Mon Laferte on Life in Quarantine: 'I'm Getting to Know Myself Better'
Mon Laferte shares some punk rock joie d’vivre from quarantine in the video for her new song, “Biutiful.” It is her first solo single of the year, and follows the release of her 2020 live acoustic album, Sola Con Mis Monstruos (Alone With My Monsters).
A quirky melange of Nineties rock balladry and runaway tropical percussions, the song “Biutiful” came about on a random day in March, when Laferte happened to wake up feeling prettier than usual. She sang it aloud to several of her friends, who responded favorably; what if they could wake up to the song every morning? That was when Laferte decided to record it. “Hoy me haré el amor porque me siento biutiful,” she sings, “Today I will make love to myself because I feel beautiful.”
“I recorded the song shortly before all this madness happened,” Laferte wrote to Rolling Stone, “I think it is a bit foreboding.” In the video, she’s posted up in a tiny bedroom in Mexico City, cycling in and out of costume changes — sporting all kinds of wacky apparel, including a red felt hat and a hairy-chested swimsuit. “I am getting to know myself more, I think,” she muses on her time alone. “I like myself.”
How’s your quarantine going? What do you do to pass the time?
In general, some days [are] slower than others. I am very creative, painting a lot, composing, cooking, I am also reading and finally listening to all the vinyls that I promised to listen to. Some days it makes me anxious, other days I dance naked in the bathroom, hahaha.
Where and when did you record this song?
It was recorded in Mexico City and had several versions before the final; I was looking for a different sound than what I had been doing, so I recorded it twice and it went through many different mixes. The video was very simple, I recorded it in my best friend’s apartment in Mexico City, I have a lot of my clothes there, so I started playing, that’s the main idea of the song, that one can feel good about. Either way, beauty is an attitude thing, we don’t need anything [else].
What kind of music are you listening to in quarantine?
Everything, literally. Yesterday I listened to Serge Gainsbourg, salsa, classical music, type of blues, Miles Davis, Regina Spektor, reggaetón, a random playlist of whatever, hahaha… I listen to eeeeverything.
What was the most surprising item of clothing you found in your closet while shooting the video?
A swimsuit that simulates the body of a naked man. I didn’t know I owned such weird things!
You wear an old Mystica Girls tee in the video — a band you used to front. How do you feel about that heavy metal era of your career?
I loved finding the Mystica Girls t-shirt. It’s been a couple years since I last wore it. I recall that time in the band with great affection. Sometimes I miss playing metal, the wildness and hysteria that is experienced on stage is incredible. Now, more than ever, I want to meet the girls again.
Sola Con Mis Monstruos is out now on Universal Music Mexico.
