.MP3 is the second studio album by Argentine singer-songwriter Emilia, released on 3 November 2023, through Sony Music Latin and WK Records. It has been supported by seven singles: "Jagger", "No Se Ve" (with Ludmilla), "Guerrero", "GTA", "La Original" (with Tini), "Exclusive" and "Jet Set" (with Nathy Peluso).
Composition .MP3 is a 2000s-influenced album that combines styles of pop, R&B, dance-pop, hip-hop and urban music. Emilia co-wrote it and worked with producers including Big One, Mauricio Rengifo, Andrés Torres, Valyum, and Zecca.
Musical style The concept of .MP3 revolves around a revival of the female-driven pop of the 1990s but predominantly the 2000s era, the music that Emilia listened to while growing up. As such, she has mentioned U.S. pop stars such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani and Pink as some of her biggest inspirations, as well as Latin American singers like Shakira, Thalía and Paulina Rubio. Musically, the album sees Emilia distance herself from her signature pop-reggaetón sound of her debut, in favor of experimentation with other genres such as hip-hop and various electronic styles that were popular in the 2000s, such as house music. Interviewed by NME, Emilia explained the album's concept: When I was young, the artists who inspired me were always women. It was the only music I listened to. The lyrics made me feel very, very powerful. I thought to myself, "I want to do something like that with my music." Bandana were a very popular girl group in Argentina when I was growing up [in the early 2000s]. I really love that era of music, I think it's the golden era of music and very important for me today. (...) Right now I'm doing music inspired by the 2000s, but different genres from that period. I try to weave my identity into the songs, but keep them familiar to that 2000s sound. I'm so excited because it's something new for me.
As part of the album's theme of 2000s nostalgia, the title of each of its tracks is written with ".mp3" at the end, emulating how music files were saved in portable music players. When asked by Wonderland magazine about the intention behind this, Emilia explained: "When I was young, I had an MP3 player, and I remember all the songs finish with that. It puts in context to be people about that era. There is something meaningful about that era. I want to put people who listen to my music in that era, because the music that I make right now is inspired by then. There are kids who hear me that don't know about mp3, and I want to show them that there is more than digital. I think there's something iconic about that time, and mp3 represents something important to it."
Songs
The album's second track and lead single, "Jagger" has been described as a 2000s-inspired dance-pop and urban pop song, with elements of hip-hop. Writers have noted similarities between the song's style and hits by Ciara and Missy Elliott in that decade. Billboard described "Jagger" as a "steamy song that plays with different tempos" that is "sprinkled with some English but written mostly in Spanish". Emilia sings: "Lo que tengo de buena lo tengo de mala / I'm a bad bitch, 'toy volando sin alas". The song's lyrics depict Emilia embracing self-empowerment while declaring her imperviousness to detractors.
In "La Original", Emilia and Tini sing over a piano house beat about "fully embracing themselves behind the scenes once the cameras turn off". In a press release, Emilia explained the meaning behind the song: "I always try to show all parts of myself, but I feel like with all the criticism we sometimes face, we hide and don't want to show our true selves. 'La Original' is about that. (...) Tini and I decided to do the opposite and show that it's okay to portarse mal when there's no one there to judge or point fingers."
"GTA" is a club-oriented track with an electronic-house sound that sets it apart from Emilia's previous releases. Interviewed by NME, the singer described it as "an electronic song, heavily inspired by Kylie Minogue. I just love her." In another interview, she stated that "GTA" was "very important to me because it's a very different song for me. People will never hear me like that, so I'm excited for the next steps." Wonderland defined the song as an "immersive and groove-laden track that is designed to get listeners on their feat, rhythmically and stylistically unique". Over pulsating beats, Emilia sings about a "hot-and-heavy romance that she can't get out of her head", and "giving a private show to the man she likes".
"No Se Ve" is a "genre-bending" song that combines funk carioca with EDM.
Promotion and release Shortly after her performance at Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, Emilia announced her international 2023 Tour, which began on 14 May in Mexico City as part of the Tecate Emblema festival. While in Mexico, Emilia was interviewed for E! News Latino and Radio Disney México.
On 9 October 2023, Emilia posted a video in her Instagram account teasing the album's release, which shows her in a bedroom that resembles that of a teenager in the 2000s, with walls full of posters, synthetic hair rugs and other typical objects of the time. Three days later, the singer revealed the album's official title and artwork in her Instagram and Twitter accounts. Following the album's overall concept of 2000s nostalgia, the cover shows a CD case with a picture of the singer leaning on an MP3 player. On 17 October, Emilia unveiled a new website promoting the new release. Following the concept of the album, the website has a style reminiscent of vintage social networks such as Fotolog or Myspace. Emilia published a second teaser on 20 October, which shows her in the same setting as the previous clip but going through VHS cases stacked next to a television; each of the cases features the title of one of the album's tracks, and when she introduces one of the tapes to the television the screen reveals that the album's release date will be 2 November. Two days later, the singer announced the complete tracklist and released the option to presave the album. On 29 October, Emilia celebrated her birthday at a big party in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires with the theme of the album and its reference to the 2000s, in addition to revealing on her social media accounts that the tracks "Iconic" and "La Original" would feature Nathy Peluso and Tini, respectively.
