Mon Laferte Releases Banda Version of “Se Me Va A Quemar el Corazón”

A multifaceted artist that goes from rock to pop, from urban to cumbia and now in collaboration with one of the most iconic banda groups in Mexico, Chilean singer Mon Laferte presents a new version of her song “Se Me Va a Quemar el Corazón” together with La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho. It’s a classic song of heartbreak: emotional, visceral and intense, accompanied by an orchestra of horns, tuba, clarinets, trumpets and a distinctly Mexican tone about leaving a toxic relationship.

Originally released last month without La Arolladora, the pared-back, painful, yet proud track was met with adoration from fans, winning her comments on YouTube like: “Debería ser ley escuchar esta canción con una botella de tequila.” It’s only logical, then, for the artist to take the song to the next level for this latest version.

La Arrolladora, who hail from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, put together the brassy arrangement and it pops. Mon Laferte’s voice reaches new heights – with added drama – spurred on by the band’s atmospheric accompaniment and vocal duets with Josi Cuen.

Mon Laferte says: “Banda has always caught my attention; for me, it is something very new in terms of music. A lot of Mexican music comes to Chile, but banda is not well known here. I find it amazing that it’s accompanied only by wind instruments.”

The Rodrigo Robles-directed video is shot in a traditional cantina in downtown Guadalajara, Jalisco, with Mon Laferte posing as a captivating local singer and La Arrolladora as her audience. She enters the stage from a smoky curtain and delivers attitude from the outset.

After intimate close-ups of Laferte and Cuen singing of heartbreak, Mon Laferte takes a shot of tequila and the camera angles begin to open up as the whole of the cantina becomes her stage. Laferte twirls around the bar and belts vocals on top of the tables, followed by Cuen in a slick white suit.

The cantina is decorated with framed photographs, frescoed walls (and CTTV screens), and lit only by coloured fairy lights, bar lights, and the jukebox. “The video is more than just a clip – I wanted people to see it as if it were a movie,” Laferte explains, “For me, it was like traveling to a magical universe.”

Might the singer have plans to perform with an all-female group in future? “I don’t know if there is an all-female banda, but the most popular ones consist of only men. Obviously, some women want to be more than just a model in the videos; women want to play and take the stage too. I love being able to bridge the gap between women and banda and to open up the conversation about the traditionally male-dominated space.”

Follow Sounds and Colours: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mixcloud / Soundcloud / Bandcamp

Subscribe to the Sounds and Colours Newsletter for regular updates, news and competitions bringing the best of Latin American culture direct to your Inbox.

Share: