MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� Mexico City's Hera HSBC music festival Saturday brought together an all-female lineup of both Latina and international talent, including Kesha, Demi Lovato and Camila Cabello.
Named after the Greek goddess of women, family and the sky and stars, the festival came at a historic moment in the country, as Mexico prepares to inaugurate its first female president, .
Fronted and organized by women, the festival drew more than 48,000 people to the capital's race track, home to other music festivals like Corona Capital and EDC Mexico.
At Hera, women were not only performing on stage but working behind the scenes as producers, engineers and more. It鈥檚 something Itzel Gonz谩lez, festival promoter, and Ximena Sari帽ana, Mexican singer-songwriter, co-creator and director of the Hera committee wanted to highlight with the event.
鈥淭hank you truly to all of you for coming and being part of this unique and historic moment here in Mexico City,鈥� Sari帽ana told an audience during her performance.
Regarding the all-female lineup, 28-year-old Ivan Huerta who attended the festival with his friends said, 鈥淚 love it, in fact I feel more comfortable that it鈥檚 all women as part of the LGBT community.鈥�
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 amazing that there is a festival for them and for everyone,鈥� he added.
Despite progress, gender inequality persists in the music industry. According to a study by the University of Southern California, 164 artists appeared on the Hot 100 Billboard Year-End Chart in 2023. Of these, 64.6% were men, 34.8% were women, and 0.6% were gender non-binary.
In the U.S., less than 25% of musicians on stage at major U.S. music festivals are women, according to data collected by the nonprofit organization 鈥淏ook More Women.鈥�
At a club-ready stage, festival-goers waited with anticipation for Puerto Rican and trans rapper Villano Antillano.
Dressed out in leather, Antillano kicked off her performance with the iconic lyrics of 鈥淪uper Hoe鈥� from her new album 鈥淢iss Misogyny,鈥� a body of work that celebrates female rappers. Other songs like 鈥淐amGirl . !!!鈥� and 鈥溌ello Kitty!鈥� had her dancing in sync with her DJ and MC.
For the rapper, performing in Mexico was a special moment.
鈥淰illano, sister, you鈥檙e already Mexican!鈥� fans shouted. Villano Antillano smiled and said to the crowd, 鈥淲hen one (woman) rises, we all rise.鈥� The rapper said she especially loved the country 鈥渂ecause of my Mexican transgender sisters, that鈥檚 my deep bond with Mexico.鈥�
Although rain started to drench the festival in the late afternoon, it didn鈥檛 stop fans from rushing the stage to see the highly anticipated pop star Kesha.
, the 37-year-old singer has returned with a newfound confidence this year. That same decade coincides with Kesha鈥檚 first visit to Mexico.
鈥淚 was so scared that people were going to judge me,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince then, everyone has judged me for every (expletive) thing I鈥檝e ever done."
鈥淭hank you for being by my side during the hardest years of my life,鈥� she said to the audience, before performing her new track 鈥淛OYRIDE,鈥� her first independent single after breaking away from Dr. Luke鈥檚 label.
The pop song resonated with fans as she uncorked a bottle of champagne and sprayed booze all over the audience.
The festival also included Mexican singer Danna Paola and Colombian group Bomba Est茅reo.
Mariana Mart铆nez Barba, The Associated Press
