So is her growth as a singer and songwriter. Kourtesis completely broke out of that shell Freesia Magdalena opener “La Perla” and Madres begins with a heart-to-body sequence reminiscent of the EP's first two songs. “Si Te Portas Bonito” switches from daytime to nighttime Balearic pop bliss, layering a Top 40-style verse-chorus structure over a silky, sexy house beat. “Vas a querer escucharme” (“You'll want to hear me”) is one of his first lines, and while he sings about physical intimacy, the shot-calling also packs a punch.
Madres it moves to some familiar dance music motifs, but also hosts a sudden tidal shift. In the frozen, desolate “Mobile Homes,” she briefly leaves her signature multi-story home. the song is an off-tempo experiment in crunchy static and lonely, sporadic sounds, reminiscent of the sonorous voices of the famous German photographer and artist Wolfgang Tillmans as well as the voice of Björk. The atmosphere is a world apart, but the personalized care remains: She loves every sound like her own child.
Nothing could be more fitting, given the hardships that preceded it Madres. While touring his recognition Freesia Magdalena, Courtesy also constantly flew home to Peru to see her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer. In desperation, Kourtesis posted a clip of himself madres' title piece on Instagram with a public appeal to introduce himself to world-renowned neurosurgeon Peter Vajkoczy. She responded the next day, performed a high-risk operation and extended her mom's life. She honors him on the soulful and brooding “Vajkoczy,” which serves as an extended lead-in to “How Music Makes You Feel Better,” the album's biggest endorphin release. Together, the tracks soar into the clouds, culminating in a celestial synth line that swirls like an airplane banner in the wind. As a token of her gratitude, Courtesy took Vajkoczy to Berlin's techno hub Berghain and drew the mind of a brain surgeon.
Such is the good karma of someone who once trusted her dentist to remove a wisdom tooth a few hours later met him naked in the club. Courtesy is always looking for new stories, whether it's pulling strangers on stage to dance with her, or turning traditional cumbia beats into a metallic, intense album closer. It takes a special kind of strength to bring so many different voices together in one place. Perhaps a common goal. Perhaps a common spirit. Sometimes, it's as simple as having someone at the center who is willing and able to take care of everyone—and who is as magnetic as Sofia Kourtesis is here.
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