How to Find Day of the Dead Music
As the Day of the Dead changed throughout the years, the music associated with it changed too. Many relate traditional Mexican folk music most closely with the holiday, but many contemporary musicians produce Day of the Dead inspired songs as well. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find Day of the Dead Inspired Music
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Keep your ears open as the locals sing. If you have a chance to visit any of the world's Day of the Dead celebrations, you'll hear bands and instruments leading the procession to the cemetery. Drums, tinkling chimes and guitars lend heavily to the music during the holiday.
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Look for live recordings of festivals and processions that took place on Day of the Dead. Each country celebrates the holiday differently, and the music reflects the traditions of the culture. Some of the most inspired Day of the Dead music is merely the chanting of people celebrating.
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Remember the roots of the Day of the Dead by listening to Aztec and Mayan music. A few modern day musicians learned the ancient forms and have recorded CDs using indigenous instruments. Check the new age or world music sections in your local record store.
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Expect most Day of the Dead music you find to be in Spanish. Since the holiday originated in Mexico, the majority of music stems from within that country. Luckily, most of the songs cross over easily to an English speaking audience.
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Listen to Lila Downs. Born in Oaxaca, Lila Downs sings traditional Mexican folk songs in both English and Spanish. Her modern, mainstream approach to the music makes her an excellent choice to perform at (or listen to on) Day of the Dead celebrations.
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Find Day of the Dead surprises in jazz music. While this style of music seems far removed from the Latino-influenced holiday, many jazz musicians take inspiration from the both the festive and honorable components of the holiday.
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Search out Day of the Dead influence in modern rock and punk music, especially in border towns. The folk artistry found in traditional Mexican music weaves well with modern music. Some bands even incorporate Spanish into some of their songs.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't be fooled by a record cover or a band name. While bands steal from the Day of the Dead traditions to create distinctive artwork, their music probably has little to do with the holiday. Goth and dark wave bands commonly use Day of the Dead cover art.
