The Best of Latin Music: LA LOM
LA LOM, an acronym for The Los Angeles League of Musicians, is an American instrumental band from Los Angeles California consisting of the members Zac Sokolow, guitarist, Jake Faulkner, bassist and Nicholas Baker, percussionist. Photo Credit: the_lalom on Instagram.
The band consists of guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jacob Faulkner and percussionist and drummer Nicholas Baker. LA LOM’s style of music is known as cumbia, a genre of folk music originating from Colombia.
Despite being formed in Columbia, cumbia has blends of native, European and African roots. Different styles of cumbia are played throughout Latin America, including Mexican, Argentinian, Brazilian and Chilean.
LA LOM’s style of cumbia is unlike any of the others. Their signature sound is a mix of cumbia, Americana and 1950s and 1960s rock, driven by Sokolow’s guitar playing.
The group’s website states that “LA LOM started out reimagining instrumental renditions of the soulful ballads from the 1950s and 1960s that they grew up listening to on LA’s oldies station, K-EARTH 101, evoking the laid-back aesthetic that defines the region.”
Getting their start in 2019 as a background music band in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, LA LOM began creating extended plays and gathered a small following by 2022. From there, they began to play in small clubs and gain more attention.
The band's first self-titled album was released this past August 2024 with mostly original songs, but also some covers with their own spin, such as “Danza de LA LOM.” Other covers of famous Latin songs they’ve played at their shows include hits like "Juana La Cubana,” “Te He Prometido” and “Llorar.”
LA LOM has been touring throughout the United States, playing multiple shows at small venues and festivals to promote their album. The album has since been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards including Best New Artist, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Recording Package.
With a total of 10 songs, LA LOM’s first album features upbeat and melodic tracks. The album opens up with a song titled “Angels Point,” which is guitar and percussion-heavy.
On the other hand, “El Sereno,” the fifth song on the album, can be seen almost as a ballad. On the ninth track, titled “Espejismo,” the band uses a faint organ in the background accompanied by a slow guitar that leads into the fast-paced nature of the song.
“72 Monte Carlo” and “Ghosts of Gardena” are the most popular songs off the album with “Ghosts of Gardena” being one of the three songs nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or A Capella.
Any fan of Latin or cumbia music will enjoy LA LOM’s music and their incredible first album. Currently on a European tour, LA LOM will be back in California in 2025 to play at The Wiltern on June 28 in Los Angeles.