“My philosophy has always been to show myself as I am,” says Javiera Mena. “I believe that whenever I have shown my art, I have always been asked about my life and I have always answered honestly.” For the Chilean electro-pop singer-songwriter and producer, living honest and out loud has always come naturally. Her career began over a decade ago with her debut album, “Esquemas Juveniles,” which was followed by “Mena,” “Primeras Composiciones,” “Otra Era,” “Espejo” and most recently, “I. Entusiasmo.” Her work has been nominated for several awards, including for a Latin Grammy in 2015. The most rewarding aspect of her career is having the ability “to create a work of art that awakens emotions, states of mind, and changes my own or someone else’s state of mind,” Mena says. “Music has a sound that penetrates through the ears, but it can also enable you to heal, sing your sorrows, and even provide substantial support. So I’ve always felt like a kind of healer because of the work that I create, which is almost mystical, almost esoteric. I feel like my music can reach out to people, reach out to this world, and even cure someone, which is really beautiful.” —IL
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