VIP No.45 Interview with Alejandro y Maria Laura

We met Alejandro and María Laura firsthand at FEPX. We also met Andrea Echeverri, with whom we immediately connected and forged a friendship that has now blossomed into music. We spoke with the Peruvian couple about one of the sonic results of that friendship: "Lo que iba ser" (What Was Going to Be). We also reminisced about their time at FEP in 2019, motherhood, and their latest musical discovery: La Zorra Zapata.

1. In February, you released "Lo que iba ser," a collaboration with Andrea Echeverri that speaks of transformations and changes in life. What was the development and recording process like for the song, and what was Andrea's contribution?

We sent Andrea the demo version, and shortly after, she sent us several tracks with her vocals harmonized. She sang the entire song from beginning to end so that we could then choose and combine her voices with ours. It was incredible to hear that version sung only by her, and it was very difficult for us to cut it down to include our voices. She's a fantastic performer. From that collaboration onwards, the musical production began to energize; we needed to match Andrea's energy. Electric guitars and percussion were added, we also re-recorded vocals, and the song grew significantly.

2. The song is the latest single from their upcoming album, which they recorded during the pandemic. How do you think the albums and songs that emerged during this period will impact the careers of the artists who composed them? What was it like for you personally?

It's been an incredibly difficult time, and we've been lucky enough to keep making music. It's been years since we've had such a routine life at home, without travel, without concerts, and at the same time with so much uncertainty about the future and our surroundings. Songs have always helped us process difficult moments in our lives, and I'm sure they do for many artists as well. I'm sure we'll soon be able to put together a great compilation of pandemic songs.

"We have no idea what the future will be like; we hope that one day we can gather again in front of a stage and dance without masks and without fear."

3. You and Andrea connected well at the Estéreo Picnic Festival. What do you remember about those festival days, and what do you think we won't experience again after the pandemic?

2019 was incredible for us. It was the year we celebrated the project's tenth anniversary. We played on beautiful stages, and being at Estéreo Picnic was out of this world. We opened for St. Vincent, whom we're huge fans of, and we were able to travel with the band we'd been rehearsing with so much. We sang "Fiesta para los Muertos" live with Andrea. Maria Laura celebrated her birthday at the festival, and a year later we celebrated it in quarantine. We have no idea what the future holds, but we hope that one day we can gather in front of a stage again and dance without masks and without fear.

4. Another single you released in 2020 was "Siempre siempre" (Always Always), a song about motherhood/fatherhood, in a year when families had to spend all their time together. Was that song a kind of catharsis in the face of the myths surrounding motherhood/fatherhood that were somehow shattered during the pandemic?

Alejandro wrote "Siempre siempre" shortly before the pandemic, when Aurora was going through the so-called "terrible twos." It's true that the pandemic made parenting more intense, but at the same time, our constant presence at home gave our daughter a lot of security, and we began to understand each other better. Spending more time exclusively with her helped us grow as mothers and fathers.

5. 2020 was a year with very few concerts. How can the live experience be improved for when live shows return?

We haven't done any in-person shows yet. We've only invited our neighbors to virtual shows, and it makes us very happy to have even just two people to interact with live. When the time comes to return to the stage, the excitement will be immense. Whatever the experience is like, it will be greatly appreciated.

6. What was the last Latin American discovery you made?

We really like La Zorra Zapata, one of the latest releases from Peru: the sound, the lyrics, the experimentation with loops, give it a listen!