By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Is called Laura Guevara, She was born in Caracas, is of Colombian and Venezuelan descent, and has been living in Mexico City for some time. In simple terms, her story is..., It's good pop fueled by different roots, ranging from various sources of Latin folklore to special moments of contemporary rock. From Mexico City, she has been developing her musical career independently, gaining a growing number of fans throughout Latin America. In recent months, she has released three singles from what will be her new album, titled Of Love and Other Substances, which he will present live on July 14th at the Charlot Theater in the city of Bogotaá. Taking advantage of her press tour in the city, we contacted her to talk about her current activities, both artistic and personal:
At this point in your career, how would you describe the sound of your music?
This year I will release a new album called Of Love and Other Substances. I premiered a few days ago Loneliness, A single that will be part of this album and that you can now listen to on all platforms. My music has always been characterized by its blend. I love fusion; I feel that throughout the day and in life, we go through many different emotions and emotional states, and my music is a journey that traverses different colors, degrees, and palettes. That's why I love mixing genres and having songs that are sometimes more ballad-like, sometimes more danceable, sometimes more reflective, sometimes more Latin and catchy, and sometimes more rock and dark. On this album, each song has a different genre, and what unifies this sonic journey is my voice and the story of resilience and transformation that is the album's main theme. It's inspired by internal transformation, by the alchemy and change that occurs when you break free from toxic and dark relationship patterns, into the light of self-knowledge and self-love. Its title relates to the fact that love can be both poison and addiction, or an elixir of inspiration, security, and strength. Loneliness It is the midpoint of the disc and acts as a bridge between: pain and healing.
Which artists do you recognize as having influenced you?
I feel like I've been a sponge, absorbing so many artists who move and inspire me… some names could be Charly García, Juan Luis Guerra, Madonna, Soledad Bravo, Shakira, David Bowie, Simón Díaz, Björk, Queen, James Brown, Prince, St. Vincent, among others…
How has settling in Mexico shaped your career?
It's not easy being a migrant, starting from scratch somewhere else, without family, friends, and the support network you've built your whole life. But despite the difficulties, I'm so grateful to have gone to Mexico because I've been able to grow so much as a person and as an artist. And in a place as vibrant as Mexico, inspiration and creativity never stop. I've never been so creative and so hungry to create and fuse styles as I am in Mexico, and I'm so grateful to the country for that.
At this point, what does the word "exile" mean in your life?
Having to leave the country due to the situation is a very difficult process that requires a great deal of patience and self-love. Because in that process, your identity is erased; no one cares about what you did, who you were, or what you created, and you have to rebuild the fabric of affections and relationships. It's a very hard experience, a kind of amputation of the soul, but undoubtedly, with time and new friendships and affections, it's a process that tests human will, resilience, personal freedom, and inner strength.
How have you seen the development of Venezuelan musical talent in the diaspora?
I'm Colombian-Venezuelan, and I feel, at least in my case, that it's been difficult to create as frequently as I did in Venezuela. I feel it depends on the circumstances and situations artists face when they leave. Music requires capital, and if you leave as a migrant artist and have to focus on surviving, then music will take a back seat. On the other hand, if you have a financial structure that allows you to emigrate anywhere without the anxiety of survival, you'll be able to create more freely. I feel that the human soul is so strong, resilient, and creative that, despite everything, it continues to invent and generate new forms of connection and art.
What's your live show like?
My live show has different formats, but the one that the people of Bogotá will be able to enjoy is very, very special. I'll be playing cuatro, keyboard, and percussion, and launching sequences in an explosive yet intimate show. One of the things that excites me most is that the audience will create a song live with me—a song created entirely in the moment—and I'll be premiering several songs from the album. Of Love and Other Substances that have not yet been released and that the Bogota public will be able to enjoy before they are released on all platforms.