Miss Lulú

Mundo REGGAE

Lucero Solares a.k.a. Miss Lulú was born in Tijuana, Mexico in 1988. She grew up with a musician as a father who was a bohemian guitarist and singer. Around the age of 12, Miss Lulú embraced her father’s musical taste and awareness and focused them solely on reggae.

She began her musical career in 2007 attending the Universidad de las Californias Internacional where she became a radio conductor and the first woman producer of a television program devoted to reggae in her city, a program that would be the first to bring artists like Million Stylez & I Nesta to Mexico.

Miss Lulú has continued with her project MUNDO REGGAE which has led her to become a promoter, collector and DJ. She is a founding member of Bocina Blasting Sound that has participated in major music festivals presenting, opening and sharing the stage with artists like Michael Rose, Ranking Joe, Ky-Mani Marley, Balaguero, Gondwana, Cultura Profetica, Derrick Parker, Mr. Williamz and more.

Her music collection consists mainly of vinyls representing New Roots, Digital & Early Dancehall that focuses on female reggae singers. She currently coordinates one of the only monthly sound system nights in Tijuana, Mexico, while transmitting a live radio show every sunday at www.Mixlr.com/MundoREGGAE.

Miss Lulú just returned from performing at Empoderadas 3 (EMPOWERED 3), a 2-day international celebration of International Women’s Day hosted by Hermandad Rasta Sound System in Mexico City, Mexico.

IRIE Magazine had the pleasure to sit down with Miss Lulú who took time out of her busy schedule to share her story with the IRIE Audience. Much Love and Respect, Miss Lulú!

Official Website: Mixcloud.com/MundoREGGAEshow

The Interview

IRIE. What was your childhood like growing up in Tijuana, Mexico? Do you feel that music was an important part of your life?

Miss Lulú. Music actually fed me. My dad started living from his music two years before I was born. I had a tough childhood and I can truly say that music has always lifted me up in the hardest possible ways and has always been around in the best parts too, even to this day.

IRIE. When did your passion for reggae music begin?

Miss Lulú. It was definitely when I started my radio show project my love turned it in to a passion; an addiction some would say.

IRIE. Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

Miss Lulú. Oh my, no… haha, the farthest I can remember is a copy of the ‘Soul Rididm’ by Oneness Records and some dancehall tunes, but I already had some records, tapes and cd’s by then.

IRIE. What inspired you to become a selector?

Miss Lulú. It was my radio show project. I had some selectors friends of different music styles when I started it and one of them had a radio show for decades, Rafa Saavedra (rest in peace), he was my writing teacher and I think he was the first one to say to me I should dj… by the time I realized it, I was already doing it for the show.

IRIE. Do you remember the first time you took your skills to the public?

Miss Lulú. Yes. The Red Cross had a benefit reggae show at Rosarito with Nano Bravo from Spain in May, 2010. I played a strictly womans dancehall selection in a ‘red gold and green’ fashion show from Helena Gonzalez, a fashion designer from Rosarito.

IRIE. What is your biggest challenge as a selector?

Miss Lulú. To stop playing…hahaha. I think that selecting which records you will take with you, once at the session, with the vinyl, there is no going back, so you always want to take them all with you…I’m sure this is the biggest challenge for most selectors.

IRIE. Is it true that Alton Ellis is a big influence to you? Can you share with us why?

Miss Lulú. Yes. His music was the one that let me know there was diferent styles of reggae music; that a artist could be versatile and keep his style; that music could talk more than love.

IRIE. What is the reggae/soundsystem scene like in Tijuana, Mexico at the moment?

Miss Lulú. Weird. It used to be more movement of festivals and shows. Now, it is smaller but strong when it comes to latin reggae and old school legends. At least in my state it is hard to get people to pay for a sound system show. Some are still figuring out what the style is about, I think since 5 years ago is been growing slowly but strongly, the audience is starting to ask for more fresh tunes and artists, and responding more to their visits.

IRIE. You are the founder of Mundo REGGAE, a madly popular radio show with 77 shows to date. What inspired you to launch your own radio show?

Miss Lulú. 77 shows live by mixlr/mixcloud but almost 11 years that the project has being alive in different formats. When I was growing up it was very difficult to keep musically updated and I always thought how nice it would be for everyone to have somebody in our language teaching about new reggae music around the world in the original radio style. In my first year of college, I was crazy serious about getting involved in my career and more in music. Someone offered me a spot on the radio in the corridors of the school and I couldn’t stop from there. Sharing the message and music I love is so important in my life now.

IRIE. You just returned from Empoderadas 3 (EMPOWERED 3), a 2-day international celebration of International Women’s Day where you accompanied the Hermandad Rasta Sound System, Prince Fatty & Sara Lugo. What was it like to be a part of this amazing event?

Miss Lulú. Magic!I have to give thanks to the HRSS for letting me be part of this event for the second year. Beyond the meaning of representing women on the national scene, for me it means so much to be invited by one of the more old reggae sound crews in my country, composed of pure man. I was a new born when some of them started playing reggae music or doing parties. Plus, this year, they let me invite my good friend, Sistah Luz, to share her skills on the mic. We had a wicked and epic time and we got to present what we are cooking up for Sistah Luz’s first EP with Jah Gumby from Father Psalms Studio.

IRIE. What advice would you give to other aspiring selectors?

Miss Lulú. Respect, love and most important, know your music. If you gonna share it, do it for the love and always bring your needles.

IRIE. Is there anything you would like to share with our audience?

Miss Lulú. Walk the way you talk, enjoy life to the fullest and listen to reggae music in all its styles and formats! If you don’t want to dig, I will help you. Just follow me, my radio show and my Bocina Blasting Sound crew works.

IRIE. Maaaad Love & Respect from everyone here at IRIE Magazine!