Argentine singer and songwriter Amanda Miguel will perform in Lima, Peru, on Saturday, November 21, as part of a concert tour that coincides with the production of her upcoming studio album, the second volume of her Latin American music project titled Yo soy. The performance is scheduled to take place at the Amphitheatre of the Exposition Park (Anfiteatro del Parque de la Exposición), marking a major milestone in her ongoing tribute to regional folk traditions.
The upcoming album features a single titled Me haces bien, originally written by Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, which Miguel recorded alongside her four-year-old grandson, Lucca. She explained that the collaboration came about naturally while they were listening to the track in her truck on their regular drive to school, where the young child naturally began singing along to the melody.
Miguel, who established herself as a prominent figure in Latin American romantic pop with dramatic ballads, explained that her music continues to reach new generations through digital streaming platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. She noted that nightclub disk jockeys have created modern dance remixes of her classic ballads, pointing specifically to a popular remix of her hit single Así no te amará jamás that regularly plays in discotheques. The artist observed that many young listeners and children now follow her work, having originally discovered her songs through their parents.
Tribute to Latin American Heritage
The new record serves as the complete continuation of the first volume of Yo soy, an ambitious homage to Latin American music that Miguel initiated following the death of her husband, the renowned Argentine-Mexican singer and producer Diego Verdaguer. She recalled that after losing Verdaguer, she began listening more deeply to traditional Argentine music and fell in love with regional folklore. Her listening included works by celebrated figures such as Mercedes Sosa, León Gieco, and Piero, alongside classic compositions like La Cigarra, which have formed an enduring part of the cultural fabric across Latin America.
Among the featured tracks on the second volume of Yo soy is Miguel's interpretation of Todo cambia, a renowned composition famously performed by Mercedes Sosa, the iconic Argentine singer known as a central voice of the Latin American Nueva Canción movement. Miguel stated that she was drawn to songs featuring simple melodies and intensely reflective, intelligent lyrics that foster personal growth and remind listeners of the true value of life. While acknowledging that material possessions such as shoes, handbags, and fine clothing have their place in personal appearance, she emphasized that people should not allow material items to obscure what is genuinely important.
Modern Trends and Artistic Independence
Addressing the rapid evolution of technology and changing trends in contemporary music, Miguel reacted with a lighthearted smile and referenced a Mexican colloquial expression, noting that some modern creators seem completely indifferent to traditional standards. She warned that allowing oneself to be swept away by certain musical trends can lead listeners into trouble, observing that while life is beautiful and full of meaning, music possesses the power to steer people in whatever direction they choose to take.
Reflecting on her long career, Miguel emphasized that she has maintained complete creative freedom and consistently refused to accept artistic impositions. Although her parents kept tight control over her during her childhood and adolescence, she achieved total independence upon reaching adulthood. Describing herself as a liberal woman who dislikes being commanded or forced to adopt another person's line of thought, she noted that she has always pursued her own vision of life and art without seeking to offend or bother others.
That commitment to artistic autonomy led Miguel and her late husband, Diego Verdaguer, to break away from major record labels during the 1980s. When record company executives complained that the couple spent excessive amounts of money producing costly albums and elaborate music videos, the pair decided to leave the company. Under their agreement, the record company handed over full production control to the artists while agreeing to handle the distribution of their finished recordings.
Pioneering the Independent Record Label
The decision enabled Miguel and Verdaguer to establish their own record label, Diam Music, in the 1980s, making them early pioneers of independent artist-owned labels in the Spanish-language music industry. Miguel noted that while many contemporary musicians are only now considering how to open their own independent record labels, she and Verdaguer gained a distinct structural advantage by taking that step decades earlier and completing extensive creative work on their own terms.
Political Commentary and Personal Protection
Turning to the legacy of artists who engaged in political commentary, Miguel referenced Mercedes Sosa, who faced political persecution and exile after using her music and public voice to speak out against injustice. Miguel observed that when individuals speak uncomfortable truths, offended parties frequently target them. She stated that artists who involve themselves in political commentary generally do not fare well, leading her to conclude that it is better for musicians to stay on the sidelines.
Although she holds firm personal opinions on political matters, Miguel explained that she deliberately chooses not to share them publicly to avoid being labeled as crazy by others. She noted that while artists possess significant cultural weight and public influence, many powerful figures find it inconvenient when performers speak out. Miguel acknowledged that she has withheld her direct opinions to protect herself, adding that time ultimately reveals everything because the truth can never be disguised or hidden.
Her upcoming concert at the Amphitheatre of the Exposition Park in Lima on Saturday, November 21, will showcase her new Latin American folk recordings alongside classic hits from her decades-long repertoire.
