Song of the Day: Ana Tijoux - 1977

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday, we deliver songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “1977″ by Ana Tijoux from the 2010 album 1977 on Nacional Records.

Ana Tijoux is from Santiago Chile, arguably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. You’ve got the mountains, the forever stretching coastline, and all that fantastic wine. Who knew they would also produce one of the best female MC’s in the Southern Hemisphere? The French-born songwriter spent her childhood soaking up the sounds of a number of countries, resulting in the unique and international sound you hear today. After achieving fame at a relatively early age as an MC for the Chilean group Mazika (when she was only 14!), she later dropped completely out of the music world to concentrate on being a wife and mother. Never letting her nostalgia for hip-hop stray too far, she jumped right back into the game with her first solo album, Kaos. The album would also steer Tijoux right back into the spotlight and even gained her nominations for the Latin MTV Video Music Awards. Despite her great first solo effort, her most recent album, 1977, seems like a stepping out party and a completely different world for the talented MC. Titling her latest album as the same year as that of her birth is also significant; 1997 takes cues from her favorite hip-hop of the 90′s and mixes it with the other international influences from her well traveled childhood. 1977 is truly unique and a return to her roots and, it’s no doubt, a very personal album for Ana Tijoux. If you’re longing for the sweet sounds of old school hip-hop, or if you’ve never been to Chile, we recommend you give her a listen.

Ana Tijoux had a great showing at this years SXSW, followed by her very first North American tour. Sorry, no Seattle dates were to be had. But you can find out more about the band and listen to additional tracks on her MySpace page and check out this great video for today’s Song of the Day, “1977,” right now: