Making of a Fashion Soundtrack
In the high-stakes world of fashion shows, one element that often sets the tone for the entire narrative is the music. However, a fashion soundtrack is not just an auditory experience but the heartbeat of the collection, where the story is told through rhythm and beats.
Setting the scene with the rhythm of style
Music is the language of emotion, conveying a mood, a vibe, a tale without words. It's essential in fashion shows and highly multi-sensory events that are designed to captivate and showcase garments that are stories waiting to be worn. The role of music here is to forge a connection between the audience and the designer's vision and to evoke the precise emotion intended by the collection.
When crafting music for fashion, the difference lies in the details. Unlike creating a standalone track, here you're part of a larger ensemble, contributing to a vision where every detail – from the venue to the styling – plays a crucial role. It’s about complementing the collection, not overshadowing it.
Tailoring frequencies for both fashion and sound
The evolving nature of fashion mirrors the transformative journey of music and the artist. For example, my approach to creating music is influenced by my own personal style – timeless basics infused with a touch of street flair. I aim for my music to echo this ethos: to be timeless, to resonate with quality, and to not chase fleeting trends. This is reflected in my choice of sounds – warm, complex, cashmere-like synths, rich sub-bass, and sharp, statement-making stabs. Just like my preference for a well-crafted wardrobe, I want my music to be a collection of sounds that are both versatile and distinctive. I’m not trying to copy what’s trendy or cool at the moment.
Colors and textures undeniably influence the music I create. They spark a spectrum of emotions in my mind, demanding a soundtrack that complements their narrative. The playful innocence of pastels, the grounding force of blues and greys, and the boldness of Versace's flowy fabrics all call for their unique auditory accompaniments. It's about capturing the essence of a collection, much like how Chanel's classic tweed plays with color contrasts, or how Virginie Viard masterfully blends hues in her designs.
Dream collaborations
Dreaming of future collaborations, I'm drawn to the scenes set by Dior's Autumn-Winter 2023-2024 RTW show – an extraordinary fusion of ambiance and fashion. As a Colombian-American, I yearn to work with Latin American icons like Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera, to complement their heritage with my understanding of Spanish music. The creative prowess of Spanish powerhouses like Loewe and Balenciaga excites me, as does the idea of partnering with Italian and English legends – Prada, Gucci, Alexander McQueen.
Being a New Yorker at heart, it would be a full-circle moment to contribute to the soundtracks of brands like Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren. And with my roots, working with fellow Colombian-American Esteban Cortázar would be an honor – a chance to infuse music that resonates with our shared heritage and the vibrant spirit of our culture.
At the end of the day, fashion is more than just clothing – it's a form of art and self-expression.
And the music should be no different.
It should capture the elegance and the emotion of the moment. My goal? To craft soundtracks that turn a fashion show into a sensory overload so that the experience remains etched in the viewer and listeners' memory…long after the last model has left the runway.
