Following her roots on the road to ?Redemption - Newsday.com

Following her roots on the road to ?Redemption

Best known to the world as the character Mimi from the Broadway smash "Rent," and now Fantine in the current revival of "Les Mis rables," Daphne Rubin-Vega is a typical New York girl. Except that she was born in Panama City, raised by a Jewish stepfather in Greenwich Village, loved The Clash, The Police and Silvio Rodr guez, and was part of a freestyle dance-pop group called Pajama Party, whose big hit was "Yo No S .

" Her wildly eclectic life and musical aesthetic is captured on her recently released album "Redemption Songs" (DRV Records/Sh-K-Boom Records). Ranging in style from progressive rock to reggae and folk-rock, "Redemption Songs" reflects the wide spectrum of tastes that young Latinos who grow up in the United States are drawn to. You could say it's in the blood.

"Being Latin feels good," Rubin-Vega said in a phone interview. "The blood of many conflicting elements courses through my veins, although that conflict is the thing that makes me stronger." This sentiment is addressed directly in "Citizens of the World," as well as "Bumpy Ride," amoving paean to getting through life in one piece.

Rubin-Vega feels strongly about retaining her Latina identity despite mainstream success that includes Broadway, Off-Broadway and even a role in the film "Wild Things." "I love to speak Spanish and incorporate Spanish in my music because it's the first language that I learned," Rubin-Vega said. "It's a gorgeous, poetic, romantic language, and it's very sexy whether you know what I'm saying or not.

" Mixed in between the heavy guitar rave-ups by collaborator David Matos on "Mental Tenant" and her cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is a song by Cuban folk singer Silvio Rodr guez. "'Estos D as' was one of my mother's favorite songs," Rubin-Vega said. "I lost my mother when I was a kid and we listened to Silvio's 'Mujeres' album as much as we listened to The Police or The Clash.

" Although Rubin-Vega says she's a rocker at heart, she hopes to return to dance music, which was a big part of her youth. But more important than her rock, Latin and dance influences is Rubin-Vega's desire to create a mood through her music. "I'll never forget the first time I heard 'Crimson and Clover,'" she said.

"I just stood in front of a speaker and put my hand on it and felt the bass and drums vibrate. The songs on this album are snapshots of my life." Another strong influence on the album was the birth of Rubin-Vega's first child, Luca Ariel, who turned 2 last month.

There is a song in honor of him, one that she particularly enjoys playing live, which she will do Monday at Joe's Pub (212-539-8778). Rubin-Vega will also be performing at the Public Theater in "Jack Goes Boating," with Phillip Seymour Hoffman (previews begin Feb. 27).

After that, according to Rubin-Vega, "I'm entertaining the idea of going to San Francisco to develop my music into something more theatrical. This way I can combine the two things I love doing." CRUCIAL SONIDOS.

Charanga Am rica plays LQ (212-593-7575) Wednesday. ..

. Chilean singer Francesca Ancarola sings songs from her upcoming tribute album to Victor Jara at Joe's Pub Saturday.