We were first introduced to the work of Api Ascaso at a private event in Holland at the tail end of last year. One of the songs that she performed was Muerte y Nacimiento, which was simply out of this world and a hugely powerful moment to experience in person.
Fast forward to last week, we spotted that the talented spiritual artist had released the iconic and transcendental song to streaming platforms. Naturally, we were in awe, and memories of our live experience with the visionary artist came flooding back.
To describe the energy that Api Ascaso exudes when she performs is akin to experiencing the most raw and authentic energy of Mother Nature and divine oneness come to life.
Muerte y Nacimiento (Death and Birth) opens with celestial strings, wind sounds and an almost possessed vocal nuance from the artist akin to shifting dimensions under the influence of psychedelics. The opus expands with strummed acoustic guitar and Api Ascaso‘s luscious and melodic vocals as she shares powerful, evocative and conscious lyricism in Spanish.
Speaking on the inception of Muerte y Nacimiento, the talented star describes the composition as, “A song that was born after being given the blessing of witnessing a mare giving birth in a conscious birthday celebration. Nature speaks. Death and birth, existence dancing between the two AS ONE. Allowing and trusting the processes to be as they need to be.”
On the track, Api is joined by Garwynn Linnell on cello, whilst Eliot Curtis performs Cajon, with percussion, breath and Ehekaxtli (Aztec god of the wind) channeled through Ruben Yon’ton. The lyrics are incredibly moving, and we have featured them in full with an English translation below to convey the expansive message that Api Ascaso shares with her work. Muerte y Nacimiento also comes with an live performance visual by Thomas Champ and Stepan Honc, bringing to life the intricacy and emotive nature of Api Ascaso‘s live universe. The performance was filmed at Wolves Lane Community Centre, London.
Api Ascaso is an explorative soul and multi-instrumentalist whose musical abilities reunite together to create expressive, eclectic and soulful music. We have added Muerte y Nacimiento to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Api Ascaso‘s wider discography including Soy Tambor and Madre Selva.
Lyrics in Spanish:
Suenan las campanas llamando al despertar tras meses de oscuridad
Semillas enterradas por el barro y por la cal se asoman sigilosas sobre el pasto
Cacao, coco y canela se rinden derritiendose en las brasas
Guardianes de secretos que suspiran a tu corazon Lo que ahi se tira ahi quedo.
Siendo tambor comienza la celebracion, polen, margaritas y dientes de leon.
Siento que algo muere, muere humeante, pachamama siempre siempre va delante
Aguas de vida, placenta en tierra, un potro nace ante nosotros
Lo que un dia se fecunda hoy nos trae iluminacion
Dando a luz van los caballos, mensageros du amor
Muerte y nacimiento, cenizas por calor,
dando a luz van los caballos, mensageros du amor.
English Translation:
The bells are ringing calling to awakening, after the dark months
Seeds buried under mud and lime appear above the grass
Cacao, coco and cinnamon melt surrendering on the embers
Guardians of secrets that whisper to your heart
What it was thrown there, it will stay there
Being drum the celebration starts, polen, daisies and dandelions.
I feel something is dying, smoking death, pachamama always knows first.
Waters of life, placenta falling on the Earth, a foal is born in front of our eyes.
What it is fertilised one day, it brings us enlightenment today.
The horses are giving birth
Messengers of Love
Death and birth, ashes for heat,
the horses are giving birth, messengers of love.