It’s been almost five years since Pahua released her first single, “Vayayó”, in mid-November 2020. Those were strange, complex times: the pandemic had arrived and invited itself to stay, and the world was undergoing a radical transformation. So was Pahua, who from her home studio began channeling her energy into exploring her most feminine side and its connection with nature.
That was the start of a sonic journey that positioned the project as one of the most forward-thinking in Latin American electronic music, and, along the way, taught its creator several life lessons.
A Five-Year Journey of Change and Learning
Pau Sotomayor is no stranger to the Mexican music scene. Few people know that her career began in a traditional mariachi group at just six years old. Later, her father gave her percussion instruments, and her path began to take shape. She participated in the project Jefes del Desierto and later co-founded the duo Sotomayor with her brother, before finding her most individual vision in Pahua. Whether performing live or as a DJ, she has infused femininity and Latin flavor into dance floors and venues across Mexico, the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, and Brazil.
Her first EPs and debut album were released on Los Angeles–based label Nacional Records. During this first stage, Pahua quickly gained international recognition with singles such as “Caramelo” and “La Cura” (composed with Gizmo Varillas). She consolidated her reputation with tracks like “Porque Yo” (featuring Eva de Marce) and “Espantapájaros” (with Colombian trio La Perla), both included on her first studio album Habita, released in 2023. In 2024, New York label Razor-N-Tape reissued the album in a remix version featuring contributions from artists like Tigerbalm, Captain Planet, John Beltran, Jkriv and Poirier, among others.
In 2025, Pahua chose the path of independence, working without a label and embarking on a new adventure: releasing her second album, Cerca del Lugar.
“The biggest challenge for Pahua as an independent artist has been placing my style of music, which belongs to a very specific niche, at a time when urban, regional Mexican, and pop dominate the world.”
If the 2020 version of Pahua could meet her 2025 self, she would say: “Things are going to get tough, because you’ll have to work a lot, find new ways to talk about your process, learn to navigate social media, fall in love again, stumble once more over the same stone, but you can handle it all!”
Cerca del Lugar: What Is That Place?
Part of Pahua’s new album was created in Costa Rica’s countryside, where she and friend and co-producer Barzo set up a studio. Each day she would wake up to mountains, clouds, the sound of cows, yoga practice, and her morning coffee ritual.
“Being there made me feel so calm, so happy, and so full of motivation that I said: this feels like being close to the point where I feel complete in life. That is my cerca del lugar.”
Musically, Cerca del Lugar oscillates between darker and brighter moments. Across its ten tracks, listeners can feel this duality: oceanic and Caribbean songs like “Eco”; love-centered tracks like “Razón”; and dancefloor-ready pieces full of provocation, seduction, desire, and tribal energy like “Pícala” and “Descontrola.” The focus track, “Vaquera Galáctica”, is an ode to women who never give up. Another highlight, “Cumbia de la Noche”- inspired by the book Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo – feels like the perfect soundtrack for a ghost town or Día de Muertos.
Together, these songs weave a soundscape that moves fluidly between celebration and introspection, light and shadow, earth and spirit. It’s a collection that invites listeners to dance, to reflect, and ultimately to lose themselves in a universe where every track opens a new emotional door. In Cerca del Lugar, Pahua proves her ability to craft an album that is as diverse as it is cohesive, bridging dancefloor energy with moments of intimacy and wonder.
While there are fewer collaborations than on her debut album, Pahua worked with Colombia’s Ancestral Beats and Costa Rica’s Barzo on production, and invited three remarkable Latin American singers: Sol Pereyra (Argentina), Timpana (Bolivia), and LaTorre (Ecuador) to collaborate in lyrics.
“These three women embraced me and uplifted me. They each have a very unique aesthetic, are deeply connected to nature, love Caribbean and ritual music—they’re like little witches. In terms of composition, that gave me very positive energy.”
Through this album, Pahua worked on herself through music, overcoming fears and confusions. Still, it wasn’t always smooth: while she was creating the record, she was also touring extensively across the U.S. and Canada, which took her away from other parts of life she wanted to nurture, like a relationship she had at that time. Yet music kept her grounded.
Music as Medicine
For Pahua, music is a powerful tool that helps her articulate everything happening in her professional and personal life. It is also a magical form of escape; a kind of remedy that makes her a better person every day.
In her art, she identifies five key elements: rhythm; the melody of synths – bubbly and crunchy at the same time; layers of voices; poetry; and nature. Through them, she has grown and transformed herself alongside the project.
“I have evolved a lot in my writing process, and I feel more mature. Now I’m 37, so the way I enjoy music and use it in my personal life is very different. This album speaks to me and tells me that I’m very close to living the most enjoyable moments of my life.”
In the end, life is about doing what you love. And while Pahua seems to have it all, when asked what she treasures most from music, three things come to mind:
- Friendship: “All the friends I’ve made through collaborations—amazing people I never would have met without music.”
- Sensitivity: “Music has taken me to many places and introduced me to people I’ve learned to work and connect with.”
- Wisdom: “Every time I try something new with music, I feel more comfortable. Even in moments of doubt and confusion, the back-and-forth leads me to answers that enrich my process.”
Cerca del Lugar has arrived: a transformative, electrifying, and powerful album brimming with Latin electronic spirit, featuring tracks that will ignite the dancefloor, others that will transport you to the sea, and some that will wrap your whole body in nostalgia. This is an amazing sonic experience you don’t want to miss.
All Photos by El Rey de Aragon.
