Clara Serra López releases Lengua Materna (Part I)

Clara Serra López is a Spanish born vocalist, composer, songwriter and keys player based in London with Catalan and Cuban heritage. Today, Friday 25 July, she releases her debut EP ‘Lengua Materna (Part I)’ via Real World X.

Lengua Materna (Part I) – Lengua Materna means Mother Tongue – is composed by Clara, produced by Jake Long (Maisha, Gary Bartz, Snapped Ankles…) and mixed by Oli Barton-Wood (Ezra Collective, Zawose Queens, Jordan Rakei…). A unique musical experience that intertwines Clara’s Mediterranean heritage with her jazz background and passion for electronic soundscapes. A deeply personal sonic narrative alongside a societal commentary through critical observation and lived experience.

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The four-track release includes the singles No Es Veneno and Nińa De La Risa, already released, and two further tracks Mi Tierra Que Robó and Worthy available now.

Mi Tierra Que Robó is driven by irresistible grooves and a catchy chorus, so it might fool you into thinking it’s a light summer anthem, but this track cuts deeper. Its satirical lyrics confront the legacy of colonialism in Spain and Europe, with a chorus that warns: ‘My land that you stole will go dry, all that’s left behind is now our curse.’

Worthy was written when Clara was dealing with a vocal injury, forcing her into a delicate balancing act: “I was having to carefully ration how I used my voice, while still needing it to make a living. It made me question where my worth lay if the thing I’d worked so hard on was suddenly fragile.”

Lengua Materna (Part I) is the first chapter of Clara Serra López’s debut project which sees Clara return to her cultural roots, as she explores her passion for socio-politics and its effect on our interpersonal relationships and sense of self. News on Lengua Materna (Part II) will follow soon.

Coming from a musical family Clara Serra López grew up surrounded by different genres, from jazz to flamenco, Indian classical, Western Classical, Latin… Always drawn to improvisation and jazz voices, Clara moved to London to study Jazz Performance after gaining a place at the prestigious Guildhall School. Feeling the limitations of studying a creative degree in an academic setting, it was through venturing in and around the underground music scenes of the city that she was introduced to a whole a new world of musicians, cultures and people that would reaffirm her love for music.

Over the last few years Clara has been crafting her own sound combining her cultural heritage with her deep influences in jazz, middle eastern, neo soul and electronic music.