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 Entertainment | September 2007 
Julieta Venegas Makes the Accordion Sexy
 Fred Shuster - Los Angeles Daily News
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| | Julieta Venegas (EFE) |
The accordion just isn't sexy - until you hear the squeezebox confessionals of Julieta Venegas. Belting out scalding Mexican rock, the multitalented singer boasts an eclectic sound that draws loyal audiences in the U.S., Latin America and Europe. Her music has been compared with that of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and Bjork in its bold creativity.
"I write about love, the beginning and the end of it," Venegas said from her home in Mexico City. "It's what inspires me. Until a few years ago, I'd never written a happy love song before. I knew about feeling sad and melancholy - but never about feeling confident."
Mixing modern rock with folk music, Venegas' use of the accordion attracts attention.
"When I started playing it, it wasn't just for norteno music; it was because I loved how Los Lobos and Tom Waits used it," she said. "It's a very organic instrument. There's something magical about the strength of it."
Born in Long Beach, Calif., Venegas grew up in Tijuana with a foot on each side of the border. Through films, TV and music, she soaked up the language and culture around her.
"It was easier to watch American TV than Mexican TV growing up," Venegas said. "That's how I learned English. You learn from TV as a kid."
It was with her third album, "Si," that things heated up for the singer.
In 2004, she picked up both a Latin Grammy and an MTV Latino award for the album, establishing her as a star. Her latest release, "Limon y Sal," which won a Grammy this year for best Latin pop album, is filled with songs of love and relationships gone wrong.
"You need limon y sal [lime and salt] to enjoy a drink of tequila," she said.
"And love is the same way. We all need the bitterness to appreciate the sweetness and intoxication." |
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