“Let the City Speak,” a new documentary about East LA rock band QUETZAL, is raising money from the community that fostered them and other artists from the area in the ‘90s and 2000s. Although they’re close to hitting their $12,000 goal on GoFundMe, their crowdraising effort reflects the struggle for documentaries and films featuring people of color in a changing political landscape.
The feature-length documentary focuses on the experiences of QUETZAL and similar artists, such as Aztlan Underground, Blues Experiment, Los Lobos, and several others, as they reflect on a music scene that is more relevant than ever.
Filmmaker Akira Boch followed the band during their rise, accumulating hours of concert footage after befriending band leaders Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez. The documentary will also feature performances by other local artists like Aloe Blacc and Irene Diaz.
“The initial spark for ‘Let the City Speak’ wasn’t to craft a film but to simply document the essence of QUETZAL and the vibrant East Los Angeles Chicano music and art scene of the 1990s,” said Boch on the GoFundMe page. “ I was in awe of the community’s creative talent, diversity, and political fervor. Their movement felt like a hidden gem that deserved to shine.”
QUETZAL first came onto the scene in the ’90s, a time when East LA saw an influx of activist-fueled music and art created by the community, for the community. Although most active during the ‘90s and 2000s, the independent Chicano band continued to pop up and play. In 2013, their album Imaginaries won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
However, the local impact of QUETZAL and other bands that came up at the same time was largely overlooked by the mainstream. With the documentary, that history is brought to the forefront, which includes community efforts and Chicano beliefs ranging from Zapatista ideals to Mayan culture.
At a time when censorship and political polarization are on the rise, documentaries like “Let the City Speak” give a platform to voices that have been speaking on the very issues that continue to ring true in today’s climate.
The documentary is currently in its final stages, with the funds raised going towards editing, animation, and the remaining post-production process.
Visit their GoFundMe to help the documentary reach its goal.
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