Aztlan Records was an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

based in

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, first established in 1986. The label released music in the genres of Latin indie rock, swing, and ska. It was described as the first label in the country "to devote itself exclusively to U.S.-bred ''

rock en español Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

''." The label had a small staff, limited budget, and no mainstream radio support. It serviced the notably small ''rock en español'' scene of northern California, which was comparatively smaller than that of southern California. The first album the label released was ''Señor Cementerio'' by

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-based Ley de Hielo in 1995. It merged out when joining another Latin independent label Grita! Records in 1999. The last album release credited to the record label was ''Sonero de Cuba'' by Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro. The label was described as defunct in a November 2000 issue of

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. Fernando Ramirez, lead singer of Latin rock band Maria Fatal, recognized the label's importance in the scene, stating "if it weren't for Aztlan Records, I don't know where we'd be." In an article for

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noted that "labels like Aztlan, Xicano, Grita!, and Pinche Flojo

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to carve out space for Latinos in genres like ska, punk, and indie."

References

{{Mexican-American Chicano Hispanic American music Hispanic and Latino American culture in San Francisco Mexican-American culture Mexican-American culture in California