Juana Molina

Last Friday I went to see Juana Molina. The first time I heard Juana Molina, I completely froze in my tracks and sat there, awestruck. I felt as though I were being hit with a giant tidal wave of sound and I was completely powerless to do anything but let it take me. I was shocked. People were allowed to DO that with music?

Her music is complex and richly textured. Through the use of loops, she builds layer upon layer of sound. She often samples her own voice so that you may find yourself suddenly surrounded by her, the percussive echoes of one phrase swirling back and forth around you, while an airy melody floats overhead. She also plays guitar and keyboard, and it is amazing to witness, live and in concert, how a song is built. Last Friday she performed with a bassist and a really amazing percussionist, and a bunch of electronic equipment. I don't pretend to understand how she makes music, but she'll play a riff into her loop machine and that sound will cycle, then she'll continue on, adding another riff on a different instrument, and in that way the song keeps getting more complex. I don't know quite how she ties it all together, but it works. I am in awe. She is my new favorite performer.

She did a live set on KCRW this morning, which you can listen to here. They'll probably post the video version soon (which is almost as good as seeing her on stage). Check her out!