Women Led and Supported at Mexico’s Hera Music Festival

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City’s Hera HSBC music festival on Saturday showcased an impressive all-female lineup featuring both Latina and international stars, including Kesha, Demi Lovato, and Camila Cabello.

Named after Hera, the Greek goddess of women, family, the sky, and stars, the festival coincided with a landmark moment in Mexican history, as the nation readies itself for the inauguration of its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

Organized and fronted by women, the festival attracted over 48,000 attendees to the capital’s race track, which also hosts other notable events like Corona Capital and EDC Mexico.

The event emphasized female empowerment both on and off stage, featuring women as performers, producers, engineers, and more. Itzel González, a festival promoter, and Ximena Sariñana, a Mexican singer-songwriter, co-creator, and director of the Hera committee, aimed to spotlight this dynamic throughout the festival.

“Thank you truly to all of you for coming and being part of this unique and historic moment here in Mexico City,” Sariñana expressed to the audience during her performance.

The all-female lineup was particularly appreciated by the 28-year-old Ivan Huerta, who attended the festival with friends. “I love it, in fact, I feel more comfortable that it’s all women as part of the LGBT community,” he said. “For me, it’s amazing that there is a festival for them and for everyone.”

Despite advancements, gender inequality continues to be an issue in the music industry. A study by the University of Southern California found that of the 164 artists on the Hot 100 Billboard Year-End Chart in 2023, 64.6% were men, 34.8% were women, and 0.6% were gender non-binary. Less than 25% of musicians at major U.S. music festivals are women, as reported by the nonprofit organization “Book More Women.”

Festival-goers eagerly awaited the performance of Puerto Rican trans rapper Villano Antillano on a club-ready stage. Dressed in leather, Antillano opened her set with “Super Hoe” from her new album “Miss Misogyny,” a work that celebrates female rappers. Songs like “CamGirl . !!!” and “¡Hello Kitty!” had her dancing in sync with her DJ and MC.

Performing in Mexico held particular significance for Antillano. Fans shouted, “Villano, sister, you’re already Mexican!” to which she responded, “When one (woman) rises, we all rise.” She added, “I especially love this country because of my Mexican transgender sisters. That’s my deep bond with Mexico.”

Although rain began to pour in the late afternoon, it didn’t dampen the spirits of fans who rushed to see pop star Kesha. Following a decade-long legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, 37-year-old Kesha returned to the stage this year with renewed confidence. Her first visit to Mexico coincided with this struggle.

“I was so scared that people were going to judge me,” she revealed. “Since then, everyone has judged me for every (expletive) thing I’ve ever done.” She thanked the audience for their support during the challenging years before performing her new track “JOYRIDE,” her first independent single after parting ways with Dr. Luke’s label.

To the delight of her fans, Kesha uncorked a bottle of champagne and sprayed it all over the audience, capturing the festive spirit of the event.

The festival also featured performances from Mexican singer Danna Paola and Colombian group Bomba Estéreo, rounding out an empowering and celebratory lineup.

Source: AP News, University of Southern California, Book More Women