By José Gandue @Gandour
It would be an exaggeration to call this phenomenon a "movement," but the truth is that The intense brilliance that the latest generation of Peruvian female musicians is acquiring is striking. These women, who express themselves artistically in diverse sound genres, have been growing in exposure and impact, despite the ever-present difficulties of the local scene. Every month, those of us who pay attention to what is happening in Lima, Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo, and other cities, We are adding prominent names to the catalog, which shows us that something interesting is happening in those parts. In our list and the articles we've published, and as our followers have noticed, we've included characters from notable songs such as La Zorra Zapata, Dafne Castañeda, Lorena Blume, Nuria Saba, Naïa Valdez, Ati Lane and others, each with very different creative intentions, but with a particular essence capable of attracting the attention of fans and the specialized press.
We heard a few days ago Pain, of Aura Blum, a beautiful, melancholic tune played on electric guitar, which, drawing on our cinematic memory, We imagined ourselves for a moment being part of a road movie soundtrack, providing a resonant backdrop to an evening scene, amidst a desert landscape. Perhaps from hearing it so much these days, we remember Stoned and Dethroned, that album by the Scots The Jesus and Mary Chain Made in 1994, with a contemporary western inspiration and made in collaboration with the precious Hope Sandoval. To that, more contemporary references such as Warpaint y Deerhunter, It sounded a bit familiar to us after the entire compilation of songs released on digital platforms by Blum, who in 2019 released his first EP, Flourish, co-produced with Leandro Pezzutti, from the Argentinian band Things that happen, and the renowned Eduardo Bergallo, linked to such popular names as Charly García and Gustavo Cerati. Pain This is a preview of what's to come in the next few months. At this point, we must confess that we quite like Aura Blum's music, and that's why we contacted her to talk about her life and work:
What does your own music sound like to you?
A mix of alternative rock, lo-fi and psychedelia.
What influences do you recognize within your music?
One of my favorite bands is The Brian Jonestown Massacre. I think that when I compose and produce, I subconsciously try to emulate them, but with my own unique touch.
When I listen to your music, I perceive a very particular melancholic atmosphere, what are your lyrics about?
A while ago, I began to accept my hypersensitivity. I feel my emotions very intensely, and well, I went through a difficult time emotionally. Writing songs and expressing everything I felt during those moments helped me tremendously. My lyrics speak of existential doubts, heartbreak, and the confusion I experienced during those years. Now I'm much better emotionally, and I'd like to write more "happier" songs. I think that melancholic side will still be there, though; it's part of me.
Are there any well-known literary references in your texts?
There's only one for now. In a song I'll be releasing soon called "Fuego" there's a line that says “(…) perhaps on the threshold of death.”. I remember that when I composed it, I was taking a Narrative course at university and we were made to read a book of short stories called Funeral Trousseau, From Fernando Iwasaki. It caught my attention and I used the word. Besides, it was very precise for what I wanted to express in that sentence.
Let's talk about your surroundings, about Lima. What is your relationship like with the music community in your city?
A vibrant and diverse independent music scene has emerged in Lima. When I find an artist or band interesting, I immediately follow them on social media and try to connect with them, whether to organize concerts together or to explore collaborations on songs. Building alliances and supporting each other is crucial to elevating the music scene.
What names from that scene would you like to mention, so that readers can take note?
The Fox Zapata, Pisces, Diego Trip.
You're about to release your new EP, what can you tell us about it?
I'm not so sure about releasing the EP anymore; my dream has always been to release a 12-track album. For now, I'm going to release three more singles this year, and then I'll resume production on my album.
