‘Hasta Mañana’ – a celebration of heritage through music
In the UK, when we think of the month of October, we always remember Black History Month.
But in October (or at least half of it), many people also celebrate Hispanic or Latin Heritage Month.
Ever since 1989, Hispanic/Latin Heritage Month has been observed from September 15th to October 15th, reason being that Sept. 15th is the day believed to be the start of the Mexican War of Independence which culminated into freedom for several Central American countries, such as El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Hispanic Heritage Month in the US is celebrated through cultural festivals, parades and concerts, where all have access to a variety of cultural dishes, can explore art and enjoy traditional music.
Speaking of music, Mexican American singer-songwriter MŌRIAH has released a new single for the month called “Hasta Mañana” (meaning ‘Until Tomorrow,’ for those who haven’t a clue about Spanish!), a song essentially about letting go - not worrying about tomorrow but taking each day one step at a time, a timely message for our modern society regardless of our ethnicity or cultural backgrounds.
Hasta Mañana is a Latin/Country fusion song with strong acoustic emphasis, but unlike another recent release by MŌRIAH, ‘Parachute,’ it incorporates elements of a classic Mariachi band and merges it with the upbeat country style of Nashville, symbolizing how the Hispanic and American cultures can coexist in harmony: in the words of MŌRIAH’s own grandfather, “La música no tiene fronteras”- music has no borders.
Don’t worry, the single isn’t completely in Spanish, though a Spanish version of it is set to be released, corresponding with the ‘Day of the Dead’ celebration in Mexico.
MŌRIAH’s song manages to be familiar to the international audience she has garnered as an artist, yet also reminiscent to those of a Mexican or more generally, a Hispanic/Latin background, and is one step closer to a new record she intends to release next year.
Whilst there are similarities between the catchy single and her previous pop/alternative albums and EPs, the upcoming record has been described by the artist as the ‘bridge’ she intends to build between the Country genre, “the folk of America” and Mariachi, “the folk of Mexico.”
All in all, Hasta Mañana is not only an acknowledgement of the need to put our endless concerns about the near future aside to live in the present, surrounded by our loved ones, it is a modern ode to our individual cultures and heritage, through which we can always provide something new to the table, just as MŌRIAH has – be it within music, the arts, sciences, and so on.
Without heritage, haven't we lost a core part of our identity?
~ Hasta Mañana is available on Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music.
