One of many first issues Silvana Estrada observed about Las Vegas was its lack of pure mild.
The Mexican singer-songwriter has at all times discovered the dingy, artificially lit interiors of the town’s casinos to be a bit unsettling. So forward of the Latin Grammys in November — the place her people ballad, “Como un Pájaro,” was nominated for finest singer-songwriter tune — Estrada elected to remain in a lodge that didn’t really feel prefer it was “underground.”
“My first thought [when walking into the hotel] was, ‘Thank God there’s daylight,’” mentioned Estrada, who sat throughout from me inside a busy espresso store on the Encore resort in Las Vegas. Her face was illuminated by treasured solar rays beaming by way of the window. “I get to obtain daylight, I can see inexperienced timber — and there’s a bit fountain with fish.”
Estrada has realized to relish the little issues amid a heavy and industrious yr. Upon the Oct. 17 launch of her sophomore album, “Vendrán Suaves Lluvias,” or, “There Will Come Light Rains,” the 28-year-old carried out in NPR’s Tiny Desk collection; launched into a European tour; then kicked off a North American tour in November, which can proceed into 2026, with stops all through the U.S. and Mexico.
On Friday, she’ll contact down in Los Angeles, the place she’ll headline a live performance on the Belasco in Downtown L.A.
“I’m an enormous fan of being busy,” mentioned Estrada. “I really feel like I must do one thing on a regular basis so as to have worth. However I don’t wish to really feel responsible after I’m resting… It’s nice to at all times have a ardour, nevertheless it’s a bit bit dangerous to do issues from the place of needing to be useful.”
In accordance with Estrada, this newfound understanding of productiveness was a byproduct of the arduous labor she put into “Vendrán Suaves Lluvias,” a 10-track album ripe with evocative, orchestral reflections on loss. Within the three years which she referred to as “a bit bit chaotic,” she devoted the final yr within the studio to discover ways to produce her personal music. She described this specific inventive course of as “humbling,” but rewarding.
“I used to be concerned in each single course of [of the album],” mentioned Estrada. “So, all of it blurred till its ending. To be in complete management of your music — that’s one thing you can’t give away as soon as you’re feeling it. You possibly can’t let go of it.”
As a follow-up to her 2022 solo debut, “Marchita,” which detailed the fallout from her very first romance, her second document strikes a equally mournful tone; however this time, she sings of a special sort of heartbreak. A lot of the album contends with the profound grief she skilled after her finest good friend and his brother have been kidnapped and murdered in Mexico.
“Being a girl in Mexico, you’re at all times scared,” mentioned Estrada, who is predicated in Mexico Metropolis. “You’re scared to be raped or killed or each. However on the identical time, I grew up in a extremely loving setting — so in my story itself, there’s some mild within the darkness.”
Estrada was born in a small mountain city referred to as Coatepec in Veracruz, Mexico, a spot identified for its son jarocho music. Her dad and mom have been luthiers and orchestra musicians themselves; though she mentioned she was raised in a loving family, her hometown skilled an intense interval of violence as she was coming of age. As she lived within the concern of others, Estrada discovered solace within the pure wildlife of her environment.
“I at all times liked nature. I grew up in entrance of a river within the espresso plantations of my homeland, so nature has at all times been very near my coronary heart. However as I’m getting older, I don’t take it with no consideration,” mentioned Estrada.
Within the slow-building symphony of “Un Rayo De Luz,” Estrada bottled the refreshing feeling of daylight after a harsh winter, whereas confronting dying head on — singing “Cómo será de hermosa la muerte / Que nadie ha vuelto de allá.” Whereas on tracks like “Dime” and “Flores,” there are distinct orchestral peaks, through which delicate percussions give method to grander, extra cathartic releases.
“There’s a bunch of songs that I [wrote] whereas watching the timber and after I was deep in nature. It calms my ego,” mentioned Estrada. “After I’m surrounded by nature, I’m not making an attempt to show something to anyone. You begin to keep in mind, you’re a part of an even bigger ecosystem, and also you simply must be you.”
However even within the somber verses about fields the place flowers don’t develop, or a storm that by no means ceases, her potential to see the brighter aspect of issues continues to peek by way of in every piercing whistle and delicate guitar strum.
“I’m like a mosquito,” mentioned Estrada. “I naturally comply with the sunshine. After all, I’ve darkness in me. However after I’m unhappy or in ache, there’s a second the place I must go to the sunshine.
“I’ve been surrounded by violence and a whole lot of instances, I don’t wish to give it energy,” she added. “So I at all times attempt to discover one thing lovely and lightweight in all the pieces — simply to make violence weak.”
When she sings these songs dwell, she faucets into the grief in a manner that isn’t dangerous — however as an alternative, an avenue to attach deeper with herself and her followers.
“Generally after I sing, I open sure doorways. In a single room is my grief and in one other is my ache, however opening these doorways isn’t inflicting me ache. I do know what’s there. However singing is what connects me with all these locations,” mentioned Estrada.
“The great factor [on tour] is that I truly see the folks I’m connecting with at that second too. To me, that’s the magic of the efficiency.”
Whereas reflecting on the U.S. portion of the tour, particularly, she mentioned that serving to her followers really feel seen is extra vital as ever.
“It’s a extremely unusual, violent second for simply Latino folks right here within the U.S.,” mentioned Estrada, referring to the rising raids on immigrant communities throughout the nation. “I’m excited to rejoice Latin music and heritage. I simply wish to create a bit second the place folks can really feel welcomed and liked. They need to dwell nicely and be pleased. I simply wish to rejoice life throughout these concert events.”
