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Zayra Pola: Latina Power at the Drums

Zayra Pola: Latina Power at the Drums

IBA started as an initiative in the late 1960’s, and has evolved into a Latino arts hub like no other. And, for the first time ever, the Festival Betances 2019 lineup is sure to please with an all Latina lineup. Featuring the sultry, soul-soothing music of 3nity, this year’s event will showcase a combination of Puerto Rican culture while also uplifting the various cultures the Boston area has to offer. IBA Boston got to meet with the founder and lead percussionist, Zayra Pola of 3nity for an exclusive interview. Here’s the incredible insight she gave us into the band, their inspiration, and what performing at IBA Boston’s Festival Betances and Tito Puente Latin Music Series 2019 means to Zayra.

How excited are you to be performing?

I am super excited! We’re called 3nity because it is three cultures American, African, and Latin all blended into one band. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform in front of so many people.

How does it feel to be a part of these amazing events?

It’s amazing because it is the best way to express ourselves through music. We can demonstrate to people firsthand the uniqueness of our culture, through not only the food, but the music is an experience itself too.

How do you feel about promoting the culture in Boston?

For many years it has been hard as a woman and a percussionist. Sometimes people don't appreciate what you as a woman can bring to the table and I want to show that women can do anything and push the envelope of what people think is possible.

Tell us about your group.

We represent a wide range of different cultures and the mix of cultures is amazing! We have members from Cuba, Brazil, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and even Japan. It’s truly a blend like no other!

What was the inspiration behind forming the group?

I think it really came from me always being the only female performer in bands and I wanted to have a space where females could perform. It’s a great feeling to be able to showcase your music and do so with other female performers on the same stage. I always would hear people say “...look at that girl…”, but now we have 8 incredible women to show the world what we can do.

What do you think of the mission of IBA?

I think it is a great mission of trying to immerse Boston in the rich culture of the city. We have a large Hispanic community here and I know it takes lots of time to get events like this together, so we are incredibly thankful for the great work and the opportunity to be part of the all Latina lineup this year. We’re such a diverse city and events like this help remind us of it.

To see the full Latina lineup for the upcoming IBA Boston’s Festival Betances event on July 20th and 21st and to learn more about this free community event, click here. With a jammed-packed schedule, this crowd-pleasing, cultural immersion event is one you don’t want to miss!

This year's festival is made possible by our generous sponsors.


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