Under the moniker of Magana, Jeni Magaña, known as one half of Pen Pin and associated with acts like Mitski and Lady Lamb, is gearing up to release her sophomore album, Teeth, on March 25th. Her latest single, “Break Free,” offers an escape reminiscent of a setting sun on a challenging day.
There is an aura that surrounds “Break Free” that is harmonious, melodic, effervescent and vibrant. The synths reverberate with a church organ bellow that anchors the rhythm of the bass and drum while Jeni’s vocals intertwine with the heartfelt lyrics. She syncs the listener’s heart and spirit to the music’s cadence as the song progresses, a soaring guitar emerges, sweeping the listener into a moment of tranquil reflection.
It’s this captivating blend of meditative instrumentation and introspective lyrics that conveys Magana’s ‘witchy rock’ sound. A sound that developed from meditations and synth experiments with Jeni saying this about Teeth,
“I recorded this during lockdown in the pandemic. The world started to look strange to me, as if I was an alien plopped down in the middle of Los Angeles but with all these human feelings. I wanted this album to reflect that not only in the lyrics but in the soundscapes as well. I wanted it to sound like earth and space at the same time, so I arranged acoustic guitars, strings, and winds to weave in and out of synth lines and electric guitar solos.”
“Break Free”will break the chains that bind one’s soul, liberating their spirit to find solace and serenity in the vivacious sonic landscape created by Magana.
