Y La Bamba

With Dead Gowns And Mousa

Luz Elena Mendoza’s story is one sung to her ancestors and humanity, exploring a faith that is greater than just religion, and a life of metamorphosis and awakening. Born in San Francisco as a first generation daughter of immigrant parents from Michoacan Mexico, she spent her childhood raised by the melodies and stories that were being told through traditional Mexican folk songs. 

From the intimate, contemplative verses in her native-language, to the revelations of the history in her roots, her story is delivered with poise. Mendoza’s poetic expression is raw, and ever evolving. These songs are a soundtrack built for coming to grips with, not just one’s own mortality, but the fragility of the world, presenting sounds that carry the realness of ancestral trauma and the search of identity.

“One of the most innovative and exciting young vocalists around.” 
– NPR

“Front woman Luz Elena Mendoza can warble tremulously like a Latina Joanna Newsom, then let rip a robust alt-country holler not unlike that of Neko Case.”
– Rolling Stone 

Y La Bamba will be joined raw and tender alt-folk 4-piece Dead Gowns and electro-acoustic song-spinning crooner Mousa​.