Julieta Venegas Percevault (; born 24 November 1970) is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer who specializes in pop-rock-indie music in Spanish. She embarked on her musical journey by joining several bands, including the Mexican ska band Tijuana No!. Venegas is proficient in playing 17 instruments, including the acoustic guitar, accordion, and keyboard.
Biography
thumb|Venegas in 2000
Born in Long Beach, California, Venegas grew up in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico since the age of one month old, and began playing instruments at the age of 8 when her parents first sent her to piano lessons. In the years that followed, music became her passion. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Additionally, she has a twin sister named Yvonne, who is a photographer.
In 1997, she released her debut album, "Aquí," to favorable reviews in Mexico from the rock audience. Her subsequent production, "Bueninvento" (2000), also produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, garnered praise from international critics and was considered the third-best album in the history of Spanish Rock by Rolling Stone. In later years, she established herself as one of the most prominent songwriters in Latin pop, achieving fame in 2003 in Latin America and Spain with the album "Sí" and singles such as "Andar Conmigo" and "Algo está cambiando," which topped the Latin Billboard charts.
In 2006, she released her most successful album, "Limón y Sal," which remains her best-selling album to date. "Limón y Sal" attained Platinum status in several countries, propelled by the worldwide hit "Me Voy," certified Gold in Mexico. Her first live album, "MTV Unplugged" (2008), sold more than 400,000 digital copies, earning a diamond certification in Mexico. Under Sony Music, Venegas released her fifth studio album, "Otra Cosa" (2010). She followed with her sixth studio album, "Los Momentos" (2013), marking a transition to indie pop. Her seventh studio album, "Algo Sucede" (2015), debuted at number 1 on the Latin Pop Albums chart.
Since 2017, she has resided in Buenos Aires, where she made her debut as a theater actress in the play "La Enamorada" by Argentine writer Santiago Loza. Additionally, she released the album "La Enamorada" (2019), featuring themes based on the play. It is estimated that she has sold 10 million records worldwide. Throughout her career, she has earned eight Latin Grammy Awards, seven MTV Awards, seven Broadcast Music, Inc. Awards, five VEVO Certified awards, three Oye! Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and over 100 other awards. She has also received accolades such as the Master of Latin Music Award at Berklee College for her career and a Musa Award in honor of her compositions. She had described the inspiration for her music with the following quote: The album was released on June 17, and for it, she was named MTV Artist of the Month.
The MTV Unplugged record blends the ranchera touch with pop ballads that have been well received by the public. In Mexico the album debuted at number 61 on the Mexican album charts, climbing to number-one the following week where it spent 10 consecutive weeks. The album demonstrates that Venegas is an accordion of surprises, with songs like "Mira la Vida," "Algún Día," y "Cómo Sé" revealing Venegas as a mature artist, constantly reinventing herself and giving the public something new. The album was released internationally on June 10, producing strong sales and critical acclaim. One month after its release, Julieta Venegas was awarded a platinum disc for selling more than 100,000 records in Mexico, and two gold discs for selling more than 50,000 records in Colombia and the USA.
Julieta Venegas started an international tour visiting countries such as England and Germany, places that were not as familiar with music like hers. Her record was nominated for MTV Awards, Premios Luna del Auditorio and the Latin Grammy.
Also in 2008, she recorded a duet with French chanteuse Olivia Ruiz singing "Las Migas de Mi Corazón." At the MTV Awards LA she sang with the Electro/Norteño band Nortec Collective a unique version of "El Presente." On November 13, 2008, Julieta Venegas took home two Latin Grammy awards in the categories of "Best Alternative Album" and "Best Long Form Video." After her successful tour Venegas was invited by Nelly Furtado to participate in the song "Bajo Otra Luz" with La Mala Rodríguez.
2010-2012: Otra Cosa and motherhood
thumb|left|250px|On Corrientes Avenue ([[Buenos Aires) during the Night of the Bookstores 2012.]]
Otra Cosa was released on Tuesday, March 16 in record stores and on iTunes. The first single was "Bien o Mal" written with Alejandro Sergi, vocalist of the band Miranda!, and released on March 16, 2010. Otra Cosa placed on the first and second positions of the "Top Albums" in the iTunes Latino store with her two Deluxe and Standard edition albums, according to the official website. Julieta Venegas became the first Latin artist to launch an iTunes LP. Four days after the official launch of Otra Cosa, Venegas earned a Gold Record in Mexico. The album contains 12 songs filled with acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizers, various percussion instruments, cavaquinhos, winds, subtle pianos (played by her), and accordions. Also seen in pictures posted in Twitter, Venegas mentions other instruments used on the album that include ukulele, bass, bouzuki, and tuba.
The album was produced by Venegas and Cachorro López (who also produced "Limón Y Sal"). Following the album's release Juieta Venegas toured the United States (sponsored by the brand Jack Daniels) in 16 cities, including New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and San Diego. Venegas performed in the Vive Latino Festival 2010, playing on two occasions, both in the Green Stage. She participated in a reunion with her former band, Tijuana No! and sang a duet with their new band member, Alexis Güereña, "Pobre de Ti." A few weeks prior to the release of the album, Julieta Venegas acknowledged that she was three months pregnant, but had not named the father.
On April 27, 2010, Venegas played some songs off the album at KCRW, an internet public radio station based at Santa Monica College. On August 13, 2010, Venegas gave birth to a baby girl named Simona in Mexico. Venegas, who is divorced, has never revealed the identity of the baby's father. The Argentine musicologist Rodrigo García Prieto won the paternity suit. The judges ruled that they will share custody of Simona and go to therapy to "resolve their emotional problems."
