Rana Santacruz

Rana Santacruz is a Mexican-born, Brooklyn-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter whose marriage of seemingly disparate musical styles, from mariachi and bluegrass to Celtic folk and even Eastern European wedding music, made him a mainstay on stages in both his adopted city and at regional musical festivals. Santacruz was born in Mexico City. From a very young age, he was exposed to sounds from all over the spectrum, though he identified most closely with rock & roll. His first band, formed while he was still in high school, played covers of songs by the Cure, the Smiths, and other early indie rock bands. While in college and studying for a communications degree, he formed La Catrina, which played a mix of the sounds that became his trademark: celebratory, alternative folk and acoustic rock that delivered a fantastic array of drinking songs and barroom dance tunes. The band captured the attention of the Mexican recording industry and signed a deal with Warner Music Latina. Their self-titled album was recorded in Miami and Madrid, and featured the production talents of Juan Ignacio Cuadrado, Alejo Stivel, and Oscar Lopez. It was promoted to radio and television, and the band toured extensively in Mexico before splitting in 2002. Santacruz moved to New York City the same year and settled in Brooklyn. He took in the borough's wide-ranging music scene and completely immersed himself in it, forming a number of musical projects that integrated his love for traditional Mexican music with Celtic and Russian folk, French musette, and early jazz, all while studying for a Master's Degree. Santacruz independently released his debut solo album, Chicavasco, in 2010, comprised of songs inspired by Son Jarocho rancheras of the Veracruz style, Mexican cinema, the Pogues, and more. He played not only in Brooklyn, but across the United States with his ensemble, and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. His second album, Por Ahi, expanded his sound, adding Appalachian mountain music and New Orleans R&B to the already ambitious mix. It was released in May of 2015. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi