Loretta Chacon - Voice, Guitar, Piano
Winner at the Los Angeles Music Awards in November 2006, Mobetta Loretta received Folk Rock Artist of the Year for the song "Wish U Were Here."
This singer/songwriter hailing from New Mexico is an authentic folk/blues/country/roots artist who takes you back to a time when music had feeling and depth. Armed with her guitar and a voice that evokes the sweet soulfulness of Emmylou Harris, Jewel and Fiona Apple, Loretta Chacon, A.K.A. Mobetta Loretta stirs and prods her listeners with lyrics kissed by life’s chapped lips. This is not background noise. This is a sound that tickles your ears, beguiling you like a mythical Siren to come a little closer until you look down and realize that you have been tied to the mast of fandom by her lyrics.
Whether she is singing about the purity of childhood innocence (making mud pies and swinging on the swing set while yucca stalks, like soldiers, stand guard) or the realities of war (“ain’t good for nothing ‘cept for filling up a grave”), Mobetta Loretta seems familiar, telling us where we all have been, and like a sage, telling us where we should be headed; but, in a manner refreshingly not overwhelmed by self-importance. You should listen.
Mobetta Loretta’s audience appeal has played to the tune of a wide array of audiences including, young and old, looking for honesty and sincerity in music. Her broad influences ranging from folk to country and jazz have shown a multi-faceted gem, with unique brilliance.
Chacon focused tirelessly on self-producing her debut EP, entitled, Mobetta Loretta, which was released on November 12, 2006. This raw and unadulterated recording features five tracks which were produced in her home studio in Redlands, California. The tracks were centered upon a modern folk base, with roots rock and blues influences. Although created from a simplistic production platform, these tracks are injected with soul and get to the heart of the matter.
Chacon took some creative risks, when recording some rockabilly/punk influenced guitar in her song, “Heartbreaker.” In addition, the song “Home of the Free” offers an infectious, blues shuffle and features samples of her 20 month old son’s voice amidst the muffled 12 bar blues.
Mobetta Loretta has consistently delivered a smooth and melodic voice with an unassuming and straight forward delivery. She can deliver the goods, even in small coffee houses, local bars and community events. Her desire is to broaden her local fan base, while continuing with her intimate performance style.
Distribution methods for delivery of her music have been widely based on internet usage. Being a new artist, Chacon realizes that exposure for her music is of the utmost importance right now. With the increasing public demand for downloaded music, Mobetta Loretta's debut EP is now available on iTunes!!! Also, Mobetta Loretta’s self-titled, debut EP is available for purchase on CDBaby.com. If your local record store does not carry it, you can ask them to order it.
In addition, Mobetta Loretta has also won many fans through her myspace music page, which has helped increase exposure to her music. Currently playing regular gigs to help broaden her local fan base, Mobetta Loretta’s earthy appeal has crossed many audiences. Mobetta Loretta has captured the hearts of the baby boom generation, generation X-ers and even the Y-generation! With all ages allowed at coffee house shows, she is quickly gaining the approval of a younger audience looking for raw and emotionally-charged music.
Growing up in New Mexico, Chacon experienced a childhood rich with culture and roots style music. She has drawn upon those experiences in her songs. The first track off her EP, “Little Sister,” pays homage to her younger sibling, while denoting evocative childhood memories of “Yucca stalks, like soldiers standing guard, a juniper tree blowing a fragrance in my nose...We would make mud pies and swing on our swing set in the Silver City sunset, orange and gold.”
Freedom has been a recurrent theme in her music. “Freedom of the Heart” and “Home of the Free” are both songs that not only include the theme in their titles, but touch upon both the individual spirit and the abounding greater spirit of freedom, which our country was founded upon. “Freedom of the Heart” brings alive vivid imagery as a train collision comes to mind, “burning down, burning down...I’m bolting heart in hand, I’m a freight train you cannot slow...I won’t wait for you to switch tracks.” In the song, “Home of the Free” she co-wrote with her husband, Troy Silva, she proclaims, “This ain't the home of the free. This ain't the land of the brave, Poor kids sent off to war. Rich Kids get daddy to pay."
The unadulterated, straight forward approach to her music has produced a fresh and real sound to an audience hungry for a genuine soul, pouring her heart out over her guitar. This album is not overproduced, is not fancy in delivery, but is raw and delivers good listening via solid song writing and introspective, political and philosophical lyrics. Keep posted for more on upcoming releases.