Venegas was featured in a 2012 musical documentary Hecho en México, directed by Duncan Bridgeman. The film focuses on the positive influences out of Mexico given the negative press out of the country south of the border because of the drug war. The film also includes other musical artists who contribute interviews and music to the film. It includes the song "Tuve Para Dar," which was released in November 2012. This album had a variety of electronic instruments as well as acoustic guitar and piano.
Prior to the album launch, the first single "Tuve Para Dar" was released on December 11, 2012, and was made available in digital version on December 18. The music video was directed by Gregory W. Allen and Yvonne Venegas.
On January 14, 2013, through the SoundCloud and YouTube portals, Venegas released "Te Vi" the second single from the album (considered by Sony Music to be the first). A digital download was made available on January 22.
2015–2018: Algo Sucede
Venegas released her seventh studio album, Algo Sucede on August 14, 2015. It includes the lead single "Ese Camino," "Buenas Noches, Desolación," and additional singles "Tu Calor" and "Todo Está Aquí." Around that time she was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her daughter.
2019 – present: La Enamorada and Tu Historia
Venegas debuted her conceptual album "La Enamorada" on November 22, 2019, showcasing her innovative blend of musical styles and storytelling prowess.
Remezcla recognized Venegas' song "Caminar Sola" as the top entry in their list of Best Indie & Alt-Rock Songs of 2022. Featured on her album "Tu Historia," this accolade underscores Venegas' prominence in the music industry.
Legacy
left|thumb|214x214px|Venegas performing at the [[Zócalo in Mexico City in March 2024]]
According to Billboard "Venegas has maintained one of the most consistent yet understated careers since her solo debut, Aquí, more than two decades ago. A pioneer whose music and image have broken Latina stereotypes, Venegas has forged a path between Latin alternative and pop music, and supported the cresting of a strong wave of Mexican female artists." The Los Angeles Times praised "Her lyrics of wounded idealism and wrecked love affairs [which] extend a rich Mexican tradition of popular music imbued in bitter fatalism." While The Atlantic described her as having "a signature sound unlike anything else in the Latin charts." The website Medium wrote of Venegas, "She has a knack for stirring melodies, haunting harmonies and compelling rhythms. Her cunning lyrics work well as poetry but even better as song, running the thematic gamut from dense introspection to earnest simplicity." Time described Julieta Venegas as "the Frida Kahlo of rock 'n' roll."
Venegas was awarded the Master of Latin Music Award by Berklee College. She was the inaugural speaker in the USC Annenberg Distinguished Lecture Series on Latin American Art and Culture.
In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked her album Bueninvento third in its list of "The 10 Greatest Latin Rock Albums of All Time".
Natalia Lafourcade has cited Venegas as a major influence and described her as "my heaviest teacher." Ximena Sariñana has also credited Venegas as an influence in her sound. Among musician fans of hers include Zayra Alvarez, Nelly Furtado, Tania Libertad, Prince and Enrique Bunbury.
Discography
thumb|right|250px|Julieta Venegas performing at the Intxaurrondo Kultur Etxea in [[San Sebastián]]
- Aquí (1997)
- Bueninvento (2000)
- Sí (2003)
- Limón y Sal (2006)
- Otra Cosa (2010)
- Los Momentos (2013)
- Algo Sucede (2015)
- Tu Historia (2022)
- Norteña (2026)
Filmography
- Hecho en México (2012)
- El Santos vs. La Tetona Mendoza (2012)
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Award is an accolade bestowed by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement on the music industry. Venegas has won one award from four nominations.
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| 2016 || Algo Sucede || Best Latin Pop Album ||
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| 2011 || Otra Cosa || Best Latin Pop Album ||
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| 2007 || Limón y Sal || Best Latin Pop Album ||
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| 2005 || Sí || Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album ||
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Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade bestowed by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin American music industry. Venegas has won eight awards from 23 nominations.
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2001 || Bueninvento || Best Rock Solo Vocal Album ||
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|"Hoy No Quiero" || Best Rock Song ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 2004 || rowspan="2"|"Andar Conmigo" || Record of the Year ||
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| Song of the Year ||
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|Sí || Best Rock Solo Vocal Album ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| 2006 || Limón y Sal || Album of the Year ||
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|"Me Voy" || Record of the Year ||
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|Limón y Sal || Best Alternative Music Album ||
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|"Me Voy" || Best Short Form Music Video ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| 2008 ||rowspan="2"| "El presente" || Record of the Year ||
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| Song of the Year ||
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| rowspan="2"|MTV Unplugged || Best Alternative Music Album ||
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| Best Long Form Music Video ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| 2010 || "Bien o Mal" || Best Short Form Music Video ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| 2013 || Los Momentos || Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2015 ||rowspan="2"| "Ese Camino" || Record of the Year ||
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| Song of the Year ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2016 ||rowspan="2"|Algo Sucede || Album of the Year ||
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| Best Pop/Rock Album ||
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| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2022 ||rowspan="2"|"Lo Siento BB:/" || Best Reggaeton Performance ||
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| Best Urban Song ||
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|| 2024 || Herself || Leading Ladies of Entertainment ||
Other awards
- MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2004:
:*Best Solo Artist
:*Best Artist (Mexico)
:*Artist of the Year
- Premios Oye! 2004
:*Best Song of The Year (Andar Conmigo)
:*Album of The Year (Sí)
:*Rock in Spanish
- MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2006:
:*Best Solo Artist
- MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2007:
:*Best Pop Artist
Bibliography
See also
- List of best-selling Latin music artists