Chiquis Breaks Down 5 Essential Tracks From Her New Album ‘Janney’: ‘We Are Magic, We Are Women, We Are Roots’
With her ninth studio album, the Mexican-American singer-songwriter extends an invitation not just to listen — but to feel.
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With Janney, Chiquis challenges listeners to put down their distractions, close their eyes, and let the music take them somewhere only she can guide them.
Released Thursday (April 30), the Mexican-American singer-songwriter’s ninth studio album is a transformative work named after her given name. “I wanted to name it Janney because I’ve always wanted a self-titled album,” Chiquis tells Billboard Español over Zoom. “I just didn’t know when it was going to come… But once I was done with the whole album, I just knew. I was like, this is really me. This is who I am.”
Across the 20-track spiritual odyssy, the three-time Latin Grammy winner and self-proclaimed Reina Abeja steps away from her signature banda sound and into a more reflective version of herself. She offers listeners a soundscape that moves effortlessly between English and Spanish, fusing soothing pop and Latin folkloric influences with a spiritual undertone.
“I want this album to take you out of your mind and into your body, into the moment,” she explains. “It’s a good reminder for myself as well. For a long time it was hard for me to be in the present, and I feel like this album gives you no other choice but to be. That was the intention.”
Amid themes of survival and self-love, tracks like “VOLVÍ” reflect her own journey to healing, with the artist describing the song as “very personal, intimate, and vulnerable, but also a song that’s celebrating — you’re giving yourself permission to celebrate yourself and everything that you’ve been through.” Songs like “Eres MÁS” speak directly to her younger self, reminding listeners to trust their intuition.
Chiquis also draws listeners further into her world through a luminous lineup of collaborations, including Jesse & Joy on the breezy “MALIBU,” Lila Downs on the transcendent “ESPÍRITU” and Arroba Nat on the huapango-laden “FÉNIX.” “That’s what this entire album is about: giving hope where perhaps hope has been lost, because I’ve been there too,” she adds.
Below, the singer-songwriter breaks down five essential tracks from her new album, Janney. To listen to the full set, click here.
