DAKHÓTA ROMERO
Singer,
Songwriter, Dancer, Actor
Native Children’s Survival Goodwill Ambassador
Dakhóta Romero's LA LLORONA - REMASTERIZADO (English: Weeping Woman - Remastered) commemorates the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos). On Halloween, OCT. 31—NOV. 2, in Abya Yala (the Americas) and around the world, Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) celebrations welcome the spirits of our ancestors.
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) festivities and rituals date back thousands of years to ceremonies honoring those who have taken their journey to the spirit world. Indigenous Peoples have a spiritual connection with the universe - we see death as an ever-present part of life.
Music is integral to the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos). Dakhóta Romero's alluring version of the traditional song LA LLORONA (Weeping Woman) is available on Eagle Thunder Records digitally worldwide now. The single, produced by Robby Romero, is mixed by Grammy-winner Steve Addabbo (Bob Dylan, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin) and remastered by Grammy-winner Rob Fraboni (Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton).
“Dedicated to the woman who taught me how to sing in the style — mi abuela! ♥️”
CONNECT
DISCOGRAPHY
Dakhóta is a lifelong performer with world experience. She was born on the summer solstice in Santa Monica, California. During her toddler years, Dakhóta modeled with her mother, New York model Suzanne Mitchell in Chicago, Illinois, and appeared in her father Robby Romero's award-winning Native Children's Survival music pictures ALL THE MISSING CHILDREN and IS IT TO LATE.
ALL THE MISSING CHILDREN first screened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Cinema in Brooklyn, New York. IS IT TOO LATE, prefaced by President Mikhail Gorbachev's historic environmental message at the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders in Moscow, was broadcast globally from the Kremlin. The music picture was screened at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City during the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Children and the Environment Project.
“Growing up as my father’s daughter, I was always surrounded by music and culture, its home to me. ”
After graduating from the Taos Pueblo Head Start program in New Mexico, Dakhóta traveled the world with her father, singing and dancing at Indigenous gatherings and international events. Her first live performance was with the International Children's Choir at the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She hit the road with her father on the groundbreaking 1994 Red Thunder Indian Country Tour, the U.S. 1995 Blues Traveler-founded tour, H.O.R.D.E. Festival, and again with the following summer's H.O.R.D.E. Festival Tour. She sang and danced with Red Thunder, Blues Traveler, Rickie Lee Jones, Rusted Root, and Natalie Merchant, all before the age 10.
Dakhóta quickly began exploring another passion and art form that runs in her family, acting, as she appeared in plays and musicals in Los Angeles. After graduating from elementary school, she earned the lead in the indie film short HIDDEN MEDICINE. This experimental film was written, directed, and scored by her father, co-written by Onondaga Faithkeeper, Chief Oren Lyons, and produced by Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or, British Academy Film Award winner, and two-time Academy Award-nominee Roland Joffé, known for helming such Academy Award-winning films as, THE KILLING FIELDS and THE MISSION.
HIDDEN MEDICINE premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. HIDDEN MEDICINE screened at various film festivals, including the American Indian Film Festival, the Montréal First Peoples' Festival, the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. HIDDEN MEDICINE went on to air in the "Best of Sundance Film Festival" series on Sundance T.V.
While in high school, Dakhóta crafted and recorded her unique version of Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross's hit, MY MISTAKE. The single was featured in the documentary short film AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER. After graduating, Dakhóta entered Loyola Marymount University to study classical music, singing in five languages, covering Musical genres from Baroque to Postmodern.
While in her sophomore year at LMU, Dakhóta was presented with a unique and life-changing opportunity. She joined her father, German rock legend Peter Maffay and other renowned artists from around the world on a 15-city arena tour in Germany called “Encounters II – An Alliance For Children.”
While on tour, Dakhóta sang in three languages – Lakota, Hebrew, and English. She became friends with diverse artists, bridging cultures. The performances and life on the road bonded them into an unorthodox family.
Following the tour, Dakhóta joined her father, Carlos Santana, Peter Maffay, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens) in a Concert for Peace in Bochum, Germany. Dakota had the distinct pleasure of performing with and singing Carlos Santana’s classic hit OYE COMO VA.
