Maria Isa

Hey what up what up! Vote for us in Road Worn, Famecast Latino, and Battle of the Bands 13, as we rock our way through the TC. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

-Maria Isa

Born and raised in the Twin Cities to NuyoRican parents, emcee, singer, and songwriter
Maria Isa is recognized for her dedication towards celebrating her cultural diversity through music and political activism. Influenced by the traditional Afro-Boricua 'ritmos' of Bomba and Plena, along with the Soul and Funk of Motown and Fania’s fusion of Salsa and Bugaloo, Isa plants an organic blend of call and response with lyrical "Spanglish" rhymes through the various drum beats and snares of Hip-Hop, Reggae, Dancehall and Reggaeton. In 1992 Maria began her performing arts education at El Arco Iris Center for Arts, forming Raices in 2002 with other advanced students to conserve their ancestral Puerto Rican folklore music.

OTHER ARTIST WEBSITE:  www.myspace.com/mariaisalolita

HOME TOWN: 
St. Paul, MN

GROUP/BAND MEMBERS: 
Maria Isa, Rohan Arora, Nic Woods, Zach Smitz, Yvette Rodriguez, Luis Ortega, Jon Dixit, Kyle Borchert

INFLUENCES: 
Traditional Afro-Boricua rythyms of Bomba and Plena, along with the Soul and Funk of Motown and Fania’s fusion of Salsa and Bugaloo, Wu-Tang Clan, Sugarhill Gang, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Tupac, Biggie Smalls B.I.G, Big Pun, Queen Latifah, La Mala, Eve, Lauren Hill, Alicia Keys, Erekah Badu, La India, Selena, Missy Elliot, MC LYTE, TLC, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Maya Angelou, Sharon Sayles Belton, Shay, Mabel Mercer, Billy Holiday, Tego Calderon, Vico C, Ivy Queen, Velcro, Tek 1, Abrante!

ON MY PLAYLIST:  N/A