The Mexican-American Chicago-based star Mila La Morena released her newest single “Tortura,” a reimagined alternative electronic cover of Shakira’s hit classic from a queer Gen Z point of view. “Tortura” is part of Mila La Morena’s upcoming album Post Internet, due later this year.
“Recognizable as a Shakira cover, this song was essential to my childhood and to my dream of becoming a pop star. That music video showed me how a woman could move and fully own her body,” Mila La Morena expresses about the new music video. “In our version, directed by Keio, instead of the woman being watched by her neighbor through the window, she’s seen in a live stream—something that feels more fitting for our time.”
Mila continues: “In Shakira’s original video, we see the male fantasy of being with his neighbor. In our take, we portray a divine being that emerges from the computer screen into the viewer’s room, leading into a beautiful queer date. Throughout the video, there are hints that this divine being is just a glitch, and in the end, she tries to connect with her admirer to make him part of the simulation. But then she realizes everything was a simulation—and she’s left alone.”
The music video explores a Gen Z romantic sci-fi fantasy, complete with Internet glitches, complex sounds, and queer infatuation, giving you a glimpse into Mila La Morena’s creative mind.
The single is part of her upcoming album, set to cover genres that reflect her generation’s digital-age upbringing with bilingual lyrics that express her Chicano heritage. By replacing the original track’s signature funky Cuban tres guitar and other acoustic instruments with a full-on distorted electronic soundscape featuring glitch pop and drum and bass nuances, Mila La Morena gives OG Shakira listeners a complete alternative electronic makeover.
“Tortura” is the first single off Mila’s upcoming album Post Internet, which is a fusion of Gen Z influences and the experience of growing up in the 2000s. “Growing up with the Internet makes us constantly question who we are, and which parts of our identity are just reflections of the influences we absorbed as kids,” Mila La Morena says about the highly anticipated album. “We have angst. We’re baddies. We have insecurities. We’re young forever.”
Beyond her work as a composer and singer, Mila La Morena is a well-known cultural organizer involved in producing independent and DIY shows in Chicago, IL. As a seasoned artist, she has explored a wide range of genres, including pop, R&B, reggaeton, neo-perreo, electronic, and hyper-pop. She’s also been a part of important festivals like Ruido Fest, Tomorrow Never Knows Festival, and Villapalooza throughout her blossoming career. Moreover, Mila La Morena has also made notable contributions through sync placements in films and TV series. One highlight is her song featured in Amarres, the first original series produced by HBO for Latin America.
