About the EP: "Florecer" is La Mera Candelaria's fourth release since they formed in 2017. This EP, released on April 28 (International Denim Day), holds a powerful message of honesty and strength around issues of violence, trauma, healing, and survival.
The title track and accompanying music video, "Florecer," was released in collaboration with Violence Intervention Program, an LA-based organization whose mission for the past 35 years has been to protect and treat all victims of family violence and sexual assault. As a public-private partnership between LAC+USC Medical Center and the Community Mental Health Center, VIP works to significantly better the lives of those who have been abused, neglected, or assaulted through comprehensive medical, forensic, mental health, advocacy, and supportive services that promote not only healing, but also personal growth and success.
La Mera's choice to release this survivor-themed EP on Denim Day was made with powerful intention. Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, what started as a local campaign to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a movement. As the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.
To learn more about Denim Day, visit: https://www.denimdayinfo.org
To learn more about the Violence Intervention Program, and/or to donate to their organization, visit: https://violenceinterventionprogram.org
Album credits: Stephani "La Mera" Candelaria - lead vocals
Abel Canel - timbales and drums
Vincenzo De La Rosa - bass ("Florecer" and "Sonrisa")
Anita Garay - congas, backing vocals
Justin Inbar - tres and electric guitar
Joseph Jauregui - backing vocals
Mario Leal - Bass ("Perdóname")
"Florecer" written by La Mera Candelaria, Justin Inbar, and Erik G.
"Perdóname" written by Hector Meneses Ortega, re-written and re-arranged by La Mera Candelaria
"Sonrisa" written by La Mera Candelaria and Justin Inbar
"Florecer" produced by Abel Canel and Erik G
"Perdóname" and "Sonrisa" produced by Abel Canel
All songs mixed by Erik G Album cover photography by Daniel Mendez, Subculture Images 2021 La Mera Candelaria All Rights Reserved
