Juana Molina: The comedian who transformed Argentinian music
“I pictured myself feeling an infinite grudge, hatred, envy.” – Juana Molina
The seeds of epiphany often come coated in red hues, the eye-catching kind that almost mocks for not being noticed before. Most of the time, they’re functional, like finding car keys after a long search or finally stopping to question why something feels slightly off. Juana Molina had her moment when she envisioned herself watching MTV as an old woman. “I could have done that,” her aged and defeatist self muttered, suddenly filled with a sense of regret about not pursuing music sooner.
When addressed too late, such red hues risk turning brown—like autumn leaves that once brimmed with the vibrant juiciness of life. Molina, picturing herself older and witnessing her story told in a way that didn’t sit well with her, felt a lightning bolt of urgency. It jolted her into action, pushing her to reassess whether she wanted to stay on television for even a moment longer. Thankfully, her face had yet to bear the marks of time’s wrinkles, and though time is often cursed for its scarcity, in that moment, it was still on her side.
Molina had enjoyed her moment on the screen and how being funny and relatable made you a beloved personality. She flitted around satire like it was her personal plaything, finding satisfaction in how her absurdist humour endeared her to an entire generation that watched from behind the television set like friends she had yet to know. Reimagining cultural current events in La Noticia Rebelde with quick wit was what Argentinian audiences needed and a springboard that saw her eventually launch her own show, Juana y Sus Hermanas, the various characters she played appearing as much a caricature of her worldview as a conduit to resonating with people from all over the country.
As a comedian, Molina was versatile, but not because she relinquished any idea of what sort of figure she wanted to be or the kind of direction she wanted to take her show in. She was flexible because she knew how to get audiences on board and persuade them to switch off and escape for a little while, knowing well that momentarily losing yourself to a television screen was the remedy for everyday stresses, tensions, and uncertainties of life—offering a brief but much-needed reprieve.
It’s clear now that Molina’s life was always framed by music—her early days as a young record collector in her family mirroring her later years as a successful musical artist. It might seem as though there was little or no in-between stage, but in reality, her time on television was fun until it wasn’t, and slowly, the blue hues of doubt began to shift, taking on a pink tint, eventually transforming into the siren call of a reddened epiphany that pulled her back toward her true passion: music.
Upon pivoting, Molina had to be patient with audiences who had learned her name through her television work. Suddenly becoming a musician wasn’t an easy feat, and so she began with experimental styles, despite the confusion it likely caused her fans. Time—that precious, fleeting thing—though slow on the uptake, eventually proved itself to be a worthy comrade, and once everything clicked into place, her bold artistic choices began to resonate.
Similar to her comedic work, Molina’s music was innovative, which caused a difficult transition but one that, once complete, solidified her as a force. Her steps to rewrite the premonition she had witnessed years earlier began to fade to black, and the old woman who once sat there, prophesising about what could have been, transformed into a figure whose music career now stood as a testament to her bold choices. Molina’s music appeared folkish but with an electronic charm, forward-thinking but gripped to the past, accessible enough to attract attention but innovative enough to rip out the rulebook and start Argentine music on a newer, fresher path.
Argentina’s history in folk and tango sensibilities was something Molina drew from, but her incorporation of various electronic and acoustic elements showed others the power of adopting an avant-garde mindset. Molina built an entirely new soundscape, diverging from Argentine music norms while utilising traditional sounds but taking them a step further. Her music was also incredibly hypnotic and ambient, which showed that taking risks wasn’t career suicide, it was a potential key to reaching the next level.
As a woman in the music industry, Molina’s presence was also heavily welcomed and much-needed, particularly in Argentina. At the time, her emergence as a serious musical artist showed that women could not only take greater creative control but that any path that seemed fated to anybody could be deviated from. Often, certain career journeys can seem trapping, particularly for women, but Molina’s story provides a valuable lesson in following the heart’s desires.
Although it could have been easier to stick to television and dismiss her frightening vision as nothing more than career anxiety, Molina’s decision to pivot to music was crucial to the development of music, not just within Argentina but on an international scale. In taking the plunge, she helped to elevate Argentine music, showcasing its richness and diversity while proving that true creativity often lies beyond the familiar.
