Common in most of the songs she's produced throughout her successful career, Mala Rodriguez's new release focuses on female empowerment. "Aguante" ("Stamina," in English) is a tribute to women who are tired of waiting for what they deserve and are willing to fight for what they want.
On a phone call with Billboard Argentina, the Spanish rapper known as La Mala talks about the song and her plans for the rest of the year.
Congratulations on your new song. What is the genesis of "Aguante"?
It was something that started in the studio, improvising a bit. Sometimes it happens to me that I write without stopping, and then I take a break and read, and realize what I've written. The truth is that I really liked the lyrics, especially what they made me feel.
For me, talking about someone who has endurance is a positive thing, but I understand that it contains something toxic at the same time. To say that you have endurance is powerful, because you have strength, but there are certain things that should not be endured, and that is what the song is about. Women must allow themselves to feel pleasure, because it does not have to be all pain and pain. It's OK to endure, but also say here we come. And that goes for women, men, frogs and dogs -- it is for everyone.
It is an interesting message, because historically women have always endured, even when it was very bad for them.
Stamina is a good quality, but there are limits, and many times by our education we believe that we must endure everything. But no, there are things that are changing in the world, and this is a significant change. You have to understand that not everything goes. There are things that should not be endured. We have to be able to set the limit to be OK with ourselves and strengthen our self-esteem. Sometimes we allow more than our share and that hurts us a lot.
Do you have contact with your fans online?
I started this pretty little thing, and as I grew up, I realized that there were many girls who followed me, and they cared about what I was singing. At that moment, I felt that I was somehow representing them, and it was very beautiful. I love being in direct contact with my audience. Social networks are like a peephole in my room, where you can see me a little more, something more intimate, my life without a filter, without intermediaries -- talk to people.
After so many years, how do you see the paradigm shift that allows women to continue to fight?
The fact is that for a long time women sang lyrics written by men. I see the fact that today there are many women telling their experience as an achievement. That's where the real revolution is. We are communicating, telling our stories and experiences. If you look back, there are few women lyricists, few composers. Today, there is a context that favors women raising their voices. I see that there is a wealth of all kinds of styles; in each of them, there are now women doing things.
What is coming from La Mala in the future?
I started to release singles, and that was the plan at the beginning, but then it was more directed toward a new album, so surely before the end of the year, the album will be on the streets.
