Argentinian experimental music icon Juana Molina has never been one to follow convention, and in a revealing new interview, she explains why taking things too seriously is one of her biggest pet peeves.
'One of the things I hate most in life is to be solemn,' declares the acclaimed musician, whose unique blend of electronic textures and folk traditions has captivated audiences for decades. 'I cannot stand solemnity. I run away from it.'
From Comedy Star to Musical Pioneer
Molina's journey to becoming an experimental music legend was anything but conventional. Before she was enchanting international audiences with her ethereal soundscapes, she was one of Argentina's most beloved television comedians.
'When I started doing music, people were so angry,' she recalls. 'They felt I was betraying them. They wanted me to keep making them laugh.'
Her transition from comedy to music wasn't just a career change - it was an artistic rebellion against being pigeonholed. 'I was doing exactly the same as I was doing in comedy: creating characters, creating situations, creating atmospheres,' she explains.
The Creative Process: Embracing Imperfection
Molina's approach to music creation is as unconventional as her career path. She describes her home studio as a 'laboratory of experimentation' where she builds complex sonic layers through looping and improvisation.
'I start with one layer, then another, and another,' she says of her process. 'Sometimes I keep them, sometimes I don't. It's like cooking - you add ingredients until it tastes right.'
This intuitive approach extends to her live performances, where she deliberately leaves room for spontaneity and even mistakes. 'I love when things go wrong,' she admits. 'That's when the most interesting things happen.'
Rejecting Musical Categories
Despite being frequently labelled as an 'experimental' or 'electronic' artist, Molina resists easy categorisation. Her music draws from folk traditions, electronic experimentation, and what she describes as 'the music I hear in my head.'
'People need to put everything in little boxes,' she observes. 'But music is too vast to be contained in categories.'
Now in her early sixties and with numerous critically acclaimed albums behind her, Molina shows no signs of slowing down. Her latest work continues to push boundaries while maintaining the playful, anti-solemn spirit that has defined her career.
'The moment I feel I'm repeating myself, I'll stop,' she vows. But for now, the laboratory remains open, and the experiments continue.
