Venezuela’s MJ Nebreda just dropped her new EP entitled Amor En Los Tiempo De Odio featuring lead single, ‘Frida Kahlo.’ Coming through to teach the children about Raptor House, the EP mixes the Venezuelan electronic genre with reggaeton, dembow and a good bit of House. MJ is signed to Channel Tres’ label Godmode and has worked with Arca’s collaborator, DJ Baba. We caught up with the Miami-based singer to find out more…
Hi MJ, congrats on the launch of ‘Frida Kahlo’. How did you celebrate the occasion?
I really just played Minecraft, I’m gonna be having a release party in Coyo taco Miami on the 10th when the EP comes out come thru!
What inspired the track?
The track was inspired by latin rave anthems and dembow.
What has Frida done to be told ‘Callate’? She just wanted to paint!
Haha… It’s not really saying ‘Frida, shut up’ it’s more like in the power of Frida shut up but also its a play on word I guess like instead of Frida Kahlo its Frida Kahllate.
The new EP is Amor en los Tiempos de Odio. Who do you stay positive during the ongoing dramas of the world?
I think it’s about being accepting who you are where you come from and what love you want to give.
What themes link together the tracks on the EP?
They are all love songs telling you to relax & love yourself. Son canciones de amor submergidas en nuestra sociedad.
I need to hear more about Raptor House / Changa Tuki. Can you give us a few words about how it originated and where?
It originated in Venezuela but has heavily influenced electronic music for the past 10 years. Popularized by DJ Baba and DJ Yirvin. It is a relatively new genre that was born in the 90’s as “changa. It is The only purely latin electronic genre and pretty much the definition of Latin “rave” music. It is very much Venezuelan music.
Where did you learn to write/produce? Who were important musical figures for you back then?
I learnt to write and produce here in Miami a couple years ago. I think I was very much immersed in the Latino Urbano world because when I started making music I was working with a lot of reggaeton artists. YouTube university and my producer friends really helped me understand how to make beats and would give me honest advise on my shit! Shoutout Fux beat, Vfro, and DimeLauro for that.
Who’s in your Venezuelan musical family? Who do we need to look out for?
Dj Baba, Yung Iverson, I like Oh Dulce Ari and Underaiki a lot too. My friends Slic, Gini Santana, and Richi when they start releasing more music too!
Lastly we are named after the biggest-selling single of 2001 and always ask what is your favourite Mariah song?
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU OBVIAMENTE.
The Amor en Tiempos de Odio EP is out now
