Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
Angelica Garcia releases her new album this week. It’s mainly in Spanish. This adds to all the flavours that are presented. There’s a range of vocals, from the gentle waves of the opener ‘Reflexiones‘ to something more forceful ‘Y Grito‘. You may find yourself throwing some shapes to some tracks or giving it some sway to others. It’s a a record that you’re going to enjoy all the way. Below are a couple of tracks already released as tasters. Even if you don’t know the Spanish language, you will love it as a beautiful musical language delivered by Angelica. The album is called ‘Gemelo’. It’s out on the 7th of this month. Grab a copy. There are a few live dates below.
There’s a lovely DeClunk Q & A with Angelica here
The news of ‘Gemelo’ arrives with lead single “Color De Dolor” which explores the acknowledgement of grief in kaleidoscopic pop clarity and is a testament to Angélica’s philosophy of life. The song, translating to “the colour of pain,” is an anthem for processing how pain and beauty, rage and peace, sadness and joy all form the colours with which we render and process existence.
The video for “Color De Dolor” was directed by Barcelona-born filmmaker Sergi Castellà, and shot in Simi Valley, CA.
“Grief is nuanced, and sometimes pain can be intertwined with beauty” says Angélica. “Gemelo is a body of work that explores the process of grieving – acknowledging the light and shadow within it. “Color De Dolor” was the first song that was written for ‘Gemelo’. It’s also the first song on the record where I face grief for what it is. I wanted “Color De Dolor” to feel very textured and lush, like you’re walking through a jungle. To me, its kaleidoscopic quality shows sadness and beauty.”
The album was produced by Carlos Arévalo (Chicano Batman) and recorded over a month and a half in Virginia. There Angélica discovered and tapped into a fresh pop auteur perspective, creating music that is searing and borderless, free of cultural confinement and challenging the notion that singing in English is a prerequisite for creating American music.
‘Gemelo’ is crucial for Angélica, marking not only her first album sung almost entirely in Spanish, but her first deeply probing the ancestral altar, having in recent years devoted herself to a process of monumental deconstruction — of religion, spirit, heritage, and womanhood, in turn confronting grief and finding liberation. “It was like getting dropped into ice water,” she says.
ANGÉLICA GARCIA – UK TOUR DATES
Mon June 10 – The Louisiana – Bristol
Tues June 11 – The Castle Hotel – Manchester
Weds June 12 – The Lower Third – London
Fri July 26 – Latitude Festival – Suffolk
DeClunk 