Texas Artist Weaves Jazz, Disco, and Heritage

Sparklmami, a Texas-born artist now based in Chicago, has unveiled her debut album, 'in this body,' after a significant decade-long period of vocal silence. This hiatus, she explained, was a time for personal research into her musical preferences. Following her move to Chicago, Sparklmami cultivated a career as a visual, performance, and makeup artist while privately composing songs.

An artist residency eventually prompted her return to performing and recording. The resulting album is a rich fusion of jazz, disco, R&B, Brazilian funk, and bolero-infused vocals, enhanced by experimental band arrangements. It features dynamic elements like trumpet solos and pitch-bent synthesizers, creating an exuberant 24-minute experience.

Granados's artistic background is apparent in the album's visual and thematic elements. Early tracks offer a playful, fantastical invitation, contrasting with later songs that delve inward, exploring themes of self-reflection and family history. The album incorporates her Mexican and Indian heritage through layered harmonies and saxophone, while modern R&B production ensures a forward-looking sound.

The latter half of the album showcases deep emotional exploration, particularly in "quisiera," a psychedelic, salsa-inspired ballad dedicated to her mother. This piece highlights her vocal and compositional talents, balancing grief with raw production. "penso en voce" follows, quickly raising the energy with breath-driven vocals and an MPB groove.