Your Texas Music: Femina-X

Don’t do anything else while listening to Femina X; you are going to want to pay attention, and it’s not quite easy to describe why. The San Antonio-based band – made up of vocalist Daniela Riojas, guitarist Alex Scheel, bass player Jeff Palacios, violinist Darian Thomas and percussionist Jai Roots – certainly defy genre. That’s creates layer upon layer of sound that demand an attentive ear. While completely absorbed in the music coming through my headphones, there were moments when I thought, “wow, what am I listening to?” But, no matter what you call it, I love it.

Their sound can best be described by the band itself:

“Femina-X identifies as “New Alternative” and creates unconventional fusions with electronic beats, samples, synths, and live instruments. They draw musical influence from progressive tribal and ethnic dance, hip-hop, jungle, Caribbean, industrial, punk, and drum and bass.”

Femina-X is decidedly independent – they don’t sound like any other band – and certainly Latin, but their impact is something else. Riojas’ wide-ranging voice can roar or lull, and Scheel’s big guitar sound and Roots exciting rhythms have created something new. Songs seem to draw inspiration from the earth, the indigenous, the spiritual and the cosmic. I’m not sure whether to call that something “mystic” or “ethereal,” but there is definitely some magic at play.

The band’s more complicated songs will challenge fans to lean in, listening more intently, rewinding over and over until each lyric is absorbed and each beat understood, while their more upbeat songs are sticky and catchy.

In March, the band released a new album Multiverse, available now as a physical copy and for digital download. Want to see them in person? Keep checking Femina-x.com for upcoming show dates.