Ana Tijoux has released a visceral collection of 14 songs with her new album, Vida. The album arrives after a 10-year hiatus where we see the Chilean music artist and activist releasing her most impactful record yet. Tijoux will embark on a tour this March with shows in the U.S., including The Regent in downtown Los Angeles.

Produced by Ana’s longtime collaborator Andres Celis — and mixed by 5-time GRAMMY winner Rafa Sardina — Vida features unforgettable collaborations with iLe, Talib Kweli, De La Soul‘s Plug 1, Chilean trap artist Pablo Chill-E and British soul singer Omar Lye-Fook. The album speaks to what it means to be alive. It vividly celebrates life while honoring those who have crossed over to the other side.

“A number of people close to me had passed away, and I wanted to pay tribute to them,” she says. “The idea was to celebrate their existence, but not in a superficial way, because there’s nothing deeper than life. I do believe that being alive is worth it after all – the human existence with its inevitable tunnels and contradictions, dances and disagreements. I think it’s important not to lose sight of your emotions – to preserve feelings as the very backbone that allows us to walk through life with integrity.”

With tracks featuring razor-sharp lyricism that can split a tongue in two and sultry vocals over dance-pop rhythms — we see Tijoux “move at a different BPM” with Vida.

“I don’t want to act like a 20 year-old,” she says. “I’m happy with my age. My passions are very different now than the things that attracted me as a young woman. You could say I move at a different BPM. I wanted to make a dance friendly record, but without relying on proven formulas.”

It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand Spanish; Vida is an insatiable listen worthy of setting on repeat. Sweet y muy espicy, songs like “Busco” shine with Tijoux’s delicate croon over soft keys, while the sizzling title track (“Vida”) makes heads bob to the beat with special guest Omar Lye-Fook dropping slicks flows over smooth jazz instrumentals. The crisscross between Tijoux’s raspy Spanish lyricism and Omar’s bouncy chorus makes for a fire track.

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Songs like the bass-heavy “Tu sae” featuring Talib Kweli and Plug 1 will take you back to the battleground where pop-locking and windmills were the weapons of choice. Arguably, it is the most fierce track on the album. We’re reminded of Tijoux’s versatility as a fire-breathing rapper who can flip the switch quicker than you can flip a pancake and transition her rhymes to buttery vocals. And what better features than Talib Kweli and De La Soul’s Plug 1, who are both products of the greatest era of hip-hop. The song celebrates hip-hop culture, unity, and community with nods to fellow influential rappers.

Meanwhile, tracks like “Niñx” also inspire to throw down on the dance floor. With its experimental sounds and suspenseful build-up, you can feel the passion in Tijoux’s words as she spits rapid-fire lyrics that connect humanity to Mother Earth. The song speaks to that young girl in a hopeless world who keeps moving onward despite the horrors of war and senseless killings. The dance-heavy track makes for a delicious romp across the floor, but it’s the inspiring words that truly keep you moving.

“A great friend of mine who works making people laugh at refugee camps all over the world shared a thought once that resonated with me for a long time,” she explains. “He said that the best revenge against death is life itself.”

Vida is a celebration of life, an album that, through bold lyrics and poetic serenades, ignites a fire in us to keep fighting for life and unity, reconnecting with our ancestors, the vibrant Earth we live on, and the enigmatic Moon we gaze upon.

“…I do believe that being alive is worth it after all – the human existence with its inevitable tunnels and contradictions, dances and disagreements. I think it’s important not to lose sight of your emotions – to preserve feelings as the very backbone that allows us to walk through life with integrity … Our strength lies in sticking together. The only way to continue marching forward, preserve our sensitivity and look fear in the eye is to rely on our collective identity.”

Words: Sandra Burciaga Olinger

Ana Tijoux‘s new album, Vida, is available to stream or purchase. Catch her on tour with a Los Angeles headline date at The Regent.

‘VIDA’ TRACK LIST
1. Milionaria
2. Oyeme
3. Cora
4. Vida (feat. Omar Lye-Fook)
5. Ciclo Perfecto
6. Tu Sae’ (feat. Talib Kweli & Plug 1)
7. Suave
8. El Caudal
9. Niñx
10. Bailando Sola Aqui
11. Tania
12. Busco (feat. Estela de Carlotto – Abuela Plaza de Mayo)
13. Busco Mi Nombre (feat. iLe)
14. Dime Que (feat. Pablo Chill-E)
15. Fin Del Mundo

Ana Tijoux Tour Dates

1/18 – Inverfest – Madrid, Spain
3/7 – Auditori Nacional d’Andorra – Ordino, Andorra
3/9 – Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain
3/10 – C.M.A. Las Armas – Zaragoza, Spain
3/12 – Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco
3/14 – The Regent Theater – Los Angeles
3/17 – Lollapalooza Chile – Santiago, Chile
3/19 – The Crocodile – Seattle
3/21 – Metro Chicago – Chicago
3/22 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis
3/24 – Le Poisson Rouge – New York
3/25 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston
3/26 – World Cafe Live – Philadelphia
3/27 – Union Stage – Washington, DC
3/30 – Encuentro Trama – Guadalajara, Mexico
4/3 – Cafe de la Danse – Paris, France
4/12 –  The Grand Social – Dublin, Ireland
4/13 – La Linea Festival – London, England