By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
This year brought, for reasons we all know, particular difficulties for many artists to promote their songs, especially considering all the limitations imposed by the respective quarantines of each city on the continent. We confess: We got fed up with seeing a lot of homemade videos made with limitations that were more mental than physical. Likewise, it's been shown that not all musicians have a knack for videography (and they don't have to). However, during this time of confinement, more than one person saw their imagination and desire to experiment with the cameras they had at hand surface., creating small gems that were developed in moments of leisure and had great results. 2020 exposed to the fullest that premise which says that in desperate times unforeseen solutions are imposed.
Independent audiovisual art has progressed And the truth is that getting to this point where we make the selection of the best videos of the year has fortunately become a very arduous task, difficult to accomplish. As always, there will be those who complain and tell us why this or that clip isn't included, and of course we know we don't have all the answers. When in doubt, we consulted our friends about the number of pieces we should choose, and most suggested 13. Some even said that in a year like this we should invoke the occult sciences to cleanse ourselves of so much misfortune, and that the 13th was a good way to begin such a cleansing.
This is our selection, presented in no particular order, with the texts we originally wrote to provide the audience with more information on the subject. Some of our words have been edited to suit the occasion, but, in general, we stand by our initial assessments. 2020, no matter what anyone says, also brought wonderful images, and this is proof of that:
Pepe Mogt – Blue
Pepe Mogt has always worked on what we might call an important part of the border soundtrack, more specifically from Tijuana. In his solo work, in recent times, he has moved somewhat away from the sound he explored for twenty years as a founding member of Nortec Collective., And these days it has entered a calm phase, with melancholic sounds that, at times, have tango textures brought from thousands of kilometers south of the continent, He imbues these songs with his own unique and personal touch. Listening to this recording and watching his video montage of memories—through scenes of his city and photographs with friends—we connect with the nostalgia we each share of our own memories of nights out in bars with loved ones. We appreciate this expression of intimacy. It is a clear testament to the brilliant maturity of this renowned artist.
Sarasqueta – Luck
Second segment: Explosive color. Julen Sarasqueta is responsible for everything. He's responsible for this beautiful piece of music and this incredible video, made at home with items stored on the various shelves of his house and with the full collaboration of his wife and daughter (and, of course, his cats). Here is a happy combination of stop motion and short segments captured in his various personal spaces. This Basque man, a resident of Buenos Aires, With his own resources, and by using family albums, he has achieved an impeccable example of brilliant work without the need for excesses or superfluous elements. And the color, yes, the color, is exquisite, optimistic, encouraging, more than appropriate for these moments where hope is sometimes lost.
The Fox Zapata – It has to be done
Why is Zonagirante.com featuring this Peruvian artist? For the same reason we've championed other emerging musical talents from the continent: because within this small group of artists, we find courage, creative innovation, freshness, and a desire to break all the molds, seize established platforms, and ignite a beautiful bonfire within them. Furthermore, and this isn't something everyone does: Zapata the Fox knows how to use the limitations she and her environment have to her advantage, turning what is potentially unfavorable into her effective weapons of combat. Upon closer examination of this video's technical aspects, we can admire the skillful camera work and meticulous editing, which creates the perfect tension without losing any of the narrative or the song's energy. It's a remarkable piece of work that confirms a shining example of the current strength and even brighter future of independent Latin American music.
Gregorio Merchan + Juan Gabriel Gutierrez – Suffocation
Take a deep breath. Fasten your seatbelts. Cover your face; this isn't just a contagion zone: You are entering territory of barricades, protest, smoke, and police brutality. You are about to see more than a music video., an audiovisual piece that anyone could mistake for a summary of a thriller documentary, Where, through a thrilling interplay of camera speeds, you'll feel everything unfolding before you, making you sweat, resist, scream, and run for your life. This is exquisitely crafted reportage in service of a song made with just the right tension to stir the heart of any listener. From Bogotá, Colombia, from the epicenter of a battle that erupts daily, comes one of the best music videos of the year.
Francisca Valenzuela – Come and get it
Oh Francisca! Every time you present a video, we at the Zonagirante.com newsroom know we have to brace ourselves for the impact of your on-screen beauty, but this time you outdid yourself. You've captivated the entire audience with brilliant cinematography, clever staging, simple yet impeccable art direction, and, especially, the understanding that with just a look and a whisper from you, you leave us all speechless. We are happy to see you, in every appearance, in every song release, increasingly becoming a benchmark of Latin American pop, So overrun with useless figures and cardboard and silicone beauties. We like your music and we're fascinated by your seduction exercises.
Hache St + Andres Proaño – Mexico City
Raw, powerful, gallant, and breathtaking. That's the tribute that Dominican rapper Hache St, along with Andrés Proaño, pays to the world's largest city, Mexico City. Everything seen in the video is overwhelming and stark in its contrast. Within a few seconds, you can go from the exuberant buildings in the financial center to the misery of the disadvantaged. Along the same route, with its striking cinematography, the video commemorates the disappeared students of Ayotzinapa, showcases the city's main monuments, and captures the vibrant energy of a metropolis of millions going about their daily lives. Meanwhile, the song maintains its driving rhythm, never losing its edge and giving the listener no respite. The icing on the cake is Citlalli Toledo's brilliant vocal performance. In short, a commendable work brimming with exquisite details.
Mauro Conforti & The Martian Life + Julian Baglietto – Careful
It seems that some have taken full advantage of these times of quarantine and, finding themselves locked up at home, have brought out all their art (and all their furniture) to make fun and long-lasting audiovisual pieces. Argentine artist Mauro Conforti has created one of the best music videos of the year using his collection of toys and other objects he had on hand. In a brilliant exercise of stop motion and other animation techniques, he has managed to bring together such disparate characters as Batman, Frankenstein, and David Bowie himself, in his plastic version from the film. Maze, To revel in the essence of rock and roll, and to make even the most horrible of gremlins endearing, with whom Conforti takes the opportunity to mock new behaviors during the pandemic. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
The Tenacious – tenacious delirium
Learn this lesson, fellow artists: In these times of digital platforms and irregular timelines, it's possible to revive and promote a song released several months ago, especially if you present a video as exquisite as this one. This work, created by Daniel Zambrano In New York City, with a team made up mostly of immigrants from diverse backgrounds, he takes a powerful street song (included in the work of the Colombian singer) Song to Love, (from 2019) and places it in a completely different context, giving it a new life, opening up possibilities with a new audience that, in the traditional format, might not have understood the meaning of the recording. The visual work sought to explore the pain expressed in the tune and found renewed colors that help to understand that pain, bitterness and delirium belong to all generations, and that the restoration of traditional sounds that we previously only associated with our elders can also mark renewed paths in current trends.
Girl X – White noise
If you happen to be watching this video while distracted, perhaps because it's on your playlist and you're thinking about other things, you might be surprised for a moment and think something's wrong. Don't worry. Your screen is working fine. Instead, sit back, relax, and enjoy (in 4K if you like). a bombardment of images where the fascinating Sophie De Matteis will look us straight in the eyes and manage to make us fall under her spell with her figure and her voice, Headlining one of the best musical offerings of the season, Nena X, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, wants to convince us of the idea of renewing the «"glamorization"» From rock, to recover the grace and elegance lost amidst so much banal and chauvinistic rhetoric, returning to the original fun, without losing sight of contemporary times. With a song that bounces in our heads from the first moment it blasts through our stereo and the exquisite visual production that accompanies it, little by little, they will fully accomplish their mission. A great piece of work.
The Republic – City of Light
Let's start by stating the obvious: This clip is stunning from every angle. It boasts exquisite execution, meticulous craftsmanship, and a remarkable selection of graphic elements. Many hours of editing went into this, with attention paid to the smallest details, from the dog crawling across the screen at a rabbit's pace, to the images with clear references to the oppressive aesthetics of the mid-20th century, and the effective use of a classic yet fitting scene with its cluster of old televisions. It fully accomplishes its mission of conveying the evening nostalgia of the song by this Colombian band, initially formed in the city of Chicago, with a blues rock sound. This is one of those videos where the visual production achieves the difficult goal of powerfully showcasing the sound it represents. Achieving that, dear readers, is no easy feat, and in this case, it's accomplished brilliantly.
Mato Ruiz – To see
Directed by Chivas Argüello and Tobías Cédola, this beautiful piece from the city of La Plata is a magical combination of a great song that captivates the listener from the very first second, enhanced by the exquisite photography and acting of the accompanying video. In five minutes The viewer will witness a delightful homage to madness, where every gesture, every glance, every object that passes in front of the camera, completes a story that conveys anguish But thanks to the beauty captured by the lens and the wise decision to convert everything to black and white, the film grips the audience, making them celebrate every moment of the protagonist's alienation, from his attentive observation of what he sees on television, mimicking the movements of Humphrey Bogart or Robert De Niro, to his dangerous dances on the terrace, almost on the verge of suicide. A great film that you shouldn't miss.
Famasloop – Balcony
Use any adjective you like; any one on its own will fall short of describing this video. Everything works in this clip's favor. We can call it sophisticated, complex, exquisite, abundant (mind you, we don't like to praise a work based on the money invested, but if they spent the budget we can estimate without knowing the production details, it's an investment worth seeing the final result). The casting, the photography, the visual effects, the location, everything comes together perfectly and adequately presents a fun theme ready to be danced to. Famasloop has set out to take its place in Latin American technopop and, in truth, has once again captured our attention, to the delight of the audience and the specialized press.
Kanaku and the Tiger – The Year of the Rabbit
Let's start with a detail: This video is endearing, with its vibrant colors and elegant set design. We say this from the outset because so many people only watch television when they're in a roadside restaurant, tuned to whatever local channel is playing its ludicrous game shows, where, amidst cheap sequins, glory is fleeting and ridicule abounds. But let's get back to the clip: The result is brilliant because every detail is taken care of, from the flawless casting, the agile editing and the good humor that remains throughout the production. A beautiful way of presenting the unique style of electro-pop from these Peruvians, who, for obvious reasons, are becoming increasingly recognized across the continent.