The band name allà (pronounced i-yah) literally translates from Spanish into "a way over there." Mexican women use the word as a quick answer—where’s the broom? It’s allà. Where is your husband? He’s allà, meaning over the border in the States. When drummer Angel Ledezma read about allà as the border in National Geographic, he and his brother/producer/guitarist Jorge decided on the name for the band. “We’re over there,” explains Jorge, “but our hearts are across the border in Mexico.”

As first generation Mexicans growing up in Chicago, the Ledezma brothers demonstrate their struggle on the line of American assimilation and Chicano cultural immersion in Es Tiempo. Their music, experimental Spanish indie pop with psychedelic influences, is a way of connecting to the group’s Mexican roots. “We had the conventional American high school experience, but we still stood out,” Jorge says. “That’s what we’re trying to do as artists.”

The goal is cross over Spanish into American music. Born and raised in Chicago, the group has listened to everything from the Beach Boys to Kanye West, and many bands came through the Windy City. Even Lupe got her start singing pop covers. But creating music truly from the heart has taken many years. In their mid-twenties, the Ledezma brothers played together as Defender, in-tune with the improvisation Chicago scene of the period, not their own unique style. They had to find their voice.

The process has definitely been a labor of love. Recording alone took four years, with another three to mix tracks and complete artwork.  Now, after a painstakingly long envisioning and recording process of eight years, Es Tiempo was released on June 10th on Crammed Discs, a record label with global reach.

The international availability was very important to Jorge and allà. “We didn’t want to go with a trendy little indie label,” he says. “There’s so many in Chicago that we could have gone with, but… we want to have the opportunity to perform in front as many people as we can.” This July was allà’s first trip to New York. They’re headed to L.A. in August for coming shows, and hope to tour Europe and Latin America in the fall. As the band’s myspace says, Es tiempo para la revolucion. It’s time for the revolution.

Before Es Tiempo took off, Jorge and Angel worked at Whole Foods 14 and 12 years each, where they met Heathcliff, the band’s publicist. Neither Ledezma brother, nor the band’s third member Lupe Martinez, went to college. While Angel has an apartment in Chicago, Jorge still lives at home with a younger brother who struggles with mental and physical handicaps. Jorge passionately supports his entire family, and uses music as both a career and care-taker springboard.

 “This is not just ‘I want to be in a band,’” he says. “I really, really want to be successful so our family can live comfortably. I want to build a career. I want to take care of my family.” Pressure is on for both musical and familial success. After years of writing, recording and performing, the band continues to be excited and inspired. Angel explains, “We’re doing this from the heart. I know that’s a cliché…but we’re good because we mean it. It’s who we are.”

As allà ascends to success beyond their family and friends in Chicago, music will remain their deepest identity connection. Their Mexican-American connections are carried through every song and every concert. The music and the musicians are one in the same, here or over there.

-Alexandra Bregman