Xicana Resources
Eva Garza
50's Tejana singer who gained popularity in her local San Antonio as well as in Cuba. Her Chicana identity and passion for music led her to cross geographical, racial, and class boundaries (Vargas, 2012).
Alice Bag
L.A. punk pioneer who fronted the well-regarded band Bags. Entered the punk scene because of the genre's inclusivity of class, race, gender, and sexuality (Alsop and Raygoza, 2016). Recently released her first solo album, Alice Bag.
Girl in a Coma
Texan-Latina sisters Nina and Phanie Diaz and childhood friend Jennifer Alva make up this modern rock band. Bassist Alva says, ""We're Latinas, we're representing our culture. Two-thirds gay. We have a lot on our plate. We're trying to do a good job of representing all three" (DeLaRosa, 2011).
Recommended Reading
Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda
by Deborah R. Vargas (2012)
“Explores the resounding musical performances of Mexican American women such as Chelo Silva, Eva Ybarra, Eva Garza, and Selena within Tejano/Chicano music. Vargas discusses the singers and musicians—“dissonant divas”—whose representations of gender and sexuality are irreconcilable with canonical Chicano/Tejano music or what she refers to as “la onda.” Incorporating ethnographic fieldwork, oral history, and archival research, Vargas’s study demonstrates how these singers work together to explore the limits of Texan, Chicano, Tejano, Mexican, and American identities.” -- Publisher