Continuing her education, Dakhóta studied abroad in Paris, France, and began working on several recordings with Karl Perazzo, the guitar legend’s band leader. Love, passion and The City Of Light inspired her to write her first song titled, PARIS.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Music, Dakhóta was invited to attend and perform at COP15, the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Attending meetings and singing at various events during COP15, including the Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at the Museum of Denmark, her involvement reinforced how Dakhóta wants to live her life and how passionate she is for the rights of Mother Earth and all peoples.
“My eyes were opened to how profoundly we all matter to each other.”
Upon her return from Europe, Dakhóta began writing with a diverse group of artists and musicians and performed at renowned venues in Hollywood and the Southwest, including the House of Blues, Conga Room, Santa Fe Band Stand, Taos Plaza Live, and the Taos Performing Arts Center. She sang and performed in the music picture WHO’S GONNA SAVE YOU, a part of the Native Children’s Survival 'Project Protect' campaign. WHO’S GONNA SAVE YOU was broadcast on SABC Africa during the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, COP17 in Durban, South Africa, and screened during the Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues at United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
LA LLORONA
RITA ROGERS
Gabrieleño Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam and Ventureño Chumash Territory (Hollywood, California) Turtle Island
On 11 June 2013, Dakhóta dropped her first single, LA LLORONA, in honor and memory of her late Grandmother. Rooted in Indigenous culture, LA LLORONA has been passed down for centuries through oral tradition and the arts.
LA LLORONA (English: Weeping Woman) debuted on KXMT 99.1 FM in Northern New Mexico. On Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), the LA LLORONA music picture premiered on YouTube and went viral.
“Simply beautiful. My favorite version of this song”
“I dedicate my version of this classic ranchera about a weeping woman to my beautiful Grandmother Ida Mae Aragon aka Rita Rogers.”
In 2015 Dakhóta once again found herself in Paris and at another historic United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, COP21. On the occasion of the closing ceremony of ArtCOP21, Dakhóta closed the program with her unique voice and multicultural style at the Gaîté lyrique in Paris, France. ArtCOP21 explores the cultural stakes of climate change, where more than 200 artists, poets, professionals, scientists, and thinkers imagine other narratives and perspectives to reinvent our world.
“Until we understand our connection, only then will we understand our responsibility.”
During the #NoDAPL movement in 2016, Dakhóta traveled with her father and Dennis Banks to Očhéthi Šakówin Camp at Standing Rock. There she met with friends and colleagues participating in the #WaterIsLife spiritual resistance to protect the Missouri River from Energy Transfer Partners and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
In 2017 at Capital Records Studios in Hollywood, Dakhóta recorded and performed with her father and fellow artists, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, Raye Zaragoza, and the legendary Dennis Banks and Kris Kristofferson on the single and music picture BORN ON THE REZ. For the release of Raye Zaragoza's LP, FIGHT FOR YOU, Dakhóta sang and performed with Raye in New York City, Los Angeles, and at Indian Market 2017 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
With her dance partner, International Ambassador of Dominican Arts Edwin M Ferreras, Dakhóta founded Areíto Arts, named after the all-in-one Taíno word for rhythm, song, dance, and gathering. Areíto Arts is an educational dance company focusing on Afro-Caribbean Rhythms and Roots. Their dance videos have received millions of views on YouTube.
Most recently, Dakhóta performed at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood at the "Art Will Break Your Heart" Musical Celebration of Bob Neuwirth to a private audience, being filmed for a documentary on the incredible artist.
DAKHÓTA ROMERO
Henry Fonda Theatre, Gabrieleño Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam and Ventureño Chumash Territory (Hollywood, California) Turtle Island
“I can’t believe the legendary musicians I shared the stage with this week, including Eric Clapton. I had the honor of singing and playing the hand drum on a song my dad wrote with Bob. It was a privilege to make music with such prominent musicians and hear beautiful stories about not only my dad but also my grandmother.”
Dakhóta’s ethereal vocal style can be heard on the 2014 single IRON HORSE, the 2016 single EARTH REVOLUTION, and the 2018 single BORN ON THE REZ.
For more information visit: www.dakhótaromero.com