Earlier this year, St. Vincent, the musical mastermind behind the critically acclaimed album ‘All Born Screaming’, captured the raw and complex emotions of being alive in 2024. This self-produced record, a whirlwind of grit, sensuality, experimentation, and pure fun, solidified Clark’s position as an artist at the peak of her powers.
Now, the excitement is palpable as she unveils ‘Todos Nacen Gritando,’ a Spanish-language version of the album. And yes, you read that right – St. Vincent, who admits to speaking “un poquito de Español”, has taken on this ambitious project, driven by a lifelong desire to become fluent. She embarked on this journey with the help of her close friend and collaborator, Alan del Rio Ortiz, meticulously translating lyrics, adjusting melodies, and re-recording each song. The result? An exhilarating experience that showcases her vulnerability and unwavering dedication to her Spanish-speaking fans.
The album boasts a charmingly thick accent and, at times, mispronounced words, adding to its genuine appeal. As St. Vincent explains, “I was thinking about the places that I love playing the most. I’ve had so many formative experiences playing in Mexico and Latin American and Spain,” she says. “It’s so amazing to see people for whom English is not their first language sing along to every word. You know in a lot of cases English is their second or third or fourth language, who knows? So I thought, if they come to me, why don’t I try to go to them? And it was an excuse for me to jumpstart getting better at Spanish to eventually become fluent in it.”
In an interview with Vogue, St. Vincent dives into the creative process, highlighting the complexities and joys of translation. She describes how the process involved meticulously working with Alan, navigating the nuances of language and melody. She shares how phrases like “desnuda” (naked) and “salvaje” (untamed) resonated with her, offering new interpretations and adding a layer of depth to the songs.
“The experience was really beautiful because at the beginning it was sort of liberating to sing a sound that I didn’t know intimately, like exactly what I was saying. And then as I sang it more and we worked more on the translations, then I knew what I was singing; but at the beginning just singing sounds [and thinking] does this sound good? That part was nice. It was kind of a trippy thing that was very liberating,” she reflects.
The impact of the translation goes beyond mere linguistic change. “There’s certain times where if I’m listening to a song in English and a lyric feels cheesy, it stops me. I can’t suspend my disbelief. Whereas if I’m listening to something in Portuguese or in Spanish and I’m not entirely sure what they’re saying—I mean my Spanish is a lot better now—but it’s more, does this sound good?”
For St. Vincent, the release of ‘Todos Nacen Gritando’ is a testament to her artistic vision, her love for her fans, and her ongoing journey of self-discovery. It is a project that showcases her willingness to embrace new challenges, experiment, and connect with her audience on a deeper level.
