5 Songs We Had on Repeat in July

1

Kali Mutsa - "El Ojo Interno"

A couple of months ago, Kali Mutsa previewed her forthcoming EP Mesmer with a brand new track called “Interstellar,” which hinted at a shift in her sound. It’s no coincidence; the EP marks her first body of work without her band, something that led her to rely more on samples and studio magic. It takes just a single spin of her new single, “El Ojo Interno,” to showcase what Kali’s been cooking.

“El Ojo Interno” is a collaboration between the singer and fellow Chilean artist María Magdalena, who offers a welcome counterpoint to Mutsa’s spiky, cartoonish vocals. Produced by Pablo Stipicic, it features samples from 50s movies and a fast, bouncy beat that’s straight up merengue. Layers and layers of synthesizers swirl around this love song, probably the first of its kind from Mutsa, in which she connects with her lover through telepathy. María Magdalena supports her with a lovely hook, singing “quiero viajar por siempre hacia ti.” It shows an unexpectedly mellow side of the gypsy princess. But in the end, this is Kali Mutsa, so there are still a few disruptive elements and a slight Middle Eastern influence.

Expect Mesmer to come out soon, as well as a new collaborative reggaeton EP with Imaabs, featuring guest spots by Tomasa del Real and Lia Nadja. –Cheky

2

Hawaiian Gremlins - "La Unión"

We don’t know much about Hawaiian Gremlins’ forthcoming album, but what is certain at this point is that the CDMX natives will be building on their already impressive body of hypnotic, guitar-driven EPs. The first single off the still untitled album is “La Unión,” a post-punk ode to devastation and colonization. Guitarist Santiago Padilla’s girlfriend María sings on the track, a fantastic twist that only adds to the unsettling and haunting atmosphere of the music. Also noteworthy is the band’s language shift from English to Spanish, pointing at a possible new creative and lyrical direction.

The visuals for the song are equally puzzling. Minimal and dark, we are given POV shots of a thick tree cluster, followed by a slow motion capture of the singer sprinting through a park. In the video’s description, the band gives special shout outs to María and Judas el Desgraciado for helping with the project’s production. Though at this point we’re all question marks, “La Unión” is a definite tease, and our appetite for a fully realized product is far beyond whet. –Richard Villegas

3

Quiero Club - "Teorías"

We’re closer and closer to the release of Monterrey pop quartet Quiero Club’s follow-up to their 2013 full-length El Techo es el Suelo. The album, titled Oportunidad de Oro, now has its first single, the breezy and contagious track “Teorías.” Produced by Antonio Escobar, the song is a call to let go of all the baggage that stops us from carrying on with our dreams. Here, they ditch their usual electro approach and favor more organic sounds. The result has a larger-than-life, anthemic quality, and it really makes us want to throw our hands in the air.

FLESH’s Guillermo Llamas Altaminaro was in charge of the visuals, and what he’s created here is breathtaking. The Mexican director, who has previously worked with artists like Carla Morrison, Mariel Mariel, and Andrés Landon, has a special knack for turning it up in post-production, and this video is a fine example. It’s a surreal collage of images that look like they were taken from biology books and travel magazines, and they collide with shots of the band members, often in response to the lyrics. The effect resembles a mixture of digital and analog techniques like stop-motion, all framed in Llama’s now-signature square format. –Cheky

4

Boss In Drama – “Discotheque”

Boss in Drama is back at it again with the mirrored disco ball! “Discotheque” is the first single off the hyper glam producer’s upcoming album, and it’s a return to his roots – sort of.

As expected, the track is smooth glittery disco and features guest vocals from Brazilian pop icon Paulo Ricardo. As he revealed social media, his first interaction with Ricardo was in 2010, backstage at the Brazilian MTV Awards. Ricardo later reached out after the release of the young producer’s debut album Pure Gold, suggesting he compose more music in his native Portuguese. Shortly after, he began collaborating with rising artists of the national scene like Karol Conka and Jaloo, further developing and reshaping his musical identity. “Discotheque” now presents Boss in Drama with a more mature and polished sound, yet also more comfortable in his own skin. The song flows with ease, and Ricardo’s vocals bring a decadent nostalgia to the track, making you long for that posh poolside turn-up. –Richard Villegas

5

Chini and the Technicians - "Igual"

Chini and the Technicians just dropped the video for “Igual,” the latest single off their debut EP En El Fondo Todo Va Bien. The buzzy indie rockers are part of Chile’s new wave of DIY musicians, excellently documented on this year’s compilation NMC: Pop de Guitarras en Chile.

Though beautifully filmed and whimsical in style, the video for “Igual” tackles heady themes of aging and monotony. With the opening shot of bandmates Chini Ayarza and Roberto González playing the song and performing household chores, the camera then leads us to juvenile versions of our protagonists running around the house performing even more chores. With every turn, you begin to get a sense of stagnation and frustration in this couple’s day-to-day life. The ambitious video, directed by Hernando Lattus, is a one-take journey into psychological regression, a perfect pairing for Ayarza’s vague and ominous lyrics. –Richard Villegas