At Hard Summer, Latino DJs and ravers push festival culture forward

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Set us as preferred “I would choose to be Latina in every lifetime,” Kali Uchis said from her Saturday night closing set at L.A.’s EDM music festival Hard Summer.“Where are my Latinos at?”The crowd responded with a resounding roar.Throughout the day, fans crossed the grounds in bright Latin American soccer jerseys, the eye-catching complementary greens and reds of Mexico and the rich blue of El Salvador dotting the crowd.

They held up flags, piñatas and tall signs pasted with images of Dr.Simi and “Dragonball Z” hero Goku — used to mark one’s place in the sea of people.“Electronic music is for the beach and for Latinos,” said Dominican dembow artist and Hard Summer act Tokischa.

“It’s for us.We love to dance, to feel sexy.

And electronic music does that.”Hard Summer first launched in downtown L.A.in 2007 — yet no Latin artists received top billing.

Between Justice, Peaches and hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, the festival became a summit for English-language acts in the electronic and hip-hop genres.Yet last year’s lineup included Colombian reggaeton artist Feid as headliner, along with DJs Deorro, Funk Tribu and Sara Landry, who boosted the Latino community’s presence at the event.This year at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Colombian American crooner Kali Uchis headlined the main stage after a day of memorable sets by Argentine singer Six Sex, Mexican producer duo R∅z and Mexican American DJ Bolo.“The underground DJ scene [in Southern California] is beautiful, but I will say: a few years ago, there was not a lot of Latino representation in the big festival lineups,” said Edgar Avalos, known as Bolo.

“I feel like there are more opportunities for Latinos in these lineups.And I want to create an environment for Latino ravers to feel like they’re welcome in this space.”The Mexican Ameri...