Flor de Toloache a female Mariachi band
Interview conducted at the Nelsonville Music Festival on June 8, 2019
by Dan Locke
Latin Grammy® nominated female band, Flor de Toloache continue to win the hearts of music fans both mainstream and traditional mariachi fans alike through their distinct vision and enlightened interpretation of traditional mariachi instruments. The band’s diverse ethnicities and musical backgrounds are transcending culture and gender by forging new paths for mariachi music. Like the legendary Toloache flower used in Mexico today as a love potion, the ladies of Flor de Toloache cast a spell over their audiences with soaring vocals and physical elegance. The New York City based band and first all-women Mariachi, is led by co-directors Mireya I. Ramos, (founder) on violin and Shae Fiol (original member) on vihuela. Accolades continue to build for Flor De Toloache. Nominated for a Latin Grammy® in the Best Ranchera Album category for their self-produced debut album Mariachi Flor De Toloache, they have graced international stages from Asia to Europe and the U.S., recently supporting Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys new side-project, The Arcs. A promising career lies ahead for these graceful starlets.
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Band Members
Mireya Ramos, Shae Fiol, Julie Acosta, Noemi Gasparini, Luisa Bastidas, Jackie Coleman, Domenica Fossati
Flor de Toloache were playing at least 3 times during Nelsonville. So, I was able to catch them before the interview. They were very nice to talk to. And very talkative. We talked about a lot of things. Here are some of the things we talked about.
The history of the band. How they got together.
Winning a Grammy and who gets it.
Solo projects
Playing at a White House event
The different between a Mexican guitar and a standard guitar
Playing on NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Playing at Nelsonville for the first time
Helping out Paul McCarthy on a projectt
