Livin' Lara

"We have this little network here on the Beach, between the bands and some of the people that try and do stuff, like Forget the Name [now FtN] and Mary Karlzen and Richard Ulloa of Yesterday and Today Records. It's cool to see it go from nothing and see things happen. It's kind of helping to make people notice Miami, that there are people here who have half a brain. I think you can be located anywhere in the world and be successful. It has nothing to do with location. It has to do with drive. You can't just sit on your butt and expect people to do it for you. And of course you have to have some sort of marginal talent.

"People think you record an album and that's it, that's the most important thing. Well it's not. You've got to move forward. I already forgot about that record, I'm doing something else now. I'm holding my own flag and I'm doing my things my way. Mine is a slow process, but I'm not in a hurry. I just want to express my music and my culture the way I want to."

Nil Lara performs with FtN and Arlan Feiles at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) at the Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, 828-7010. Admission costs $8 and $10.