`STAR MAPS' SPEEDS FLORES' MUSICAL PATH; PLAYING MOVIE PART RAISES SONGWRITER'S PROFILE, BUT DOING SOUNDTRACK LETS HER VOICE BE HEARD.

Byline: Amy Dawes Daily News Staff Writer

Her future was mapped out for her, but singer-songwriter Lysa Flores set her sights on a different road.

``As the oldest girl in a Latino family, I was supposed to cook, clean, learn from my mother and get married,'' said the native of East Los Angeles and Rowland Heights.

Instead, at 23, she's practically a veteran performer on L.A.'s alternative music scene and is currently touring to promote the soundtrack to the new movie ``Star Maps'' - a fresh, edgy mix of Latino rap, ska and rock tunes that she put together as musical director.

Her own song, ``Beg, Borrow, or Steal,'' a confessional song driven by her lively acoustic guitar and the drumming of X's D.J. Bonebrake, is in the movie, and is being promoted as a single on stations such as KROQ, KCRW and KPFK by Geffen Records, which has acquired the soundtrack.

It's more exposure than Flores has ever gotten, though she's been performing on L.A. stages since age 15. And it came about through a gig she never anticipated - acting in a movie, as opposed to music.

``It's a total Hollywood story,'' said the musician, who got her start as a singer with the L.A. band the Longfields. ``Acting got me to where I want to be in music.''

Two years ago, Flores accompanied her actor boyfriend to an audition for a low-budget movie about the life of a Latino youth who sells maps to the star's homes along Sunset Boulevard. Though she'd never considered acting, she was awarded a key part in ``Star Maps,'' which opened Wednesday.

In the movie, Flores plays Maria, the boy's warm, encouraging sister - a role not far from her own persona.

A year and a half after the movie wrapped, she was on the road touring with Latino singer El Vez when she got a call from the movie's director, first-timer Miguel Arteta.

The movie had been accepted to the Sundance Film Festival. They needed a soundtrack, and he wanted her to be the one to put it together.

``I had five days to cut, edit and place every single music cue,'' said Flores. ``Fortunately, I was already familiar with the story and the scenes.''

Flores used the opportunity to create a window on the Latino music scene, incorporating bands such as King Chango, Control Machete, Molotov, Aterciopelados, DJ Strobe, David Lewiston, La Portuaria and others.

``I wanted to do a grass-roots type of effort with it to show what was happening in the community,'' said Flores.

Flores' concerns have long been community-based. A supporter of many causes, she has performed at concerts to benefit the homeless, education and the environment. Along with Rage Against the Machine, she performed at the Olympic Auditorium for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers and to aid the Zapatista struggle in Mexico.

Flores says she got involved in the L.A. punk scene as a junior high school student and from there progressed into an infatuation with artists and groups such as Prince, X and Joni Mitchell.

``Prince was a minority who played all his own instruments and had a record contract at age 18,'' she said. ``I thought that was just amazing.''

She also idolized X, a seminal band in the L.A. punk scene of the '80s. ``They were so honest and against the mainstream system.'' Through her performances with the Longfields, she got to know X drummer Bonebrake, who she credits with helping her find her voice as a singer-songwriter.

``The guys in the Longfields were completely sexist, always telling me I couldn't play guitar or write songs. Then one day D.J. (Bonebrake) turned to me and said, `Lysa, I support everything you do. Anything you do would be full of love and positive energy, and if you want to pursue a solo career, I'll be there for you as a drummer.' ''

``When he said that, it gave me so much faith to do this,'' said Flores. ``I started playing at coffeehouses and appealing to people who wanted to hear something honest. As the Chicano alternative scene started growing, I developed an audience.''

Bonebrake, true to his word, has become part of her band. On the road, they've opened for the Dave Matthews Band and David Bowie.

Flores, who has upcoming dates at the Roxy and the Alligator Lounge after her movie promotion work is finished, said she hopes the ``Star Maps'' exposure will enhance her music career.

As for acting, she said it will depend on what comes along. ``If it's a role I can respect, I'll definitely consider it,'' she said. ``But I'm not anxious to play the next maid or the next crack mom.''

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Photo: A year and a half after acting in ``Star Maps,'' Lysa Flores was tapped to assemble the movie's soundtrack.