The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from Daniela Huerta aka Baby Vulture. The Berlin-based producer, DJ and composer is set to return to Krake Festival on Saturday, June 24th for a live performance at the Ambient Garden at About Blank. Huerta has been a long time favorite and both her live and DJ sets pull from across various electronic, experimental and cinematic realms. Ahead of her performance at Krake we are thrilled to host this one hour mix from her as well as this interview where we discuss her music, her home country of Mexico and more. (see below)
The Brvtalist: First off I wanted to ask you about Daniela Huerta vs. Baby Vulture, a moniker most people might know you by. Tell us about the differences and similarities between the two and what you try to do with each.
Daniela Huerta: I Dj under the moniker Baby Vulture and I use my name for playing live and for my productions. Being a DJ allows me to dig for different music genres and all sorts of sounds. It is a very meaningful space for me to discover music and culture; and it also gives me the freedom to create sound narratives that blend various music styles, without having to follow any rules for mixing. As a live performer and producer, I am creating my own language through the atmospheres I compose. I am very interested in mythology as a form of science fiction which has been a great approach for me to imagine sounds.
Making music is my way of delving into my inner and outer worlds and I am fascinated by how sound can transcribe the imperceptibly transformations of every moment, and how this can be captured as a field recording, voice, or with any instrument. The similarity among the two, is that I am always, somehow, writing stories with sound. Storytelling is very important for me in every art form.
TB: On June 24th you will be performing once again at Krake Festival in Berlin. Tell us a little bit about your upcoming performance and what we can expect!
DH: For this show I will be presenting a sound narrative that has to do with water, so, hopefully, expect to be immersed in some textural atmospheres and resonant overtones!
TB: You recently did the music for a new film and performed in France. Tell us about that project and performance.
DH: Yes, I had the great opportunity to create the music for artist Ivan Argote's film "Le Fond de La Seine." The film serves as an archaeological exploration of the Seine, the renowned river that flows through Paris. It reveals a poetic portrait of a river full of life, its stories, dark depths and secrets. The film is about one’s relationship with the water, how it evolves from its original crystal clear source that slowly becomes a powerful mass of water, urban passage, deposit of objects and dead corpses, and power that ends up pouring and merging into the ocean. The film was screened at the museum D’Orsay as part of Nuit Blanche in Paris on June 3rd.
Baby Vulture at Krake Festival
TB: How has your experience in the music scene been post pandemic? I think a lot of us saw a boom when things re-opened but things have settled down a lot this year and a lot of practices which were working last year have not been very sustainable. Tell us how it’s been going for you?
DH: I've noticed a significant number of events getting cancelled lately due to insufficientticket sales. It seems like promoters and festivals are facing challenges in pre-selling tickets, and I believe it's because we can't really plan too far ahead anymore. Everything seems to be happening at the last minute these days. This uncertainty affects us all in the music industry.
On a brighter post-pandemic note, I've noticed much more enthusiasm and receptiveness towards experiencing music. I think people are now more intrigued by experimental music and various hybrid formats. This shift in interest has given rise to new artistic platforms and expansion, pushing boundaries and bringing fresh perspectives and diversity to the music industry.
TB: You have been based in Europe for sometime but originally from Mexico. I have noticed a lot more events happening there and European artists touring there as well. Would you say the scene is booming and what are your thoughts about it?
DH: I come from Guadalajara, but I spend a lot of time in Mexico City. Honestly, I am impressed by the quality and diversity of music that is emerging there. The city itself is vibrant, chaotic, and raw, and these elements contribute to its unique appeal and enhance the engagement with music and art. During my time in Mexico, I had the opportunity to meet and perform with amazing female musicians such as Mabe Fratti, Camille Mandoki, Leslie Garcia and Concepcion Huerta, with whom I have formed the music duo "Huerta Ensamble."
Nowadays, there is an incredible presence of powerful women artists based in Mexico who are truly shaping the experimental music scene, which has historically been dominated by men. It is exciting to witness and be a part of this change.
TB: Say a few words about the mix you did for us today.
DH: It’s an eclectic mix stitched with some favourite old and new finds :)
TB: What's coming up next?
DH: Some nice summer gigs and new music to be released soon.
Also, I will be going to Mexico City in October for a residency and show at the CCD (Digital Culture Centre ). The project is a multimedia collaboration I’ll be doing with Colombian artist Natalia Escobar.
