Full Name: Los Muertos – Luis Silva
Thanks for your time. So tell us in what part of the First Coast do you reside now, and how long have you lived there?
I live in Murray Hill in Jacksonville and have been here for 2 years since moving from Ecuador.
When did you know you had an interest in music?
Ever since my dad brought a guitar home and laid it on the dining table. It was for my older brother, but I couldn’t keep my eyes and hands off. I must have been 6 years old.
Did you start with any specific instrument and migrate to other instruments?
I started with guitar but love learning new instruments. I play piano, bass, drums, harmonica, and sing, but I’m still most comfortable with a guitar.
Are you currently in a band (or bands)?
Yes, I am currently the frontman in Los Muertos, a 10-piece Latin rock fusion band. We mix Latin rhythms like cumbia, salsa, merengue, and bolero with jam-band improvisation of bands like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers.
I find it a fascinating experiment to fuse South America with North America through musical identity and rhythms. I usually write a song in one of these Latin genres, come up with a bunch of parts, and make a demo. By the time we try it out with the band, the song comes alive and shifts, a collaboration of every member in the band. Me being from Ecuador and the rest of the band being from the US, everyone’s influences and styles mix into a really unique sound that feels like a highway across continental America.
Playing live shows with such a big band is always exhilarating. We have very high-energy concerts and dress up in matching tasselled cowboy shirts. Need I say more? Come show us your cumbia dance moves; we are usually playing somewhere around town.
We have released a couple of singles so far, as we prepare to release our debut album in early 2027.
Who is your favorite musician or what musician influenced you the most?
Bob Dylan. He’s got such a vast catalogue of amazing music that it’s hard to ever get bored. I’ve been listening obsessively for around 12 years, and there are still hidden gems and unreleased stuff to discover. Not to mention the man is alive and well, releasing new music and doing 100 shows a year.
Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?
I remember I went to Porchfest in 2024 when I had recently moved here. I had a great time and remember thinking, “Man, if there’s anywhere I would love to play it would be right here.” As a band, we had on our local bucket list to play Porchfest, Loggerhead, and Finfest. This year we got invited to play in those three festivals, and that makes me so proud of the band and makes me feel like we are on the right track and people are digging what we do.
What area bands or musicians are at the top of your list to go out to hear?
Armadillo Operator, Stella Soul, Gravedancer, Patsy’s Daydream, Liza Attic, Robert Lester Folsom, Airtight, Halfway Hounds (RIP), and many more. It’s crazy the amount of talent we got in the area. Go see ’em before they’re huge folks!
Do you have a favorite venue that you enjoy playing locally?
VooSwar, Back Bar, Spinster Abbot’s, HardLove
Do you have any gigs coming up to tell our readers about?
November 7th at Porch Fest! Come get it while it’s hot
What is the best way for musicians to network?
Go to local shows. Play a bunch of shows. That’s basically the only way we’ve ever gotten gigs. Play shows, make friends, and support each other.
If you had a question you would like to ask another musician, what would it be?
I would ask Bob Dylan, “Who do you think killed Kennedy?”. He released a 16-minute song on the subject in 2020, and I wonder if he’s reached any conclusions.
Personal hobbies or interests? Family?
I like reading novels. Some of my favorite authors are Thomas Pynchon, Roberto Bolaño, and Julio Cortázar.
What’s the best thing for you about living on the First Coast?
There’s so much variety, and it’s not too much of one thing. You’ve got hippies, surfers, hipsters, college kids, country folk, art crowd, downtown yuppies, suburban families, and all kinds of immigrant communities. As someone not from here, I think locals sometimes fail to see how awesome this place is. But I don’t mind it being a well-kept secret.
Where and how can folks learn more about you and/or your band? Links to your website?
Instagram: @losmuertos
Email: losmuertosmuertosband@gmail.com
We are on all streaming platforms!
Is there anything else that you want to tell everyone reading this?
Go see local music! There’s so much incredible talent in Jacksonville, and you never know when you’re going to stumble into your new favorite band. And if you happen to see ten people in matching cowboy shirts playing psychedelic cumbia somewhere around town, come say hello.
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Glenn is the founder and publisher of First Coast Life. He is also a wonderful storyteller. Born on the 4th of July, he spends his spare time taking his camera and exploring everything beautiful this region offers with his rescue dog Callie by his side. He loves meeting new people and capturing the many beautiful moments and amazing local stories that showcase the true spirit of the area.
