‘AY’ opens with ‘Don’t Stop With Me’, which addresses the challenge of moving forward and not getting trapped in memories of a past love. It reflects one the importance of progressing, even when it’s difficult, under a psychedelic and aesthetically languid sound. ‘No Longer Friends’ was inspired by the painful reality of losing friends as we age, the song captures the transition from a close relationship to becoming strangers again. The cheerful air of pop guitars masterfully contrasts with the rawness of the song’s narrative.
An anthem to individuality is single ‘OBEY’ which comes with a captivating video. The single questions traditional life and encourages challenging social norms, celebrating the courage to be different, under a calm but forward rhythm and immersive soundscapes. ‘This Morning’ deals with the daily struggle of facing routine when going through a period of sadness, highlighting how obligations can feel overwhelming, through a curious invitation to dance and embracing lament.
A cheerful and simple tribute to football and its chants is ‘¡OHOH!’ capturing the energy and passion of the sport! ‘Lento’ explored the band’s personal experiences with anxiety during the pandemic, describing how everything seems to move more slowly in those moments of crisis, following the line of lo-fi guitars and danceable yet melancholic rhythms.
On ‘Quiero Colarme’ the band talks about the difficulty of romantically connecting, reflecting the frustration of wanting love but being unable to fully experience it, a song that was created in collaboration with Salares. ‘Tanto Tiempo’ represents tenacity and perseverance, focusing on the importance of not giving up, despite repeated rejections and obstacles being in your way. The closing statement of the album comes in the form of ‘wait!’, reflecting on nostalgia and the memory of a past love, thematically linked to the opening song but from a more melancholic perspective. And with that, underthepropaganda comes full circle and have created a concept album standing out from the crowd by sounding honest, passionate, and timeless!
The music and lyrics on ‘AY!’ where created by underthepropaganda, with contributions from Sofía Pilar. The album was primarily produced by the band with Cristobal Cornejo, with the participation of Nicolás Vargas. ‘AY!’ was recorded in various studios and locations, with mixing by Cristobal Cornejo and mastering by Francisco Holzmann. With collaborations from various artists on instruments, choruses, and lead vocals. Album art was created by Javiera Leal and Matías Quintanilla, with promotional photographs by Maite Carrasco.
