We Say…
Originally from Uruguay, Juan Wauters was never someone who thought he thrived in consistency. He’s been someone who’s always spent his life on the road, existing in a state of transience, gathering ideas, and traversing the globe looking for inspiration. For someone so used to instability, the pandemic and ensuing lockdown was something of a shock, Juan found himself in one place for a long time, and had the revelation, “I like stability”. On his fittingly titled new album, Wandering Rebel, Juan explores that newfound stability, contrasting it with the nomad-like existence that came before it.
Recorded between Argentina, Brazil, LA and his current home of Queens, New York, Wandering Rebel is a record that’s both playful and eclectic, but grounded with a sense of self-reflection and growth. The mood is set by the opening track, Eloping. A playfully aquatic-sounding keyboard line reminiscent of Cosmo Sheldrake accompanies a tale of wanting to elope, but then realising you don’t like Los Angeles and your friends and family probably do want to see you get married after all. The eclecticism of the record is worn openly, as it flicks from the vocoder-pop of En un barrio de Montevideo, through to the old-school hip-hop influences meets nursery rhyme sound of the Super Willy K featuring Bolero and the orchestral-pop of Modus Operandi, which features a particularly wonderful vocal from Frankie Cosmos. Throughout the record, Juan flicks between English and Spanish, and often, despite my lack of understanding, it’s the Spanish songs that resonate the most, from the fabulous Banhart-like freak-folk of Milanesa al Pan, featuring Argentinian singer Zoe Gotusso, through to Mensaje Codificado, which blends burbling synths with muted acoustics into something warm and delicious, and by the sound of the fake horse sounds, delightfully silly. Tucked away in the middle of the second side there’s a particularly lovely doubleheader, Millionaire muses on the fragility of “making it” atop a strutting bass line and Alex-G-like vocal, before the fabulous title track, a piano-ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Lou Reed solo-album, muses on how Covid rattled even the strongest creatives, “I wondered about getting side gigs, picking up college and catching up on my math”. His world may have changed forever, yet for Juan Wauters you get the feeling music and artistic expression still matter as much as ever, whether Wandering Rebel is his great creative breakthrough, or just the next chapter in his intriguing back catalogue, let’s hope Juan keep on wandering the music landscape for many years to come.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know who is Juan Wauters?
Juan Wauters is me. I’m a person who enjoys playing music. Now that’s become a way of living and I’m living that life among friends and family.
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
It was in Queens at our friend’s backyard. We had been writing and practising songs with a group of friends and then we decided to share them at a party. It was so fun. I played guitar. The group was called Pow Pow.
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
I like the immediacy of music and I also like how it’s intangible. I like the medium. I like how it can be shared in a live setting and it’s ephemeral and irreplicable.
FTR: What can people expect from the Juan Wauters live show?
I have just released my sixth album so I have an extensive catalogue of songs by now. The show is a collection of all the bangers I released up until today. We have a great communion with outer audience and the shows are thought to enjoy, entertain and reflect on real life. I am a solo artist but on tour, I’m accompanied by by a band and we play songs from all my albums.
FTR: What’s next for Juan Wauters?
This year we are releasing an album along with music videos, we’re touring North America, South America and Europe, we’re recording more music and I will act in a movie that will showcase original music written by me. Pretty busy year haha. Next year keep grinding to take this energy to everywhere and everyone.
They Listen To…
Ismael River – Arrecotín Arrecotán
Eduardo Darnauchans – Cápsulas
Gustavo Pena – El Principe – Quisiera Despertar
Tego Calderon – Payaso
Slick Rick – Hey Young World
Wandering Rebel is out now via Captured Tracks. For more information on Juan Wauters visit https://linktr.ee/juanwauters.
European Tour Dates:
01/11/2023 Spain Barcelona Razz 2
02/11/2023 Spain Madrid Copernico
03/11/2023 Spain San Sebastian Dabadaba
04/11/2023 Spain Bilbao Jazzon Aretoa
05/11/2023 Spain Ourense Cafe Torgal
07/11/2023 France Bordeaux IBOAT
08/11/2023 France Paris La Marberie
09/11/2023 UK London Oslo
10/11/2023 UK Cornwall Cornish Bank
12/11/2023 Belgium Brussels Botanique (Wiltof Bar)
13/11/2023 Germany Berlin Franzz Club
14/11/2023 Germany Köln King Georg
16/11/2023 Netherlands Groningen Vera
17/11/2023 Denmark Copenhagen Rust
20/11/2023 Netherlands Amsterdam Paradiso
For The Rabbits 