Young Creators Project spotlight: alegrías
San Diego’s alegrías have a perfect meet cute origin story, finding each other via UC San Diego’s Musicians’ Club. The on-campus club, according to alegrías’ guitarist Luke Hoeg is, “organized by a group of students who are wanting to start bands and stuff. Basically, a place to get people together for listening parties, and forming connections with each other so that we can all jam out.”
The four students immediately clicked (Hoeg, and the band’s de-facto leader, singer, and cellist Azalea Segura-Mora already knew each other from high school). Ada Ngozi (bass), and Daniel Hernandez (drums) round out the group for a lived-in chemistry that belies the relatively brief amount of time they’ve been together. The result is rich, loose layers of indie rock-meets-R&B rhythms above which lilting jazz vocals and string melodies take hold.
“Alegrías'' is Spanish for multiple joys. So [the music we make under that name] is really energetic and happy.” Segura-Mora explains.
More: Today’s Top Tune: alegrías - “Steal My Heart”
Having been involved in orchestras dating back to her time in middle school, Segura-Mora has developed quite the prowess with her instrument of choice, the cello. Its presence in alegrías’ songs lend an immediate sense of heft and undeniable cool factor.
The tunes also convey the sense of joyfulness that the band’s name would suggest. Even when they are grappling with (in the case of YCP song submission “Steal My Heart”) the aftermath of “a messy social situation [Segura-Mora] went through.” And a penchant for shifting seamlessly between English and Spanish proves to be just another one of the group's many selling points.
All four members joined Anne Litt recently over Zoom to go deep on their origin story and plot out their dream collaborations with the likes of KCRW favorites Chicano Batman, Esperanza Spalding, Anderson .Paak, and John Mayer.
Hey! Did you enjoy this piece? We can’t do it without you. We are member-supported, so your donation is critical to KCRW's music programming, news reporting, and cultural coverage. Help support the DJs, journalists, and staff of the station you love.
Here's how:
- Sign-up for our newsletters.
- Become a KCRW member.
- Subscribe to our Podcasts.
- Donate to KCRW.
- Download our App.
More from KCRW
Labor dispute could leave LAUSD campuses deserted for days
EducationKCRW talks to parents, teachers, LAUSD’s Jackie Goldberg, and SEIU’s Lester Garcia as the district sits on the verge of a three-day shutdown.
Artist Sterling Molldrem wants his mural art to have attitude
ArtsKCRW showcases young visual artist Sterling Molldrem. The 17-year-old muralist talks about his painting “BALI.”
KCRW’s Top 30 chart: March 13-19, 2023
KCRW's Top 30 ChartNME unveils a ‘C23’ mixtape including vocal powerhouse Danielle Ponder, Brooklyn’s Say She She reel out a sharp new single, and dance jams abound.
Happy Nowruz: Celebrate Persian New Year with these songs
HolidaysThe Persian New Year is a time to celebrate spring and fresh beginnings. Nassir Nassirzadeh, a first-generation Iranian American and KCRW DJ, shares songs for the holiday.
San Quentin’s proposed transformation is about public safety
CaliforniaGov. Newsom wants to transform the state’s oldest prison — San Quentin — into a rehabilitation center inspired by prisons in Scandinavian countries like Norway.
Eclectic 24
Best New MusicKCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.