Join us on August 29th for Bajo La Luna: Soundscapes of Silvia Pérez Cruz, a listening session & In Conversation Q&A at JACCC’s Japanese garden.

Catalan singer-composer Silvia Pérez Cruz has been called one of the most stunning voices of her generation. Raised on popular Iberian and Latin American songs, Cruz has spoken the language of music for as long as she can remember, and was taught how to play piano, saxophone, and guitar from her parents, who were both singers. “The song has to have a story that I believe in and I can make my own,” she told NPR in 2014. “I think I have that influence from my mother. My mother is a good storyteller, and she’s always believed that songs are stories.”

One of the great success stories of contemporary Spanish music, Cruz has earned a multitude of accolades her music including: her debut solo album 11 de Novembre was nominated for album of the year, she has received multiple Goya awards for “Best Original Song,” was named “Best Singer-Songwriter” by the Academia Española de la música, and was awarded the Spanish Ministry of Culture’s National Prize for Contemporary Music for the “creativity and quality of her career, her spontaneity, versatility and audacity of her projects and her unbreakable commitment with beauty.”

Next Friday, August 29th, In Sheep’s Clothing will be teaming back up with El Marchante for their new Bajo La Luna project, which honors the tradition and transformative power of song across the Iberian and Peninsula and Latin America, to present “Soundscapes of Silvia Pérez Cruz,” a listening session & In Conversation Q&A with Silvia Pérez Cruz hosted by writer/professor Josh Kun.

Tickets are available now: https://jaccc.org/events/bajo-la-luna-soundscapes-of-silvia-perez-cruz-a-listening-party/

In anticipation of the event, Cruz shared a few of her personal records that will be played at the listening session. Descriptions have been supplied by El Marchante’s Osmar Keri. Join us at JACCC to hear Cruz’s personal stories about each of these special selections!

Enrique Morente y Pepe Habichuela – Despegando (CBS, 1978)

A groundbreaking flamenco album that pairs Morente’s raw, poetic voice with Habichuela’s intricate guitar. It bridges tradition with experimentation, marking an early step in Morente’s avant-garde journey.

Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left (Island Records, 1969)

Drake’s haunting debut blends delicate guitar work with lush arrangements, weaving introspective lyrics into pastoral folk. It set the tone for his brief but enduringly influential career.

Chavela Vargas (RCA, 1961)

Chavela does not sing; she bleeds. Each ranchera is stripped naked, burned with longing, until it becomes pure confession. Tequila, ash, and the silence of midnight.

Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare (Som Livre, 1972)

A joyful fusion of samba, rock, and psychedelia, this album became a landmark of Brazilian popular music. Its playful, communal spirit captures the countercultural energy of 1970s Brazil.

Björk – Debut (One Little Indian, 1993)

Björk’s first solo international release introduced her eclectic blend of electronic beats, jazz flourishes, and fearless vocal experimentation. It established her as one of the most inventive voices in pop.