The album was released for digital download and streaming on 3 November by Sony Music Latin and WK Records. The song "Jet Set" remains hidden and is set for release in 2024. That day, Emilia performed the songs "GTA" and "No Se Ve" at the 2023 Los 40 Music Awards held at the WiZink Center in Madrid, where she received the Best Latin Collaboration award for the latter.
Tour On 30 November 2023, Emilia announced that she would embark on the .MP3 Tour in 2024 and tickets went on sale on 4 December. That day, she sold out ten shows at Buenos Aires's Movistar Arena in less than ten hours.
+Tour dates Date City Country Venue South America 6 April 2024 Buenos Aires Argentina Movistar Arena 7 April 2024 12 April 2024 Rosario Ex-rural 19 April 2024 Buenos Aires Movistar Arena 20 April 2024 21 April 2024 23 April 2024 27 April 2024 Córdoba Quality Arena 28 April 2024 26 May 2024 Buenos Aires Movistar Arena 29 May 2024 30 May 2024 31 May 2024 Europe 22 June 2024 A Coruña Spain Coliseum da Coruña 28 June 2024 Murcia Cuartel de Artillería 30 June 2024 Granada Plaza de Toros 4 July 2024 Marbella Cantera de Nagüeles 6 July 2024 Madrid WiZink Center 10 July 2024 Chiclana Auditorio Poblado de Sancti Petri 14 July 2024 Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi 18 July 2024 Valencia City of Arts and Sciences North America 9 August 2023 Mexico City Mexico Teatro Metropólitan 10 August 2023 14 August 2023 Querétaro Teatro Metropolitano 16 August 2023 Guadalajara Teatro Diana 17 August 2023 Monterrey Fundidora Park 22 August 2023 Mérida Auditorio La Isla 24 August 2023 León Foro del Lago South America 7 September 2024 Asunción Paraguay Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo 11 September 2024 Mendoza Argentina Aconcagua Arena 12 October 2024 Buenos Aires José Amalfitani Stadium 13 October 2024 18 October 2024 19 October 2024 24 November 2024 Santiago Chile Movistar Arena 25 November 2024 26 November 2024 7 December 2024 Montevideo Uruguay Antel Arena 8 December 2024 14 December 2024 Salta Argentina Estadio Delmi
Cancelled and rescheduled shows +List of cancelled or rescheduled dates Date City Country Venue Outcome Reason 12 April 2024 Rosario Argentina Anfiteatro Municipal Moved to Ex-Rural High demand 4 May 2024 Montevideo Uruguay Antel Arena Moved to 7 December 2024 Medical prescription 5 May 2024 Moved to 8 December 2024 6 May 2024 Buenos Aires Argentina Movistar Arena Moved to 26 May 2024 10 May 2024 Salta Estadio Delmi Moved to 14 December 2024 18 May 2024 Mendoza Aconcagua Arena Moved to 11 September 2024 25 May 2024 Asunción Paraguay SND Arena Moved to 7 September 2024 at Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo 12 July 2024 Algeciras Spain Plaza de Toros Cancelled Unknown
Notes:
Singles The album's lead single, "Jagger", was released on 30 March 2023. It entered the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 on 8 April and peaked at number 5 on 29 April, remaining on the chart for 28 weeks. In the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers (CAPIF)'s Top 10 ranking of the most listened to songs in the country, the single peaked at number 8 in the week of 14 April. Note: To access the Top 10 of that week, click on RANKING and then select 14 April below ARCHIVO RANKING. The song also entered Monitor Latino's Argentina Top 20 chart on 23 April, peaking at number 11. In Uruguay, "Jagger" peaked at number 15 in Monitor Latino's chart, and reached number 16 at CUD's chart for the month of May. The single's accompanying music video was directed by Ballve and has been noted for its reference to 2000s fashion, with the singer wearing bandanas, large-size earrings and sunglasses, and low-rise jeans. It shows Emilia washing a car and doing a group choreography in the garden of a typical North American house.
"No Se Ve"—in collaboration with Ludmilla— was released as the album's second single on 3 May 2023, through WK Records. The song performed better commercially than its predecessor. It entered the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 on 15 May and peaked at number 5 on 22 July, currently remaining on the list for 23 weeks. In the CAPIF's Top 10 ranking of the most listened to songs in the country, "No Se Ve" peaked at number 4 in the week of 30 June, Note: To access the Top 10 of that week, click on RANKING and then select 30 June below ARCHIVO RANKING. while also peaking at number 9 in Monitor Latino's chart for Argentina. On 17 July, Monitor Latino published a unique feature discussing the song's "unstoppable" commercial performance in the country, stating that its success is "not only limited to the Monitor Latino charts but has also generated a great impact on the Argentine music industry. The song has achieved platinum certifications and has become one of the most requested on the most important radio stations in the country."