I first heard Las Ultrasónicas in a very unexpected way, on an episode of one of my favorite shows: Mythic Quest on Apple TV.
The song was “I’m ******* Pregnant” — and it futzing rocked. The moment was wild on screen, but it was the band that grabbed me. A female punk band from Mexico, blasting raw energy and defiance through my speakers. I had to know more.
So I went down the rabbit hole, listening to everything I could find. And it became clear fast: this is what punk music should be. Raw, loud, fearless — no polish, no posing. Just real passion, real grit.
Las Ultrasonicas are a fearless punk/garage outfit from Mexico City that exploded onto the scene in the mid-90s, tearing through gender norms with surfy riffs, riot grrrl attitude, and lyrics soaked in sarcasm, sexuality, and social bite. Blending lo-fi grit with irreverent humor, they carved out a sound that was both confrontational and unmistakably their own. Their cult-classic debut Yo fui una adolescente terrosatánica became a raw manifesto for underground Latinx punk, and after years of evolution and hiatus, the band’s return to the stage has only amplified their status as pioneers of feminist rock en español.
Three decades in, Las Ultrasónicas are still tearing it up, still fearless, still playing on their own terms. We caught up with Jenny Bombo & Rocksi of Las Ultrasónicas, and talked about their journey, the chaos, the music — and what comes next.
SNQLX: After all this time, what keeps you fired up about playing together?
JENNY: Mainly the people that follow us, that go to our concerts and sing our songs, so it is always a pleasure to play live for me.
ROCKSI: I love the energy and connection I feel with people now. Seeing so many women and how they understand our vibe is incredible. And I feel like for Jenny and me, it’s easier to write and make songs now.
Las Ultrasónicas Live at Toluca
SNQLX: Is there a show you played that was a total disaster… but you laugh about now?
JENNY: Well There isn’t a particular show that was terrible for us, but some times it’s hard to have control of everything in a live show so you basically have to work with what you’ve got and make the best of it
ROCKSI: Well, the first time Sonic Youth came to Mexico City, they wanted us to open their show. But it was the early 2000s, and people were so “true” — and most of them were men — so they didn’t like that a girl-band opened. They started throwing paper, coins, beer, and all kinds of shit they found on the floor, lmfao! But we didn’t quit and told them, “Now we’ll finish the whole set, culeros.”
SNQLX: When you think about the early days, what’s something you miss — and what’s something you definitely don’t miss?
JENNY: Well I miss that people didn’t have cell phones and they paid more attention to what was going on on stage.
I don’t miss the sexist comments some guys used to shout at us, like get naked and those kind of things, even though we always laughed about it and shout back so we never got intimidated, people now a days are more respectful.
ROCKSI: I used to have more energy, jajaja. And I felt more secure, because I definitely didn’t care about a lot of things I notice now. Like now I try to stay focused when I play, and I try not to drink before going on stage.
SNQLX: What’s been the hardest part of sticking it out this long in Mexican rock?
JENNY: The hardest part for me it is to get along with my bandmates based on what every one of us likes and wants for the band since we could have different points of view.
ROCKSI: Being ourselves, accepting we’re not super young anymore… but I still feel like I am, lol.
JENNY
…we are just girls that wanna rock and have fun…
— Jenny
ROCKSI
I think they see us as empowering women — strong, who don’t give up.
Rocksi
SNQLX: You came up DIY. What do you think young bands today have easy — and what do they have harder?
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