Colombian artist Montañera, also known as María Mónica Gutiérrez, takes listeners on a dual sonic journey with her tracks “Santa Mar” and “A Flor de Piel,” both featured on her album ‘A Flor de Piel.’ Gutiérrez’s work reflects a meditative quest for self-discovery, bridging oceans, time, and genre constraints with influences ranging from Colombian and Senegalese music to contemporary ambient and experimental production.
“Santa Mar” envelops the audience with an intoxicating mix of electronics and percussion. This atmospheric piece features marimba player Cankita from the band Bejuco and the expressive voices of Las Cantadoras de Yerba Buena, traditional singers from Tumaco, Colombia. Gutiérrez’s unique perspective, shaped by her immigrant experience, resonates in this entrancing composition, where every element collaborates to create an intoxicating auditory experience.
On the contrasting end, “A Flor de Piel” serves as the brooding title track, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese sounds. With deep bass lines and delicate touches, the song explores themes of lightness and fragility. Gutiérrez uses this track to convey the complexity of her emotions, expressing the potential for lightness within while acknowledging the need for rebirth.
María Mónica Gutiérrez initiated the ‘A Flor de Piel’ album as a means of self-exploration following a challenging move to London for school. This transformative journey, both physically and emotionally, fueled her artistic metamorphosis and offered her a profound understanding of her identity as both an artist and a human being.
Throughout the album, Gutiérrez delves into the immigrant experience, using a rich sonic palette that blends diverse influences. From traditional Colombian and Senegalese music to contemporary ambient and experimental production, and even whalesong from the Atlantic depths, her work reflects a multifaceted exploration of identity.
Fans of Grouper composer Liz Harris will find solace in Montañera’s cathartic, ambient-experimental soundscape, where she skillfully maneuvers through ghostly synths with jagged-edge vocals. ‘A Flor de Piel’ stands as a testament to the transformative power of music, allowing listeners to join Gutiérrez on a journey of self-discovery and emotional catharsis.
