the area of any adverse vitality. The place would replenish quick and the band would arrange proper on the dance ground, taking part in to a Latino crowd. Underneath the dim purple lights, the viewers and the band grew to become one, swimming in a sea of sound.

    Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass strains as Adolfo Mercado, typically in comparison with Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums. With their wi-fi guitars, Bobby Guerrero, also referred to as El Gallo, and Zapata weaved by the group taking part in psychedelic guitar riffs. Campos, tapping into his punk rock influences, ripped his shirt off and poured all his vitality into the present. The gang would dance, scream and let go of the stress of on a regular basis life.

    A mosh pit forms at the Regent Theater as Spaghetti Cumbia plays in Los Angeles on March 8, 2025. Spaghetti was followed by Vilma Diaz, a Colombian Cumbia star. he band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock downtown Los Angeles clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    A mosh pit varieties as Spaghetti Cumbia performs at LA’s Regent Theater on March 8, 2025.

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    Ivan Kashinsky

    UNITED STATES, LA - Pedro Zapata, known as Pedro Pistolas, guitar player and vocalist in Spaghetti Cumbia, plays his guitar surrounded by the crowd at a show at Las Perlas in Los Angeles on March 30, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families. ESTADOS UNIDOS, LA - Pedro Zapata, conocido como Pedro Pistolas, guitarrista y vocalista de Spaghetti Cumbia, toca su guitarra rodeado por la multitud en un espectáculo en Las Perlas en Los Ángeles el 30 de marzo de 2023. La banda Spaghetti Cumbia creó su propia subgénero combinando la cumbia con estilos occidentales y rock 'n roll. Crecieron en el lado este de Los Ángeles cuando la violencia de las pandillas plagaba el área; Los miembros recurrieron a la música como un camino alternativo. Ahora, triunfan en los clubes del centro de Los Ángeles, mientras mantienen trabajos diarios para mantener a sus familias.

    Zapata performs his guitar surrounded by the group at a present at Las Perlas on March 30, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    UNITED STATES, LA - Bobby Guerrero, known as El Gallo, guitar player of Spaghetti Cumbia, kisses his his girlfriend after a show at 1st street Pool & Billiard in Boyle Heights on June 18, 2023. The band Spaghetti Cumbia created their own sub-genre by combining cumbia with western styles and rock ’n roll. They grew up on the east side of Los Angeles when gang violence plagued the area; the members turned to music as an alternative path. Now, they rock clubs, while keeping day jobs to support their families.

    Guerrero kisses his girlfriend after a present at 1st Road Pool & Billiard in LA’s Boyle Heights neighborhood on June 18, 2023.

    Ivan Kashinsky


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    Ivan Kashinsky

    This protection was made with the help of the Nationwide Geographic Explorer program.

    Ivan Kashinsky is a photojournalist based mostly in Los Angeles. You may see extra of his work on his web site, IvanKphoto.com, or on Instagram, at @ivankphoto.

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