ANGELICA GARCIA: CHA CHA PALACE ALBUM REVIEW
Image credit: Caitlyn Krone
‘Cha Cha Palace’ is a breed of all kinds, incorporating classic Los Angeles electronic dance beats, whilst staying true to Garcia’s Mexican and Salvadoran roots. The album features an array of sounds; from chants, to shakers, to gospel-like back-up singers, to tribal-like beats. This blend of unique and diverse sounds works harmoniously to make this whole album an enchanting experience. In every track Garcia’s haunting and raspy voice powers through the music, proving her presence is just as powerful digitally as it is on stage.
Each track will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions, evoking urges to dance in some songs, yet cry in others. In songs like ‘Karma the Knife,’ Garcia’s playful voice and lyrics will make you feel like letting down your hair, throwing your head back, and dancing to the catchy and upbeat melody, whilst ‘Valentina’ transports you to a feeling of melancholy and self-discovery. ‘Cha Cha Palace’ is an album that is deeply rooted with strong socio-political statements and has the ability to communicate to many people who find themselves between places or identities. This understanding of being between places comes from Garcia being raised in a multigenerational and cultural home, and moving between locations to pursue her music.
Image Credit: Myles Katherine
Garcia shared that this album was a “mental scrapbook” that was inspired by her childhood in LA, and all the culture she still holds on to strongly. She even includes both her Mother (on ‘La Llorona’) and Grandmother (on a José Alfredo Jiménez track, ‘La Enorme Distancia’), proving her past still plays an important role in her current music, art and identity. This album has a strange sense of nostalgia and familiarity as every sound is connected to such different upbringings and environments, allowing every listener to find something that feels like home.
Even though we are taken on a ride of emotions through each songs’ individuality and uniqueness, each track can easily be identified to be a part of this album even if heard separately due to the tracks successfully retaining a constant mood and vibe of confidence yet vulnerability. Garcia wanted her music to be the voice that she always needed to hear and it’s clear she’s provided that with this album. We see a side of her that screams ‘strong, independent and rebellious woman’, while also showing her raw emotions and fears.