Ambar Ramirez
Words by Ambar Ramirez
When I first moved to Jacksonville I noticed that there wasn’t a big Hispanic culture here. Granted, I wasn’t looking for one, but coming from Miami where Spanish seemed to be everyone’s first language, I had whatever the opposite of a culture shock is. It wasn’t until I went to Lynch’s Irish Pub in Jacksonville Beach and saw Mandalla perform that I realized maybe I had it all wrong.
Some people perform music, some people make music, but Mandalla, a local four-piece band that seamlessly weaves top hits with hints of Latin flavor, becomes music.
It all started when Liliana Sánchez, dancer and singer, left Venezuela and moved to Jacksonville. Here she met Henderson Olivares Boscán — arranger, producer, sound engineer and music instructor — who knew Rei Ortiz, a multi-award winning Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist, music producer and songwriter. With Liliana’s sister, dancer/singer Rebeca Sánchez, coming to Jacksonville as well, Liliana had the idea of forming a band.
“We all have different backgrounds in regards to music, like Rebeca and Liliana, they’ve always been dancers and singers since they were little. Henderson also has a very vast academic background in jazz and flamenco, as well as a drummer, percussionist and producer,” Ortiz shared. “And then I come from Puerto Rico also with a different background. So I guess that that’s where all the flavor comes from.”
What sets this group apart isn’t only their diverse range of musical backgrounds, but their perfect blend of Latin rhythms with English songs. Mandalla’s musical prowess reflects the cultural melting pot of Jacksonville, creating an auditory experience that resonates with the heartbeat of a diverse community that doesn’t get talked about enough … which is why they named the band Mandalla.
For those who don’t know, “mandala” is Sanskrit for “circle,” but in many cultures, “mandala” means “universe” and is used in Buddhism and Hinduism as an aid for meditation, as mandala is the center of everything.
“We try to incorporate various aspects of our art like dancing, singing and music,” Henderson said. “And we try to incorporate different genres into the project that is Mandalla. So then it occurred to me that ‘mandala,’ meaning ‘everything,’ portrays how we are wanting to perform a little bit of everything.”
One captivating element of Mandalla that immediately drew my attention during their performance was the seamless incorporation of dancing by the Sanchez sisters. Growing up in a Hispanic household myself, dancing has always held a special place in my heart, even though I wasn’t professionally trained like the Sanchez sisters. Witnessing them bring both their passions to the stage reminded me of the dynamic performances by artists like Britney Spears and Shakira. It’s a unique and resonant way of establishing a connection with the audience.
“I think one of the things that really sets Mandalla apart from other bands is their [Liliana and Rebeca] synchronicity and what they’re doing onstage because Henderson and I are great dancers too, but we don’t want to steal the spotlight,” Ortiz joked.
In just a couple of years, Mandalla has made a name for themselves not just in Jacksonville but around the country. And now they are looking to broaden their reach even more by releasing original music and touring.
“I think Mandalla is a different experience just because we’ve connected with so many different types of people from different places, from different countries,” Ortiz expressed. “I was just maybe sitting in my studio a few years back just making reggaeton music, and now I’m, like, meeting all these people from different places. I mean, I’m only speaking from my own perspective, but I think we’ve grown to be a family by now. We have fun. We fight. We argue and then we have fun again. It’s a very interesting dynamic.”
To follow along with Mandalla’s musical journey you can check out their website mandallamusic.com or on Instagram and Facebook at mandallamusic.
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