By Carolina Zac @carolinazacc
Editor's Note: From time to time, we manage to convince emerging Latin American artists to tell us which songs from this part of the world are their favorites and why they chose them. This time we have... Carolina Zac, an artist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to her Bandcamp biography, she describes her work as "exploring introspective pop with abstract lyrics." and altered structures." What we've heard from her we've liked, and that's why we've invited her to present, while she releases her next album, her 12 favorite songs from the continent's music, in a completely female playlist.
Hello! I am Carolina Zac I make electronic music from Argentina. This year I'll be releasing my first full-length album and I'm very excited. I've been invited by Zonagirante.com to put together a playlist of songs I like and recommend. I have decided to include women from the Latin American indie scene whom I greatly admire for their explorations and their nuances, They range from performers to producers. These songs have accompanied and inspired the process of my album, some for years and others I've been lucky enough to discover along the way.
1. The collapse – Angelica Negrón. Angélica is a Puerto Rican artist who leads the band Balun And in his personal projects, he does everything from electronic experimentation to operas. This song fascinates me because of the way it grows, and how the voice, accompanied by so many details, guides the song and yet remains hidden; we don't quite know what it's saying.
2. Perfume of the invisible – Sky. An example of simplicity and perfection. A song that revisits familiar places: disco music, the sensuality of Brazil, adding mystery, a certain darkness, and a danceable explosion.
3. To leave and to resign – Rosario Bléfari. Indeed, Rosario Bléfari's passing last year was a moment of great sadness, and also of gratitude for so much: she left us songs, books, films. I chose this song because it has an electronic feel that captivates me, and as always in her songs, the lyrics are incredibly important. Here I think of the sound of a train accompanying a farewell.
4. Honey – Carola Bony. Another essential, and indomitable, figure in the Argentine music scene. Carola Bony is a direct influence on my music, and this song captivates me with its voice that fades away while still pulsating amidst a powerful and dizzying melody.
5. That thing you do – Lido Pimienta. One of the most important albums of last year. Lido has found a great balance between electronic music and Colombian folklore. Here, in a song of confession and liberation, I feel like I'm dancing in a wild landscape.
6. Potential victim – Sofia Oportot. I love Sofía's gift for making pop songs without abandoning intimate lyrics. She is a vital artist in the Chilean pop scene. Potential victim It offers a powerful reflection on our image on social media while simultaneously inviting us to dance carefree. I love that duality.
7. The Mountain – Fakuta. Fakuta's return has really excited me. I think this song has the potential to stand the test of time; the melody and lyrics are made for each other. A love song that combines sweetness and strength.
8. Office – Samantha. The project was led a few years ago by a much-loved Chilean artist, Panxi, with whom I was lucky enough to make a single called Appears. I love this song for its theatricality; it places us in an office job and its discomforts, and in the best Kraftwerk style, it builds a pop soundscape.
9. The sky belongs to no one. – Ela Minus. Ela's album, which came out last year, also impressed me a lot. I find darkness and sensuality in her work, and I love that this song is in Spanish and that she sings it in a whisper, while the sound thickens and thickens.
10. Stupid – Zemmoa. This is the newest song on the playlist, an instant anthem. I love the humor with which Zemmoa tackles a difficult story, and the impeccable, polished production. It has a touch of Mexican telenovela about it, which I really enjoy.
11. Nostalgia – Maria Usbeck. Between Ecuador and the United States, Maria Usbeck has built a very interesting language; her Spanish pronunciation reminds me of Jeannette, and here I love the sophistication of her electronics to explore a song about memory.
12. TRUE – Carolina Zac. And to close this playlist, here's my most recent single, which shares certain details with the chosen songs and is a prelude to the album I'll be releasing in a few months.