Written by Jacaleen Kizo
Image courtesy of @jaicastro__
as expected, the energy at and always forever was simply electric, and Dreamworldgirl Zine had the pleasure of attending the festival and catching up with EQ backstage. Meet qiri (Candela Mattera) and Estratosfera (Laura Ferreira)—artists, producers, and the two minds behind Buenos Aires’ coolest electronic duo. Between navigating life on the road, fiercely protecting their individuality, and carving out spaces free from the male gaze, Qiri and Estratosfera are making their mark. read the full interview Below <3
Jacki: How was your event in San Francisco last night with Second Skin?
Estratosfera: I didn't really know what to expect, especially since I've never been to San Francisco before. I actually only came to the U.S. for the first time in February, when I visited New York.
Qiri: I used to come here a lot when I was younger, but after the pandemic, I didn't come back for a while. So it's been a bit of a culture shock seeing how much the country has changed. We're heading to Orlando next, then Atlanta, and Miami after that. We're especially looking forward to Miami because we'll finally get some time to rest there.
Jacki: How have you guys been lately? What's been happening in your worlds, both together as EQ and individually?
Qiri: As a group, I feel like we're more solid than ever. We're really understanding each other on a deeper level. We've grown so much as individuals, [and become] more confident, comfortable, and proud of who we are. I think that's made EQ so much stronger; we each have a better understanding of what we bring to the music, and it's been so much fun. We've also been making a lot of music lately. We're on a really good creative run, just experimenting and playing around with different ideas. [We’re] used to making music in our bedrooms, but now, as we're reaching new milestones in our personal lives and careers, all of that is starting to bleed into the music in the best way. We're feeling really inspired. I'm also really proud of how far we've come as performers.
Estratosfera: It's a moment of a lot of change and transition, both in our personal lives and within EQ, but I think that's a really good thing.
“[We’re] used to making music in our bedrooms, but now, as we're reaching new milestones in our personal lives and careers, all of that is starting to bleed into the music in the best way. We're feeling really inspired.”
Jacki: Before EQ came together, you both had your own individual journeys as artists. How did you first start making music together, and when did you realize that what you were building could become something bigger than the two of you individually?
Estratosfera: I think we first met and became friends because we both knew we wanted to start producing and making music. We were both girls, and especially a few years ago, that wasn't really common to see. Women weren't really represented or promoted in more technical spaces within music. That naturally made us become friends. We also naturally got along, and then we started making our own music around the same time, supporting each other's EPs. It just made sense to start making music together and put a real name on it.
Qiri: Something that wasn't just two separate names together. It's also very important for us to maintain our individuality and our own personalities. Sometimes the project can become larger than our own lives, and the image of being a duo can eat away at your own personality. I feel like we're at our best when we're comfortable as individuals and then come to the project to share that, rather than the project becoming one static thing. When I first started EQ, I had much less experience as an artist. I was producing a lot of music, but I wasn't really an artist in the public eye. That took me on a journey of self-discovery. I made a bunch of demos just for myself to understand my own sound and what I wanted to do. It was important to know myself better and become confident in my sound before moving forward with the project.
Estratosfera: We're also two different people, and I think the differences between us are what give the project so much novelty. We're both positively evolving.
Qiri: Sometimes one of us goes through a phase, and the other doesn't understand what's going on. Then a couple of months later, we realize,‘ Oh, I know what you mean now.' It's interesting to see how an idea is brewing in the mind of the other. Once we accepted that, the project really took on a life of its own. We started as producers, then became artists within EQ, and now we're becoming really good performers. It's about growing alongside each other.
“We're two different people, and I think the differences between us are what give the project so much novelty. We're both positively evolving.”
Jacki: What was it like growing up in Buenos Aires, and how did your upbringing and cultural environment influence the music you make today?
Estratosfera: I personally grew up listening to a lot of music in English. I also have Brazilian roots, so I listened to a lot of Brazilian music, sometimes even more than Argentine music. But I think the city itself, the life in the city, and even the fashion in Buenos Aires during the 2000s influenced me a lot. The Argentine music, the TV shows I watched as a girl, and so much about that time are part of my life. It shaped the way I am as a person, my way of speaking, and my sense of humor. I think it's in everything I do.
Qiri: I grew up outside the city, in a more marginalized area, about an hour and a half outside Buenos Aires. There's a very stark difference. I grew up surrounded by cumbia, so I have a lot of respect for cumbia and reggaeton. It's something I'm really proud of. Every time I hear cumbia, it takes me back to Sundays with my family, asados, a pool, beers, and celebrating. It's really cool to me, and it's something I'll never let go of. When you're 13, you think your mind is so cool because you're still a child. Then you grow up and you're 16 or 17, and suddenly everything feels cringe. But now I feel like I'm going back to my roots and realizing how cool it actually is. Being this little kid from Argentina and getting to do all of this is so special. I'm really proud, and I'm not letting go of that. It's coming with me into the next chapter.
“even the fashion in Buenos Aires during the 2000s influenced me a lot. The Argentine music, the TV shows I watched as a girl, and so much about that time are part of my life. It shaped the way I am as a person, my way of speaking, and my sense of humor. I think it's in everything I do.”
Jacki: Electronic music has historically been a male dominated space. How has navigating that world as two women shaped your experience, and what has having each other as creative partners meant to you?
Qiri: That's actually how we became friends. We were looking for a community, or even just a way of leaning into each other without the male gaze. It was so interesting learning in a safe space like that. It really fueled us to break rules and make up our own rules. I think that's so cool.
Estratosfera: I also think the idea that music is male-centered isn't necessarily true. I see women every day pushing boundaries and literally being pioneers in electronic music. There are so many women doing incredible things. As a musician, you know that music is your world. I feel comfortable knowing that these ideas about who dominates the industry aren't necessarily true. Once you live your life knowing that, everything becomes so much easier because you just don't care about those expectations.
Qiri: At the same time, I do feel like a lot of women are being taken advantage of, not only in electronic music but in the music industry in general. I think we need to take better care of our history. We need to remember the women who shaped the sounds we come from and honor them.
Estratosfera: I think there's also a level of protection we need to have for each other. It's important to recognize the women who came before us, protect our community, and make sure their contributions aren't forgotten.
“I do feel like a lot of women are being taken advantage of, not only in electronic music but in the music industry in general. I think we need to take better care of our history. We need to remember the women who shaped the sounds we come from and honor them.”
Jacki: Finally, what's next for EQ?! Are there any new sounds, collaborations or projects you've been wanting to explore?
Qiri: Right now, we're touring, so that's really where our mindset is. Touring is hectic, and we're giving it everything we have. When we come back to Argentina, we have a show for FKA twigs at a theater, which is a first for EQ. We're really excited about that. We also have a festival in the techno scene in Buenos Aires, so that's going to be cool.
Estratosfera: We only have one EP out, and everything has happened so magically. The project has gained so much traction organically, which is insane. We're really excited about everything that's happening. Of course, we don't forget that we're musicians, and we want to keep making music. We don't want to become too caught up in everything else.
