At turns melancholy and joyously life-afirming, La Yarará, already one of our favorite releases of 2020, is a dreamy trip into the mind of Argentina-born, Latin-based singer/songwriter Malena Zavala. Her sophomore album builds on the infectiously dancable rhythms of her 2018 debut while at times taking a more melancholy and introspective turn. We sat down with Malena Zavala for a few questions on her latest work.
How did you first get into music? What have been your musical touchpoints?
I got into music at the age of 6 when an orchestra came to my primary school. I fell in love with the violin and from then on music was my life. My dad played a lot of music in the house growing up so it was very influential.
For those hearing your music for the first time, how would you describe your style and work?
I've been told it’s indie Latino pop. A mix of Latino music with more Anglo indie and pop sounds.
What does it mean for you to sing in your native language of Spanish and how does that influence your work?
I found that the Spanish language suits the way my brain thinks. So it’s very freeing for me. Even if my vocabulary isn’t vast it’s still something I feel really connected with, more than English.
What was the inspiration behind La Yarará?
Overcoming my identity issues and accepting that I am a mix of both Latino and English. I am my own brand of identity.
What was your favorite part of recording the new album?
Going into the studio and recording all the drums and percussion, which was a really important part to the foundation of the album. We had my friends Joe Taylor on drums and Pilo Adami on percussion, and they brought the parts that I wrote to life.
What do you hope listeners will take away from La Yarará?
They can take away whatever they want. In the end, it was something that allowed me to resolve some internal conflicts, but presented in a fun way. I guess I want people to dance.
