By José Gandue @Gandour Photo: Matías Leiva
Should we feel guilty for starting to follow an artist because of her striking beauty? Is it possible to listen "objectively" (yes, in quotes, to help us continue with the contradiction) to what an absolutely gorgeous woman does?, knowing that we are desperately hoping that we will like their music?
Let's do an impossible exercise: Forget the photos of Lourdes Liss, Forget that she has a captivating presence. Imagine for a moment that this Chilean artist has refused to pose in front of a camera. and listen without any kind of prejudice to the songs contained in their album Unimides. Ready? Well then, prepare yourselves for a sonic journey that combines unexpected tenderness in its vocal interventions with a constant onslaught of perceptions filled with reverberations and instrumental distortions that may momentarily remind you of examples like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins, NIN, My Bloody Valentine and other cases of proposals crafted with subtle noise, with beautiful roughness, with seductive darkness. Nine songs, thirty minutes. The album ends and we allow ourselves to look at her photos again. We have before us a genius who has known how to play with our emotions for half an hour. Unimides It's an aggressive, corrosive work, full of explosive moments, where the artist's mission seems to be to unsettle the viewer so they don't fall into comfort zones, to challenge him to turn up the volume and be infected by that provocation that resounds in our ears.
For all these reasons, we have set out to interview Lourdes Liss: To get to know her better, to find out what her plans are to conquer the world, and perhaps to continue falling in love with her.
What does Lourdes Liss sound like?
Thrown into its sonic quest, nocturnal and eclipsed, with screeching guitars at times with dark rage but with endings illuminated towards the universe. It is spatial and played within an authentic simplicity.
Do you think this is the right time to be heard in the world with your music?
Hahaha, I'll never know if I don't try.
What musical references do you recognize in your work?
It has rock, pop, psychedelia, electronica, and some jazz. Influences include bands like My Bloody Valentine, The Verve, The Beatles, Ty Segall, and Broadcast.
It's a very special time for Chilean independent music, how do you feel within that scene? Does your good noise fit in with what's happening there?
I feel somewhat marginalized; I don't know how far this music can go now. And I hope it gets heard, regardless of what's fashionable in Chile or not.
What separates you from what's happening there?
It's just such an authentic and sometimes obsessive process that I didn't think about what kind of impact it could have on the Chilean music scene. I just shut myself off thinking about it. Unimides and create. Now I'm beginning to understand another process when it's released.
How would you describe the process of making Unimides?
Wow, chaotic. A studio album, almost a laboratory creation. I'm obsessed with my journey as a musician, artist, and performer. Plus, I was involved in the production and mixing. I learned a lot from my own work and exploration to achieve the sound I wanted.
Given this, what reaction do you expect from the audience you intend to listen to your work?
I hope they vibrate.