ListN Up is a series of weekly artist-curated playlists. Born from a desire to keep artists sharing and connected during times of isolation, ListN Up offers an intimate sonic portrait of contemporary artists by showcasing the diverse and stylistically varied music that influences their creative practice.
Carolina Heredia is an Argentinian composer of acoustic and electronic music, as well as an intermedia producer. She teaches Music Composition at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Hello! My name is Carolina Heredia. I’m an Argentinian composer and Assistant Professor in Music Composition at University of Missouri-Columbia. Today, I’m presenting a playlist named “Que no panda el cúnico.” This is a phrase by the famous and renowned Chapulín Colorado, and it’s a phrase that is used in moments when one feels a lot of stress or one panics as a way to call for calmness for oneself and also for those around you. The series of works you will find here are works that, in general, bring me calm, they energize me, they give me hope and joy, and that’s what I’m trying to cultivate for myself. I also wish this for everyone in these moments in which we are emerging from the pandemic, little by little, and also trying to rebuild the world into something better. It’s my hope that this list has the same effect on you and that you enjoy it. Thanks!
“Un Día” by Juana Molina
Funny story: she was my idol when I was a child, but as a comedian. I had no idea she was a musician. Her show was super weird (in a good way) and very popular! A few years ago, I came across her music and discovered she was a musician all the way, but in order to make enough money to live and sustain her music career, she had gotten a gig in television creating and portraying dozens of extravagant characters. Turns out, she nailed it and became famous, so her music career had to be put on hold while she did this other thing amazingly. Anyway, this piece is titled “One Day.” I think it talks about putting things off, but it makes to me not want to put things off.
“Time” by Brittney Denise Parks a.k.a. Sudan Archives
Brittney Denise Parks (Sudan Archives) has such an attitude, and she should! Her music is defying, unapologetic, and elastic. I love the freedom in the gestures, the timbral combinations, and the loose rhythms in the vocals. “All you wanted was time.” Isn’t it what we all want?
“Pra Que Me Chamas?” by Xênia Francą
Beautiful Brazil and their beautiful people, diverse cultures, and land. You’ll get a glimpse of that in this video. Xênia Francą has become a symbol for the empowerment of Black women. I love the mix of Afro-Brazilian drums with the electronics and the amazing sound production in general in this track.
“The Lemon of Pink I” by The Books
Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong (The Books) featuring Anne Doerner on vocals. I’ve been listening to this a lot lately. I think it’s mostly because this is the way I want to feel, so it helps me envision it. And yes, we went through hell, and that is OK to recognize at this very moment while heading to a better place.
“Lundú #2” by Egberto Gismonti
This is my classical music. It’ll eventually become obvious that I love a lot of the music Brazilians produce. Egberto Gismonti has been one of my favorite composers since I was a teenager. I had this album and many others from him, so I’ve listened to it a lot. I can still get lost listening to his music. Enjoy the trip!
“Daughter” by Kieran Hebden a.k.a. Four Tet
I inherited a love for this artist from my ex-partner, and for that, I’m thankful. Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) also takes me to a place I want to be. He describes this track as very personal for him, evoking the relationship between a father and a daughter. I can perceive the warmth, and it warms my heart with sympathy.
“Confesiones del Viento” by Luna Monti and Juan Quinteros
This is also my classical music. These two truly embody the music they perform. I love how their connection to the music and their sophisticated technique allows them to be so expressive and refined at the same time. There is a deep and unique sensibility applied to this work by Juan Falú, and Roberto Yacomuzzi.
“Breathe” by Alfa Mist with Kaya Thomas-Dyke
“Wait for me, destiny / I said I’ll try / Just give me one more chance to prove…” Beautiful, melancholic track by British jazz/hip hop/rap artist Alfa Mist with Kaya Thomas-Dyke. I discovered this artist randomly (or by following the Spotify algorithmic suggestions, I guess). I listen to it when I need to heal. Sometimes it takes letting yourself feel down to process those feelings and move on.
“Bolivia” by Jorge Drexler (feat. Caetano Veloso)
Jorge Drexler is a Uruguayan musician, and this track features Caetano Veloso, probably my greatest musical crush of all time (his voice and his charisma are just unmatchable, for me). Drexler’s grandfather immigrated from Germany around 1939 to escape persecution by the Nazis. The song tells the story about them being denied asylum everywhere until Bolivia agreed to shelter them, and that’s when his family moved to Latin America.
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN is an editorially-independent program of the American Composers Forum, funded with generous donor and institutional support. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and may not represent the views of ICIYL or ACF.
A gift to ACF helps support the work of ICIYL. For more on ACF, visit the “At ACF” section or composersforum.org.