Latin star Mireya Ramos records new single in kiwi airbnb

Riding out the global pandemic in New Plymouth, is international Latin star Mireya I. Ramos. She is a Grammy- nominated violinist and vocalist more at home amidst the bustle of New York than in the quiet of New Plymouth.   

Mireya and her female alternative mariachi band Flor de Toloache were here to perform at WOMAD in March. She and her partner (sound engineer Andy Averbuch) were about to fly home as COVID broke and made a last-minute decision to stay in New Plymouth because they thought New Zealand was handling the crisis much better than the United States.  

Mireya says they stayed on with no plan, not knowing many people but they’ve been very lucky and have been working with local musicians including Sam Johnson from Rhythm Ace Studio in nearby Oakura.

“He put together a band for us to do a track at his studio. We had never met the musicians until we got to the studio and that was an amazing memorable session. We’ve been jamming with them – they’re from The Flac - and I can’t wait to share the single which is coming out very soon.”    

Mireya has just released another song ‘Angelitos Negros’ recorded totally in her airbnb using a microphone Andy had with him and a jerry-built mic stand. She says it's very special to her as a Afro Latina, and her contribution to the Black Lives Matter movement which was becoming so widespread at the time.

“ Angelitos Negros means ‘Little Black Angels’ and it’s about a painter who paints churches and this black person asks him ‘Why are you painting all white angels? Why don’t you paint black angels like me because we also go to heaven.'” 

She says it’s a reminder that representation truly matters and represents her solidarity with her Latina community.   

Mireya’s home is in New Jersey. Her mother is originally from Dominican Republic, her father from Mexico and she was born in California but raised in Puerto Rico.