Parasol

Centro Cultural Bretón, Guadalajara, México
21 September 2023

A tight, dimly lit platform in a café may have not initially seemed an adequate backdrop for Valeria Jasso, an up-and-coming musician who in the last couple of years has captivated the independent music scene across Mexico. She made the headlines late in 2022 for winning the Jim Beam Welcome Sessions Mexico, and her act has been present in venues and festivals beyond the country.

The sincere and intimate opening act by Paola Meza and her acoustic guitar set the right mood for what follows. Valeria takes the stage with a setup that was simpler than what her recorded music suggests: just her on a chair and a microphone, and Camilo on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. As they play through their first block, the songs Respiro and Suspiros merge seamlessly one into the other, and it quickly becomes clear that the show fits right in with the setting. Valeria’s beautiful voice tones—which at times blend in with the subtle guitar playing in a way that feels as if she is merely singing a cappella—fill every corner in the room. The cosy stage in the heart of Guadalajara is now resonating to her earnest music and lyrics.

Coming from Mérida, Yucatán, her style is solidly rooted in Mexican folk from the region; but it is fresh, incorporates elements from modern dream pop, and it is truly impossible to classify in a single category. Tonight she puts her versatility on display by singing a duet with her guitarist for the song Dejarte and covering Natalia Lafourcade’s “Soledad y el Mar”. True to Mexican folk music traditions, some of Valeria’s lyrics talk about pressing social issues. Déjame de Matar—which she plays by herself on guitar—is about the deplorably prevalent violence against women.

For the last block of the show, Valeria introduces her new single Noches after providing an insight to the composition. It is followed El Alma, the only song of the night in which she felt the need to leave her seat. Despite the high energy at that moment, when Mi Cumbia played, it did feel that the setting was lacking, since this song invites dancing; but neither the ambience in the café, nor the space was especially welcoming to it. The show, just like her LP, ends with Marea along with great a feeling of fulfilment after such a robust and heartfelt performance.