Azul Barrientos is an acclaimed musician dedicated to uncovering and conserving the cultural influences and interconnections between Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Mexico. Born in Mexico City, Azul moved to San Antonio, Texas as a young woman, where she developed a reputation for building bridges between Mexicana and Chicana cultures. Her career has focused on preserving traditional songs from Latin America and exploring their diverse musical histories. Azul rejoices in her Latina roots, giving new life to the rhythms and stories of previous generations.
As the daughter of two musicians in Mexico City, Azul was introduced to Latin America's traditional and folkloric songs at an early age. This legacy drives her passion for reviving lost cultural traditions and uncovering each song's unique history and significance that she performs on stage.
Azul's work to uncover the diverse influences on Latin American music reflects a deep appreciation for her own cultural roots – both indígena (indigenous) and Española (Spanish) – and her identity as both a Chicana and a Mexicana.
Over the last 15 years, Azul has performed for audiences of all sizes through nonprofit organizations, museums, universities, cultural centers, festivals, and more. Her audiences have ranged from small parties for government officials to outdoor venues and prominent theaters reaching thousands.
In 2007, Azul became the Artist-in-Residence for the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio, where she began to develop the Noche Azul de Esperanza concert series. Through this series, Azul has produced and performed over 100 original multimedia performances exploring themes in Latin American music, history, and culture.
Each Noche Azul performance features unique musical selections, cultural and historical research, set design, multimedia projection, and diverse guest musicians. The sounds and genres of Noche Azul have included boleros, rancheras, tangos, folk, jazz, Afro-Latino, and much more.
Azul has been co-presented with musical legends like Grammy award-winner Lila Downs, Susana Baca, Eugenia León, Tania Libertad, and others.
Her latest released album released in 2016, Nuestro Corazón, celebrates Latin America with a beautiful rendition of Spanish, Indigenous, and African rhythms.
In 2018, she had the pleasure of performing for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain during their visit to San Antonio.
Azul is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Berklee College of Music -Online-.