The Sala Rossa was packed for this triple concert of Spanish-speaking voices. They sang a lot, applauded a lot, shouted a lot. A mostly Latino audience, but not the only one. Because the musical creativity of this part of the world also attracts curious onlookers seduced by the genre.
The highlight of the evening was Mexican singer Silvana Estrada, who brought the evening to a close. What can I say? Her very special voice pierces us, bewitches us, captivates us, lulls us. Whether we understand the words or not, her vocal range and tremolos, inspired by both Western and indigenous music, plunge us into the depths of the Mexican soul. And we are transfixed by the journey.
Alone on stage, with guitar, ukulele and electric piano, Silvana Estrada says she’s delighted to be coming to Montreal this season. Her last show in the middle of winter traumatized her. She will also be part of the tribute to Lhasa De Sela, at Rialto on September 29 and 30.
Half the room knew the words to her songs. It was total communion between Silvana and her audience. A Mexican woman standing next to me was immersed in total ecstasy.
It was a moment of grace. Silvana’s solo performance enhanced her voice, which is still magnificent on the studio recordings, but a little more subdued due to the more sophisticated orchestrations.
In the second half, Colombian-born Montrealer Lapelúda presented the inner journey of an abused woman on the road to healing.
It’s an introspective alt-folk musical proposition, led by Lapelúda’s warm voice, with a tightly-knit quartet of musicians, including two percussionists. We journey with the artist on the road to recovery. The music becomes less sad and more soothing as the concert progresses. She tells us about a love song written in a state of traumatic shock.
Lapelúda sometimes speaks in Spanish, sometimes in English, sometimes in Quebecois French without a Spanish accent. In fact, her album Caidas (2022) includes songs in French. By the way, it’s a magnificent album.
Lapelúda (The Hairy) is definitely one to watch.
This Latin evening was kicked off by the Mexicoise Gabriella Olivo, who grew up in Quebec City, the daughter of a Mexican-Quebec couple. Along with Maritza and Noé Lira, this young woman is part of this trend of reappropriating their origins, despite having essentially grown up and lived in Quebec.
Gabriella composes in both French and Spanish, with a hint of English thrown in for good measure. Her music is largely indie-folk, which would benefit from being presented with a live band. Yesterday, there was only an accompanist, with instrumental samplings.
Gabriella Olivo will soon be releasing a new EP. She’s an emerging artist to watch, with undoubted talent and creativity.
In short, I spent a wonderful evening in the company of these ladies. It’s extremely interesting to see the nebula of new Latin music growing, both here and in the Americas. And the audience that follows.
Muy bien…No?
