From the heart of Los Angeles, La Lom, has been a Tigre Sounds staple band ever since we came across their unique, body-moving sound that pulses with vibrant, multicultural energy. The band, made up of musicians Zac Sokolow, Nick Baker and Jake Faulkner, effortlessly pulls in listeners from across generations, borders and cultures. With their seamless fusion of alternative rock, cumbia americana, and Latin American rhythms like chicha, La Lom has become a beacon of nostalgia and soul in today’s music scene. Their music is a celebration of the city’s diversity, a tapestry woven from the rich cultural influences of Southern California and the Latin world. Each song from their recently launched debut album, Los Angeles League of Musicians, pays tribute to their roots, blending raw, soulful melodies with an eclectic array of influences that resonate deeply with both American and Latin American audiences.
La Lom’s journey is a story of connection, nostalgia and collaboration. Meeting through mutual gigs, the band’s early days were spent shaping their sound from the streets of L.A., honing their craft through impromptu sets and epic tacos, and blending sounds from boleros to rockabilly. Every member brings a distinct musical heritage, resulting in an experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. As Tigre OGs, La Lom has captivated audiences with their rich, genre-defying sound, reaching music lovers from all corners of the world and inspiring Tigre’s followers with each heartfelt performance. Their authenticity can be felt through every chord.
We recently caught up with the band backstage as they prepared for an unforgettable performance presented by Tigre Sounds and Rhythm Foundation at the Miami Beach Bandshell.
TIGRE SOUNDS: The La Lom sound is vibrantly multicultural. What influences helped shape your unique sound and style that’s resonating seamlessly with both American and Latin American audiences?
LA LOM (Zack): We all grew up in Los Angeles, and Los Angeles is a place where there are so many different influences from all over the world, culturally. In music, you just hear so many styles on the radio, at parties, on the streets. We all kind of come from different musical backgrounds. A lot of the first music I played was with my dad, playing country and bluegrass music, old-time, that kind of thing—especially on banjo, fiddle, mandolin. When Jake and I first met, we were playing a lot of rockabilly and early country music for dancers at bars.
(Nick): Yeah, my first influence was my grandma, who was from Durango, Mexico. She taught me all the old-school boleros, and I also got into cumbia and Afro-Cuban music because of my mentor. That’s how we blended sounds from Latin America.
TIGRE SOUNDS: So how did La Lom come together?
LA LOM: We had a gig together when we started. That’s how we got together, playing at a hotel. Nick just had his congas, really just the congas at first. I had learned some old boleros like Los Panchos from the 50s and 60s, and that was probably some of the first music we played—classic Mexican boleros.
TIGRE SOUNDS: The Los Angeles League of Musicians feels like an anthem or a collective identity. What does this name, La Lom, represent to you, and why do you feel that now was the right time to finally launch your full-length album?
LA LOM (Nick): I lived on a street called La Loma, so I shortened it to La Lom, and everyone who collaborated in the band is from LA. All the videos, everyone you see, is from LA. Representing the cultures of LA and the sound we grew up with was very important to us, so we wanted to create an album that was kind of an anthem for our city. It’s called the Los Angeles League of Musicians because everyone we work with is from LA; we felt like we had a league of people who were all part of this.
TIGRE SOUNDS: You’ve had some amazing opportunities to open for artists like Leon Bridges and Gaby Moreno. How does working closely with fellow artists inspire you to continue honing your sound?
LA LOM: Working with Gaby Moreno was really nice. We sent her some instrumentals, and she chose one of them. The day after, she had already written lyrics to it. That was great. It made us want to do more collaborations and start writing with different singers in mind. We’re interested in working with singers from all over the world, in different languages, and learning from artists who inspire us.
TIGRE SOUNDS: You recently played at Tonal, a really cool venue in CDMX. What are some memorable moments for La Lom as a band?
LA LOM: The gigs in Mexico City were great. Mexico City has a strong cumbia culture, especially cumbia sonidera, with DJs and dancers—it’s really celebrated there. And our first big show in Miami with Tigre Sounds at ZeyZey was amazing, over a thousand people came to see us, and everyone was dancing. We love Miami for that.
TIGRE SOUNDS: La Lom has become a staple band for Tigre Sounds. What do you think makes so many people feel so connected to your music?
LA LOM: I think nostalgia. Our sound creates this nostalgic effect, which connects with a lot of generations. We play very honestly, bringing our best selves to it. Zac has a real talent for expressing beauty in his melodies, and people who are sensitive to that respond to it.
TIGRE SOUNDS: On your album Los Angeles League of Musicians, you have songs named after beautiful women, nostalgic emotions, dreamy places. What is your songwriting process like, and what do you aim to evoke?
LA LOM: A lot of the music on the record are the first songs we wrote together. We were playing all over the city, inspired by the people, neighborhoods, and music around us. That’s why many songs are named after streets and neighborhoods. We explore a huge range in our songs—sometimes an argument, a lover’s whisper. We want listeners to connect it to their experiences, like a lost love or current partner.
TIGRE SOUNDS: Tell us about a song from the album that holds particular meaning to you.
LA LOM: There’s a song called “Angel’s Point” on the record. Angel’s Point is a beautiful viewpoint in Elysian Park. I think about it a lot when I’m traveling, missing home. It’s a peaceful spot with a view of the whole city and Dodger Stadium. I’ll go up there, listen to the radio, and just take it all in.
TIGRE SOUNDS: What message or feeling do you want your audience to walk away with after experiencing your music?
LA LOM: We want people floating out of the room from dancing and having a great time. Our live shows are about everyone sharing a joyful experience together—feeling positive and happy.
TIGRE SOUNDS: What can we expect from upcoming releases or live performances from the Los Angeles League of Musicians?
LA LOM: We’re heading to Europe soon for a few weeks of festivals, including two at Pitchfork. Then we’ll tour the southeast U.S., from Nashville to New York. We’re always working on new music, and if you catch a live show, you’ll probably hear some of what’s coming up.
La Lom’s music isn’t just a blend of influences; it’s a tribute to the cultural intersections that shape and color their lives. Through soulful rhythms, dreamy instrumental compositions, and an infectious sense of nostalgia, they invite listeners into a world that is both rooted in tradition and alive with modern energy. For Tigre Sounds, La Lom represents the beauty of musical storytelling that transcends borders and lyrics, and we’re honored to share their journey, one rhythm and soulful note at a time.
All photos by Brooke D’Avanzo at the Miami Beach Bandshell