Juana Rosario Molina Villafañe (; born 1 October 1961) is an Argentine singer, songwriter and former actress, based in Buenos Aires. She is known for her distinctive sound, considered an exponent of folktronica, experimental, neofolk, chill-out, indietronica, psychedelic, indie pop, and progressive folk.

The daughter of tango singer and actress Chunchuna Villafañe, she achieved fame as a sketch comedy actress in the 1990s, first as a guest in various shows and in 1991 with her show, Juana y sus hermanas. At the height of her popularity, she quit her job as an actress to pursue a music career. Her debut album, Rara, was subsequently released in 1996, and panned by local critics who resented her departure from television. Discouraged by the criticism, she moved to Los Angeles, where her music had been better received, and she familiarized herself with electronic instruments. She then returned to Buenos Aires to produce her second album, Segundo, incorporating the sonic elements she had learned. Each one of her following albums has added a new complexity to her music, which is characterized by layered loops of acoustic and electronic sounds.

Despite the initial negative reaction to her music in her home country, music critics have consistently acclaimed Molina's work, praising her music and experimentation. In 2013, El País wrote, "she established herself as the star of the avant-garde sound of her country in the world." Writing for The Guardian, Robin Denselow called her the "one-time Queen of Latin chill" and wrote: "[she] has built up a global cult following as one of the most experimental musicians in Argentina."

Early life

Juana Rosario Molina Villafañe was born to a family of artists in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 1, 1961. She is the eldest daughter of Horacio Molina, a tango singer, and Chunchuna Villafañe, an actress and model. She has a younger sister who has also worked as an actress and musician. The family lived in the central Buenos Aires barrio of Caballito. She began to learn to play the guitar at age 5. In 1967, Juana recorded her first song with her father, "Te regalo esta canción" ("I gift you this song"), as a gift to her mother for Mother's Day. Horacio Molina released the song as a single —without his young daughter knowing—which sold 45 thousand copies.

In 1976, the family left for Paris, France, due to the military dictatorship that overthrew President Isabel Perón. While in Paris, she listened to what is now known as "world music" on French radio stations. In various interviews, Molina has recalled a visit to a Spanish hippie family friend who introduced her to Indian classical music, whose drones have had an enduring influence on her music. In 1981, Molina returned to Buenos Aires. To finance her architecture studies, she had various small jobs, including an unsuccessful experience as a backing vocalist in small bands. The show, which ran until 1990, further cemented her popularity as a sketch comedy actress and writer. The show was also performed live at the Teatro Gran Rex and in Mar del Plata.

thumb|Molina performing in Los Angeles, October 2006.

The pinnacle of her success came with her show, Juana y sus hermanas ("Juana and Her Sisters", a wordplay on Hannah and Her Sisters), which premiered in 1991. Molina became Argentina's most popular comedian, having her show syndicated to other Latin American countries. A compilation album of songs by Molina featured in the show was released.

Produced by Gustavo Santaolalla and recorded in 1995, Molina's debut album, Rara, was released in 1996. The album was poorly marketed; Micaela Ortelli of Página/12 wrote: "Never did an Argentine radio play a song from that album, – too pop to be folk and too folk, perhaps, to be radio material." Having learned how to record her music, she began to self-produce new material at the request of DreamWorks Records. Although the company ultimately did not sign her, these recordings would become Segundo, her second studio album. American musician David Byrne bought Segundo — intrigued by its artwork — and quickly became an admirer of the record.

! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%;"| US<br />Dance<br/>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US<br />Latin<br />

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US<br />Latin Pop<br />

|-

! scope="row"| Rara

|

  • Released: 1996
  • Label: MCA
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| — || — || — || —

|-

! scope="row"| Segundo

|

  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| — || — || — || —

|-

! scope="row"| Tres cosas

|

  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| — || — || — || —

|-

! scope="row"| Son

| Released: 23 May 2006

  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| 45 || — || — || —

|-

! scope="row"| Un día

|

  • Released: 6 October 2008
  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| — || — || 59 || 14

|-

! scope="row"| Wed 21

|

  • Released: 28 October 2013
  • Label: Crammed Discs
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| — || 21 || 22 || 7

|-

! scope="row"| Halo

|

  • Released: 5 May 2017
  • Label: Crammed Discs
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

| — || — || — || 15

|-

! scope="row"| Doga

|

  • Releases: 5 November 2025
  • Label: Sonamos
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming

| — || — || — || -

|-

| colspan="8" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

|}

Collaborative albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col"| Description

|-

! scope="row"| A○○B

|

  • Released: 2003
  • Label: A∩B
  • Formats: CD

|}

Soundtrack albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col"| Description

|-

! scope="row"| Juana y sus hermanas

|

  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP

|}

Live albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col"| Description

|-

! scope="row"| Anrmal

|

  • Released: 23 October 2020
  • Label: Crammed Discs
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

|}

Extended plays

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col"| Description

|-

! scope="row"| Forfun

|

  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: Crammed Discs
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

|-

! scope="row" | Exhalo

|

  • Released: 22 November 2024
  • Label: Sonamos, Little Butterfly
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming

|}

Singles

As lead artist

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year

! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Album

|-

! scope="row"| "Te regalo esta canción" / "Eso eres mamá"<br />

| 1967

|

|-

! scope="row"| "Sálvese quien pueda"

| 2005

| Tres cosas

|-

! scope="row" | "Un día (Reboot remix)"

| 2010

|

|-

! scope="row"| "Eras"

| 2013

| Wed 21

|-

! scope="row"| "Cosoco"

| 2017

| Halo

|-

! scope="row"| "Las culpas II"

| 2018

|

|-

! scope="row"| "Paraguaya Punk"

| 2019

| Forfun

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year

! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Album

|-

! scope="row"| "Slow Motion Detonation"<br />

| 2017

| Mountain Moves

|-

! scope="row"| "Al sur"<br />

| 2021

| Vertigo Days

|}

References

  • Official website
  • Juana Molina on Crammed Discs
  • Short Q&A interview
  • Remix and interview on WNYC's Radiolab podcast
  • Juana Molina at NPR Music
  • Venus Zine feature
  • Video Interview and Performance in Buenos Aires, Argentina