Madre (EP)

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Madre is an EP by Venezuelan artist Arca (Alejandra Ghersi). It was released on 22 January 2021 through XL Recordings and runs 32:09. The Spanish-language release includes the title track “Madre” featuring cellist Oliver Coates and three remixes by Arca. The song “Madre” was written by Ghersi in 2016; Coates later helped arrange the final version. The EP is part of Arca’s KICK series and sits on the official KICK Spotify playlist between KiCk i and KICK ii.

For the making of “Madre,” Ghersi spent nine days working on it, building a subtle harmony like a ghost orchestra. She played cello for “Madreviolo” and then destroyed the instrument to create a one-time version with pitched-up vocals. Coates then created an arrangement of the unprocessed a cappella version. Arca has spoken of a strong, resonant chemistry with Coates, taking the track to a space she dreamed of but couldn’t reach alone.

Pitchfork’s Isabelia Herrera praised the track, noting Coates’ strings blooming around Arca’s delicate singing and a sense of longing rooted in Latin American folk styles.

Credits: All tracks written and produced by Alejandra Ghersi, with “Madre” co-written by Ghersi and Oliver Coates. The EP’s extra versions are Arca remixes of the title track. A Prada-SSENSE collaboration produced a music video for “Madre” in 2018, and an earlier filming clip appeared online via SSENSE showing Tormenta on loop.