Javiera Mena
Encyclopedia
Javiera Alejandra Mena Carrasco (born June 3, 1983 in Santiago
), publicly known as Javiera Mena (xaˈβieɾa ˈmena), is a Chile
an Indie
electronic pop musician. She started her musical career in the Chilean indie music scene in 2001, and transformed into one of the most relevant Chilean indie acts after the release of her first studio album in 2006. Her musical style tends to be synthesized electronic sound, although prior to her official debut she used to make more acoustic-oriented songs accompanied just by a guitar.
to perform with them in Buenos Aires
. In 2003 she entered to a studio for the first time, and recorded various demos that were leaked to the internet around the same time. Between 2003 and 2006 she were also part of the musical duet Prissa (formerly Tele Visa), along with her friend Francisca Villela.
’s movie Se arrienda
. Javiera’s first album, Esquemas Juveniles, was recorded between 2004 and 2005 and was produced by Cristian Heyne
. The album was first released in 2006 in Argentina by an indie label owned by Entre Ríos, and was released in Chile
and Japan
by local indie labels. She achieved attention worldwide through internet by fans who appreciated indie pop music, especially via MySpace
, and after Chile she toured Argentina
, Perú
, and Mexico
.
In 2009 Javiera was invited by Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience
(confessed fans of her) to be their opening act in the concerts they held in Spain
and Portugal
.
In April 2011 Javiera performed live in the Chilean version of festival Lollapalooza
. In May, she toured in Spain and performed live as one of the foreign acts of the Primavera Sound Festival
in Barcelona. In there she was praised for her performance and got the attention of the Spanish local press.
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Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...
), publicly known as Javiera Mena (xaˈβieɾa ˈmena), is a Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an Indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
electronic pop musician. She started her musical career in the Chilean indie music scene in 2001, and transformed into one of the most relevant Chilean indie acts after the release of her first studio album in 2006. Her musical style tends to be synthesized electronic sound, although prior to her official debut she used to make more acoustic-oriented songs accompanied just by a guitar.
Prior to her debut
The first concert she held was at the age of 17 in a classroom of Campus Juan Gómez Millas of the University of Chile. In 2002 she started to study musical composition and musical arrangement at music academy ProJazz, as well as she started to plan more performances at underground parties and clubs. In 2004 she performed outside Chile for the first time she was invited by Argentinean electropop band Entre RíosEntre Ríos (band)
Entre Ríos is an Argentine indietronica band originally formed in Buenos Aires by Sebastián Carreras, Gabriel Lucena and Isol in 2000. They became popular when the song "Hoy no" was used in a Quilmes spot....
to perform with them in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. In 2003 she entered to a studio for the first time, and recorded various demos that were leaked to the internet around the same time. Between 2003 and 2006 she were also part of the musical duet Prissa (formerly Tele Visa), along with her friend Francisca Villela.
Esquemas Juveniles
The first song of Javiera that was officially released was “Sol de Invierno”, which was included in the 2005 compilation album Panorama Neutral, and after that “Cámara Lenta” was included in the soundtrack of Alberto FuguetAlberto Fuguet
Alberto Fuguet de Goyeneche is a popular Chilean writer, journalist, film critic and film director who rose to critical prominence in the 1990s as part of the movement known as the New Chilean Narrative. Although he was born in Santiago, he spent his first 13 years of life in Encino, California...
’s movie Se arrienda
Se arrienda
Se Arrienda is a 2005 Chilean film directed by Alberto Fuguet and starring Luciano Cruz-Coke. The film follows the fictional life of Gastón Fernández, a composer in his thirties who has achieved little career success since composing the score to a B movie during his time as a student....
. Javiera’s first album, Esquemas Juveniles, was recorded between 2004 and 2005 and was produced by Cristian Heyne
Cristian Heyne
Cristian Heyne is a Chilean composer and producer, and formally a journalist. Initially he we was the leader of alternative rock band Christianes, and later of the experimental unit Shogún. Then he started to focus on making music for another artists, and made several hits in the Chilean pop scene...
. The album was first released in 2006 in Argentina by an indie label owned by Entre Ríos, and was released in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by local indie labels. She achieved attention worldwide through internet by fans who appreciated indie pop music, especially via MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, and after Chile she toured Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In 2009 Javiera was invited by Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience
Kings of Convenience
Kings of Convenience are an indie folk-pop duo from Bergen, Norway. Consisting of Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, the musical group is known for their delicate tunes, calming voices, and intricate and subtle guitar melodies...
(confessed fans of her) to be their opening act in the concerts they held in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Mena
After more than 4 years between production and mastering, Javiera's second studio albu, entititled just Mena, was released in late 2010. This work was also produced by Cristian Heyne, and took a more dancefloor-oriented style in the songs it included compared to her first album, that despite of having songs of this type, it also had some mid-tempo and slow ballads. The album’s first single, “Hasta la verdad”, was listed as one of the "Singles of the Week" to pay attention to in the American version of the iTunes Music Store, and iTunes Mexico in December of this year considered Mena as the breakthrough album of the year.In April 2011 Javiera performed live in the Chilean version of festival Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
. In May, she toured in Spain and performed live as one of the foreign acts of the Primavera Sound Festival
Primavera Sound Festival
San Miguel Primavera Sound, commonly known as Primavera Sound or simply Primavera, is an annual music festival which takes place in Barcelona, Spain in late May and, in some years, early June...
in Barcelona. In there she was praised for her performance and got the attention of the Spanish local press.
External links
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