What is your job within Luma Creations, what do you do, and what are your responsibilities?
I’ve been the Production Manager of the organisation for the last year, however, I started in 2021 as a volunteer. In terms of what I do, I have a variety of roles, like everyone else within the team, and many people working in the arts and culture industry. I manage the production for many events and activities delivered, mainly La Feria, Luma Creations’ annual festival, and other artistic events. I also oversee the tech aspects of those events and within the organisation. Finally, I support all the international activities of Luma Creations, especially helping with networking and developing projects with other related organisations abroad.
What has been your biggest highlight so far working at Luma Creations?
I think it’s the capacity that we created to bring a lot of incredible artists that usually don’t come here. Of course, the Illapu show at the Philharmonic was absolutely amazing and special (and a dream come true for many of us). It was a lot of hard work in terms of planning, production, etc… but when you see the show and how happy and impressed all the people were, you know that is a highlight.
Tell me what you enjoy most about working for Luma Creations.
The challenge of promoting ‘Latin American arts’ outside of London, and at the same time ‘promoting’ Liverpool and the North to artists and professionals, to perform and to develop their work. I think it’s very unique and it requires a lot of perseverance and hard work. Also, it’s incredibly motivating to see how Luma Creations has been growing, leading so many interesting projects and becoming a key cultural organisation in the city.
Name some music you are currently listening to?
In terms of albums, ‘Las Furias y el Mar’ by my good friend Antonio Monasterio and his ensemble, a fusion-jazz band from Chile. It is musically complex but deeply beautiful and moving.
Also, Newen Afrobeat’s Grietas, just released, a great album with great collaborations, and A-MUST-SEE live!
Besides this, I’m listening to some Animals as Leaders, a prog-metal trio from the USA; Luedji Luna, a neo-soul Brazilian, incredible singer; a lot of Paco de Lucía and Camarón de la Isla (Flamenco); Nico Carreño, a songwriter from Chile, interestingly complex and pop at the same time; going through Tigran Hamasyan’s catalogue; some Avishai Cohen, Paco de Lucía and Allan Holdsworth stuff; Mawiza, an incredible Mapuche metal band, to name a few.
Tell me about the playlist you put together. Why did you choose those particular songs?
I really love most of them and wanted to show some eclectic music from Latin America that is not commonly used to ‘depict’ Latin American music. There is a lot of fusion music, and people and bands that are doing an incredible job right now (with some important classics too). I tried to add music that is being created now (and in the past few years) in Latin America, and that maybe isn’t commonly promoted or shown here in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Listen to Esteban’s playlist here!
