Trececerotres

Trececerotres is the debut extended play (EP) by Peruvian musician Daniela Lalita.^[11] The Spanish title refers to apartment number 1303 in Lima, where she lived with her mother and grandmother before relocating to New York.^[12][13]

The EP was released on September 16, 2022, through the independent British label Young, part of the Beggars Group.^[14] It was mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound.^[15][16] The EP entered the UK Physical Singles Top 100^[17] and was preceded by the singles "No Para" and "Tenía Razón"; the latter was part of the EA SportsFIFA 23 soundtrack.^[18] It received positive critical reception^[19][20] and appeared on several year-end best-of lists.^[21]

According to Nuebo, Trececerotres draws on themes of "magic, ritual, healing, and the matrilineal relationship",^[22] reflecting Lalita's personal experiences growing up.^[23] The process of creating this work took five years, during which time she drew much of her inspiration for the composition from the teachings she had received from her mother and grandmother.^[13][22][24]

The first single from the EP, "Tenía Razón", was co-produced by Sega Bodega and released on July 12, 2022.^[9] Lalita has described it as an exploration of the relationship between one's past and future selves, focusing on self-acceptance amid internal conflict. She has characterized the song as an attempt to articulate internal emotional struggles that are difficult to express verbally, with the intention of resonating with listeners experiencing similar feelings. Mexican magazine Marvin interpreted the song as addressing themes of self-trust and personal conviction in the face of external doubt.^[25]

No Para was released as the second single on August 24, 2022.^[10] It appears as the fourth track on the EP^[14] and combines expressive vocals with electronic instrumentation using a Buchla synthesizer.^[13]

A music video was released for each track on the EP:

The video for "Trececerotres", released on February 2, 2023, and directed by Lalita, depicts the artist seated and responding subtly to the song's dark ambient soundscape. In her own words:

"I've learned to develop my own paths, like offerings to a deity. I need to feed it and tame it. It's not horror and it's not evil, it's not about that. It's just what happens. So I make my own rituals. It's better when I create things and when I'm proud. It's better when you're watching me."^{[26][dl 1]}

Also the video for "Tenía Razón", released on the same date as the single, was directed by Lalita. The choreography by her and Isabel Legate involves her mother Pilar Secada.^[24] According to Lalita, it symbolizes her inner thoughts and draws inspiration from recurring dreams. "In psychoanalysis, dreams are the key to your subconscious"; "it's mainly about mental health and inner battles, dealing with trauma" she said.^{[27][dl 2]}

"Atrás", directed by Nate Boyce and Paul Gondry (son of Michel Gondry) with additional cinematography by Sofia Sinibaldi and 3D modeling by Hilsth, was released on October 10, 2022.^[28] The video presents the song's themes of betrayal through "a fantastical and frightening world".^{[29][dl 3]}

"No Para", directed by Bradley & Pablo with "Lalita dressed in her own hand-sewn garments, re-enacting a ritual she performed months prior in the same area" was filmed at a volcanic site near Arequipa, Peru, approximately 16,000 feet above sea level. Lalita has described the location as significant to her grandmother's worldview.^{[24][30][dl 4]}

El video de la última canción, "Pisoteo", lanzado en la misma fecha que el EP, fue dirigido por Lalita y coreografiado por Lourdes Leon , mostrándola bailando en un edificio abandonado y vacío. ^{[ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ dl 5 ]} Comienza con la voz de la abuela de Lalita instándola a poner su alma en todo lo que hace, seguido por el baile expresivo de Lalita sola en una habitación vacía que canaliza este mensaje, transformando el dolor en un poderoso acto de expresión artística. ^{[ 13 ] [ 31 ] [ 33 ]}

El EP recibió críticas positivas de Pitchfork , ^{[ 19 ]} Dazed , ^{[ 20 ]} y Gaffa . ^{[ 34 ]} En un artículo sobre lanzamientos poco conocidos que merecen más atención, Isabelia Herrera de Pitchfork destaca el dominio de la voz de Daniela Lalita, que se extiende en "mil direcciones diferentes". ^{[ 19 ]} Martyn Pepperell de Dazed señaló que la expresividad de Lalita se extiende más allá de su música a su presentación visual, incluyendo el diseño de vestuario y la coreografía. ^{[ 20 ]} Según Javier Rodríguez-Camacho, crítico musical de Opinión , Daniela Lalita trabaja en la frontera entre la electrónica y el conceptualismo. ^{[ 35 ]} El EP ha sido comparado con "rituales ancestrales" y "viajes psicotrópicos", ^{[ 12 ]} y Numéro lo describió como mágico y melancólico, calificándolo como "tan hechizante como aterrador". ^{[ 36 ]} Con respecto a Lalita "cuidando a su abuela, quien luchó y finalmente sobrevivió al cáncer a principios de 2019", Isabelia Herrera escribió sobre la canción "Pisoteo": "Su interpretación sepulcral la hace sonar como si estuviera invocando a sus ancestros a través de un himno gótico". ^{[ 31 ]} Según Our Culture Mag , esta "intrincada colección de pistas experimentales" ^{[ 37 ]} se caracteriza por un estilo de producción único que combina elementos tradicionales y modernos. ^{[ 38 ]}

Musicians

• Daniela Lalita – lead vocals (1–5), synthesizer (1–5), programming (1–5)
• Sega Bodega – programming (2)
• Alex Epton – additional programming (4)
• Gabriel Schuman – additional programming (5)
• Ville Haimala – additional programming (5)
• Miguel Ballumbrosio – cajón (4)

Technical

• Joe LaPorta – mastering engineer (1–5)
• Gabriel Schuman – mixing engineer (1–5)
• Daniela Lalita – engineer (1–5)
• Chris Z. Wang – recording engineer (1)
• Ville Haimala – engineer (3)
• Alex Epton – engineer (4)

Artwork and design

• Collin Fletcher – design, layout
• Myles Henrik Hall – photography
• Haley Menchel – art production
• Caroline Waxse – art production
• Mila Taylor-Young – production design