Sol Aravena, 37-year-old Chilean and creator of Muza, just moved to Taos to work with Petroglyph Records. Aravena traveled to New Mexico without her original Chilean musicians, but she has teamed up with two musicians from Taos to soothe ears all over the Southwest. She said Muza’s spiritual sound arose from her experience growing up under the dictatorship of Pinochet. While Aravena was a child, artistic expression was stifled in Chile, and Aravena said she wasn’t able to express and explore her interest in music until 1990. Aravena will play in QBar at Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town on Friday at 8 p.m.
Daily Lobo: How were you first introduced to playing music?
Sol Aravena: Everything happened because I was born into a very musical family. I started to play piano when I was very young — about 6 years old. So I was very close to music because of my family. When I left for school I decided to study composition and arrangement of popular music in Escuela Moderna de Música. And then I created Muza after many other experiences in music. I started this kind of mellow and female music, and I started that 10 years ago.
I came here about a month ago, and I really don’t know how long I will be here for. I have to stay here till the end of October, and I have to go to Denmark for a big music festival. I come back here in November and December, and I’m not sure if I will stay here longer or not. It depends on the gigs and everything.
I am here with two more musicians, and we’re playing in New Mexico, in Denver, in Boulder, in places in Taos, and Albuquerque.
DL: How was your experience growing up in Chile under Pinochet’s dictatorship?
SA: I think I belong to a new generation of musicians, because we had a very hard dictatorship in my country. For a while we didn’t have any art expression between 1970 and 1990. I belong to a new generation of musicians that have a lot to say, because it was very hard not to express the art of music all over the country. Now in Chile, we have a very different kind of music, and all the influences have developed in Chile from many other places in the world. We have a very big mix of traditional Chilean folk music and all the other cultures that are coming into my country.
DL: What are you going to play when you come to the QBar in Albuquerque?
SA: This weekend I’m going to play something from “Terciopelo,” which translates into “velvet,” and something from “Cambio de Estación,” or “Change of Station,” and some of my music that is not here in the U.S. yet. I’m going to play a mix of my three albums.
DL: What type of music do you play?
SA: It’s downtempo electronic music. Everything is mixed in the electronic music. We’ve got some kind of Latin nostalgic that makes it a very special mix. My connection with the music now that I am older is very spiritual. I didn’t expect anything (but) just to play and learn the music I received. I know that whatever happens is going to be good for me and good for the music. I didn’t expect anything like what is happening today. I just enjoy the music and share the music with all people.
Muza
Friday, 8 p.m.
QBar at Hotel Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
Free
PetroglyphRecords.com
