Juan J. Ochoa has understood something crucial, a silent shift that’s slowly taking over contemporary culture. While authenticity has been a sought-after quality for quite some time, its physical counterpoint, imperfection, has started to matter intensely, serving as radical defiance against the dystopian perfection oozing out of AI tools. We are silently rediscovering how to appreciate imperfection, how to embrace the flawed traits of human work. More importantly, we are learning how to resist the temptation to overpolish human output. That’s exactly what Ochoa practices in his latest album, ‘Something to Remember’.
Conceived as a beautifully poignant and brooding solo piano album, ‘Something to Remember’ particularly comes alive in its opener, ‘Alone’, a piece recorded on an out-of-tune upright piano during the pandemic. The recording is here offered in all of its flawed self, something that carries an incredible emotional value. ‘Night Bus’ introduces us to the core of Ochoa’s artistic work, usually focused on prepared piano and unconventional tuning. In total, eight tracks animate the album, each one bringing a new creative point to the table.
Hailing from Barcelona, Juan takes listeners on a peculiar musical journey, one that’s marked by recognising flaws as an act of rebellion and self-empowerment. We love how every note and every melody is the direct result of Ochoa’s self-expression. That’s a very powerful thing in this day and age. ‘Something to Remember’ is not available on streaming services, instead being exclusively offered as a digital download and physical vinyl, via Protomaterial Records. Get your copy on Bandcamp or Soundohm.
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