Nearly ten years after her last album, Vengo, French-Chilean singer and MC Ana Tijoux is gearing up for her return with the release of her second single and video, “Tania.” In addition to the two already-released songs from the upcoming album, Vida, Tijoux has made sure to stay booked and busy.
After singing at the Pan American Games opening ceremony this past October, the illustrious artist is set to perform at the Walt Disney Hall on Nov. 9 as part of the Canto en resistencia series, celebrating Latin protest music.
On “Tania,” Tijoux hopes to inspire the inner child in everyone through a mix of songwriting equally fit for a ballad and a rousing beat best reserved for marches.
Named after her late sister, the song gradually builds up over touching lyrics celebrating Tania’s life. Tijoux described the process as being among her most challenging to write, but, in the process, she paints a beautiful portrait of her sister, who fought until the very end. Though many of the lines are deeply personal, images of sunflowers, mountains, and nightfall on the sea make the track more universal, all while looking back on a person’s life fondly.
The instrumental helps to bring home the song’s core, predominantly utilizing a Latin pop rhythm that increases in intensity. At first, the vocals overpower the production, allowing Tijoux to speak her truth and tell her sister’s story. The bass becomes louder and fuller without calling attention to itself, eventually backing Tijoux’s voice and packing an equally heavy punch that the lyrics carry throughout.
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With some added animation, the music video features Tijoux and numerous dancers in a black space, only spotlighted by one overhead light. Through the simplicity of the visuals, the choreography takes center stage and compliments the song’s energy, with Tijoux often appearing alone while ocean waves project over her. Much like the production, the video adds to the lyrics rather than distracting or taking away the spotlight.
Though the single is about Tijoux’s sister, it speaks broadly to anyone who’s felt that they’ve been holding back their inner child from reaching their full potential. “This song is born as a manifesto to the child we all have inside of us,” she explains. “That living being that is capable of dreaming and building infinite castles of humanity and love.” In her own way, Tijoux shows the full extent of a child’s unlimited capacity to dream through her ability to return to full-length projects.
Words: David Sosa
“Tania” by Ana Tijoux is out on all streaming services. For more on her upcoming album and live events, including her performance at the Walt Disney Hall on Nov. 9, follow her on Instagram.
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