arts_culture
Pima County Musicians Set to Ignite the Stage at First-Ever Desert Streams Live Event
Tucson will welcome local musicians at the inaugural Desert Streams Live event on Friday, September 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. The free, all-ages concert will be held at Groundworks, located at 2919 E. Grant Rd. Featured performers include the bands ZNORA, Miss Olivia and the Interlopers, and Astral Folk, along with DJ MizSkoden spinning tunes throughout the night.
This event, organized by Pima County Public Library staff members Lupita Chavez, Charlie Lewis, and Karen Greene, aims to spotlight local talent and promote streaming opportunities. Organizers received an impressive 165 submissions, ultimately selecting 25 artists to feature on the Desert Streams website.
“Our primary focus was on artists from Pima County,” noted Chavez. “We received a wide array of unique and exciting music.” While the submissions showcased a variety of genres, Chavez expressed a desire for more mariachi, Tejano, and waila entries in future rounds.
The Desert Streams initiative will accept submissions biannually. Artists who submit songs that are not selected will have another chance to enter during the next submission window, which runs from September 15 to October 15.
The performances this Friday will feature DJ MizSkoden, who describes her style as Sonoran electronic, blending indigenous beats with cumbia. “Expect a party set!” she exclaimed. MizSkoden emphasized the danceable nature of her music, attributing her creative energy to her experiences as a trans woman and a native of Barrio Centro.
Her reflections on personal resilience and connection to the land enrich her music. One of her tracks, “Time Slows Up,” draws inspiration from a life-altering car crash. “It really did feel like time slowed up,” she said.
Astral Folk, renowned for their fusion style, merges gypsy jazz with other folk influences to create what they call Ethno Psychedelic Fusion. Meanwhile, Miss Olivia and the Interlopers provide a soulful sound reminiscent of artists like St. Vincent and Erykah Badu. ZNORA, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Adrian Negrete, bassist Johny Rohde, and drummer Josh Montaño, draws from ’70s rock influences and formed their band in 2019.
For those interested in submitting music for Desert Streams, the eligibility criteria stipulate that recordings must have been released within the last five years. “Take a risk and submit,” Chavez encouraged. Selected artists will receive a $250 honorarium.
