Camilo Lara of MIS Takes us Vinyl Shopping at LA's Famed Amoeba Records Store

Mexican Institute of Sound's Camilo Lara feeds us politics via cumbia & vinyl.

ByABC News
October 24, 2012, 4:01 PM

Oct. 26, 2012— -- He is a staple of Latin alternative music, a true lover of bowler hats, a dancer of cumbia and an avid vinyl collector. For these and other reasons, Camilo Lara rocks.

The creator of Mexican Institute of Sound aka MIS started collecting vinyl records when he was six-years-old (he now owns more than 45,000 records). Camilo is such a music lover, he worked his way up the ranks at EMI Music Mexico, his day job for 17 years, becoming its president. Lara eventually formed MIS, which to date has released four studio albums, and quit his prestigious post to make music full time.

In his latest album, Politico, Camilo keeps true to his fun, danceable persona yet adds social commentary. His passion for eclectic rhythms and vintage sounds (check out his recent turn as guest DJ on NPR Alt Latino for a taste) has earned him the respect of music industry peers and fans all over the world.

I met up I met up with Camilo at one of the few self-standing music stores in the country -- Amoeba Music -- to talk some música, dance some cumbia and expand that unending vinyl collection.

If you're in Southern California, don't miss Camilo's special DJ set at this Saturday's annual KCRW's Masquerade Ball in Los Angeles.