Argentinian experimental musician Juana Molina, 64, has spoken about her disdain for solemnity while promoting her new album from a hospital bed. The former comedian, who gave up a successful television career in the 1990s to pursue music, is recovering from back problems and hernia surgery but remains characteristically irreverent.
Molina, who counts David Byrne and Feist among her fans, described her creative process as entering 'the world of pure music' where she works alone for up to 14 hours at a time. Her new record, Doga, her first since 2017, involved mastering analogue synthesisers and collaborating with producer Emilio Haro for the first time since her debut.
The musician, who rose to fame in Argentina with her sketch show Juana y Sus Hermanas, said she quit comedy after realising during a pregnancy that she would regret not pursuing music. Her unique sound, built from dry guitar loops and incantatory vocals, has earned her a devoted following over three decades.
Molina, who lives outside Buenos Aires in a house once owned by her grandmother, said she finds the recording process so absorbing that she often forgets to eat or drink. 'All of a sudden, I hear birds. The whole night has gone by and I didn’t realise because I’m in a tunnel where the only language is music,' she explained.
