Bio
Julia Rocha-Nava (they/them), also known as Chispa, is a non-binary Mexican-American vocalist, producer, educator, and urban farmer from Los Angeles, based in Brooklyn, New York. Their music practice is grounded in an ever-expanding exploration of their voice, a love of traditional and popular music from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as their own experience as a queer urban farmer remembering relationships of reciprocity with the land.
Julia is the founder of Liberation Sounds, empowering QTBIPOC through music production education. They are a recipient of the Brooklyn Art Council’s Creative Equations grant for Justice, Equity and Sustainability in Performing Arts, as well as a NALAC Arts Fund recipient. Currently, they're recording their debut album "Somos Medicina," a project that tells stories of composting systems of oppression, reconnecting with the land, and channeling the transformative power of queer love.
photo by vielka ebadan
lo que tú tocas
Chispa's debut single from their upcoming album “Somos Medicina,” draws inspiration from the words of Octavia Butler:
"All that you touch you change/ All that you change changes you/ the only lasting truth is change/ god is change."
The song, composed right after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is dedicated to the relationships that allow us to grow and shape change. The song features a layered soundscapes of looped vocals, guitar by Sebastian Angel and percussion by Genesiss Mejia.
Watch “lo que tú tocas” live performance here
cempaxochitl
Cempaxochitl” is the latest single from “Somos Medicina,” paying homage to the healing power of Cempasúchil (Marigolds), sacred flowers that illuminate our altars and connect us with our ancestors.
Arranged in the tradition of Son Jarocho, a form of Afro-indigenous music from Veracruz, Mexico, embraced by Mexican American communities as music of gathering and resistance, "Cempaxochitl" features a collective of queer and feminist musicians from Mexico and the diaspora. Recorded at Cubetta Records, the track showcases Ceci Pineda, Ximena Violante, Stephanie Delgado, Zindu Cano, Ana La Texana Arismendez, Rosario Cornejo, and Viviana Zuñiga, weaving a vibrant tapestry of voices and instruments.
del agua
In 2020, Julia embarked on a journey to produce their own music, blending traditional elements with pop and electronic compositions. The result: their debut EP, 'Del Agua.' This 4-track project challenges traditional Mexican music's portrayal of the mermaid as a tragic figure defined by male desire and fear. Instead, it presents a counter narrative of queer desire, depicting a queer individual embracing the sea's powerful, playful, and seductive force.
The EP kicks off with 'Ola Ola,' featuring percussion by Genesiss Mejia, followed by 'Derretida,' showcasing Melody Feo on the Colombian gaita. 'Hundida,' a collaboration with producer Sumohair, leads into the electronic experimentation of 'Devorada.'
photo by autry h-w
liberation sounds
In 2023, Julia launched Liberation Sounds in response to the lack of accessible music education for their community. This three-month workshop empowers 20 QTBIPOC artists, offering them a platform to explore meaningful music lineages, hone production skills, and cultivate a supportive creative network.
Grounded in popular education methodologies, the curriculum fosters participatory learning, delving into music production basics through the lens of QTBIPOC contributions. Partnering with Synthia Studios and featuring guest classes led by QTBIPOC artists, Liberation Sounds aims to democratize music education and amplify QTBIPOC voices in the industry.
contact
Email:
juliarochanava@gmail.com
