Cancamusa Takes Center Stage at Vinilious Records' Anniversary Celebration

Vinilious Records, the emerging female-fronted promotion duo founded by Celeste Cadena and Kristen Ibarra, marked its first-year anniversary with a performance by Chilean indie dream-pop star Cancamusa at Paper Tiger on Sunday. The event was a celebration of the duo's commitment to fostering a connection between their community and their passion for Latin American language, culture, and art.

“We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to bring more female, Latin, and LGBTQ+ artists to San Antonio while supporting and empowering local musicians and artists,” they expressed.

Over the past year, Vinilious Records has introduced San Antonio to a diverse lineup of regional and international artists, including La Doña, Y La Bamba, BALTHVS, Ramona, and Estereomance, at venues like Paper Tiger, Tony’s Siesta, and beloved westside locale, Jaime’s Place.

“None of it could be done without the amazing support and enthusiasm from the community.”

Headlining the milestone party was Cancamusa, a Chilean-born drummer and singer-songwriter. Departing from Mon Laferte's band during the pandemic, Cancamusa embarked on a solo journey, crafting illustrious sounds and earning recognition as one of Rolling Stone's "Artists You Should Know."

Kicking off the evening was Tears, a Texas-based, Puerto Rican-born artist who, despite battling a cold, delivered a resilient performance featuring unreleased material. Her dreamy vocals and expressive dance moves, swooned the crowd as she shared songs reflecting personal experiences and mental health awareness, seamlessly transitioning between English and Spanish, and even incorporating "Spanglish."

Cancamusa, equipped with a drum machine and Fender Mustang, began her set with Venus. The predominantly Spanish-speaking audience cheered her on as she introduced herself in broken English. She continued with "Sin Miedo a la Profundidad.” Midway through her set, she enlisted Enrique Javier Chi, a music instructor at the Network for Young Artists, to join her on guitar. Cancamusa then graced the audience with tracks from her 2023 release Amor Minimal, including "Horas Contigo" and "Garza," but also delved into older material like "Lo Inevitable."

"Estaba muy nerviosa" (I was very nervous), she confessed. "Es mi primera vez aquí" (It's my first time here).

After the show, both of the artists lingered to chat and take selfies with audience members. As the audience basked in the afterglow of heartfelt performances it was clear that Vinilious Records had not only curated a year of exciting shows, but had also created a safe space where the language of music transcends boundaries, uniting diverse souls under the banner of shared passion and rhythm.

“The musicians that have come through leave San Antonio feeling a deep love and connection with us and this warms our hearts to the core.”