*About the track "Los Bellos"*

A musical dedication to those who lost their lives in the Orlando shooting on June 12, 2016

Listen here

Read more below

Message from Shireen Amini...

Being Latinx (Puerto Rican), queer, in my 30s and with close family members who are gay, I was deeply struck by the Pulse tragedy. To me, those who died represent nothing but love embodied in a form that is just not yet accepted across minds and hearts in this country, in a way that they can be safe to exist. It utterly breaks my heart. Those young men and women were riding on the amazing progress that our ancestors of the gay rights movement have made for us by coming to a space that encouraged them to dance, be free, and be themselves. And 49 people were killed in that space, by one person. 

Last year, as I was processing the grief and ramifications of the Orlando shooting, I had a musical energy move through me that became this song, “Los Bellos,” or beautiful people, a dedication to those who lost their lives on June 12, 2016 and all those who survived albeit injured and traumatized, and all those closely affected. The ripple of pain travels far and wide. I felt it here on the West Coast and wanted to affirm that the death of these men and women was not in vain and to invite that rather than fight hate with hate, we be invigorated to love more and keep dancing, proudly, with them in spirit. 

This song was written in Spanish (with support from more fluent friends, gracias María Roberts) but it is a mission of mine to make this music, language, and message accessible to English speakers as well, so I have provided lyrics in both languages. 

We want to offer that every live performance and every listening of this song that occurs from here forward be a prayer, that we may not forget and that we may be inspired to take action from a place of love more than ever before. 

I was moved to tears when I read an article that included the names of all 49 who were killed, stating that they “Rest in Power.” Indeed. It’s a fantastic article that you can read here. And I’d like to include the names of these beautiful people here as well. 

In honor of… 

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 

Amanda L. Alvear, 25 

Oscar A. Aracena Montero, 26 

Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, 33 

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 

Angel Candelario-Padro, 28 

Juan Chavez Martinez, 25 

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 

Cory James Connell, 21 

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 

Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández, 31 

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 

Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz, 22 

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 

Frank Hernandez, 27 

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 

Javier Jorge Reyes, 40 

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 

Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 

Brenda Marquez McCool, 49 

Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25 

Kimberly Jean Morris, 37 

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 

Luis Omar Ocasio Capo, 20 

Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, 25 

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 

Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez, 27 

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano-Rosado, 35 

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 

Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan, 24 

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24 

Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez, 37 

Luis Sergio Vielma, 22 

Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez, 50 

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 

Listen to the song on our music page and please feel free to share with anyone.