Toloache is a flower, associated with Mesoamerica鈥檚 ancient peoples, with known medicinal and hallucinogenic properties. It鈥檚 also used in 鈥渓ove potions.鈥 So when a pair of New York City female musicians, who were looking to create a new ensemble and sound, were looking for a name for their group, they settled on toloache.
鈥淲e wanted something to do with a flower, something feminine and strong,鈥 said Mireya Ramos. It sounded right. The word exuded elegance and power. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a magical name,鈥 Ramos said.
So Ramos, along with her musical partner Shae Fiol, created Mariachi Flor de Toloache, an all-women mariachi ensemble in New York City. Although Flor de Toloache is not the first all-female mariachi, it has since its founding in 2008 created a wide swath of admirers and followers beyond the world of mariachi music.
The group will perform Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 191 Toole.
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The group has earned acclaim for its marriage of traditional mariachi with blues and Caribbean stylings, and other nontraditional mariachi sounds to create a mesmerizing and enchanting sound, much like the effects of the toloache flower, bringing a new edge to mariachi music.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a mix of the fact that we come from different backgrounds,鈥 said Ramos, who sings and plays the violin and guitarr贸n 鈥 the large mariachi bass guitar. She was born to Dominican and Mexican parents and raised in Puerto Rico.
Co-founder Fiol is of Cuban descent, plays the vihuela 鈥 the small five-string guitar 鈥 sings, and writes and arranges music. The other two members are Jackie Coleman, who was born in Indiana and plays the trumpet, and the classically trained violinist, Noemi Gasparini.
The group has released two studio albums, 2017鈥檚 鈥淟as Caras Lindas鈥 on Chulo Records, which earned the group a Latin Grammy, and its debut, self-released 鈥淔lor de Toloache鈥 released in 2015 which was nominated for a Latin Grammy.
Toloache wins over its audiences with its homage to classic songs 鈥 鈥淏茅same Mucho,鈥 鈥淐ucurrucuc煤 Paloma鈥 and 鈥淟a Llorona鈥 鈥 and English-language tracks such as the country-twang 鈥淟ong Gone Girl鈥 and 鈥淏lue Medley.鈥
Ramos said mixing up the sounds and styles wins over audiences and connects with them, even if listeners are not mariachi fans or unfamiliar with the music.
鈥淚鈥檝e always liked all kinds of music,鈥 Ramos said.
The group鈥檚 popularity also extends to other musical groups and artists. Las Flores, as they call themselves, have toured with Mexico鈥檚 Caf茅 Tacvba, the Black Keys, La Santa Cecilia, the Chicano-roots group from Los Angeles, and Mexrissey, the Morrissey inspired band co-founded by 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Sergio Mendoza and Camilo Lara of Mexico City.
A for NPR鈥檚 Tiny Desk Concert series has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
This year, the group expects to release a collaboration with hip-hop artist Miguel and a new album, Ramos said.