Photo series: the transformative experience of La Bruja de Texcoco at LGW19, captured by Melanie Marsman

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Mexican mystical phenomenon La Bruja de Texcoco (real name: Octavia Mendoza Anario) recalibrates her classical teachings to create an astonishing tapestry of traditional Mexican music, baroque and jazz, playing various string instruments, percussion and harp.

The legend of La Bruja de Texcoco (literal translation: 'The Witch of Texcoco') originated when she starting performing miracles on stage, expelling demons and expressing her powerful trans femininity during live performances. Following the release of her debut 'De Brujas Peteneras y Chachalacas', La Bruja performed at Le Guess Who? 2019 as part of our new Hidden Musics program, and residential photographer Melanie Marsman captured the transformative experience backstage and onstage.

View the full photo series here.

La Bruja de Texcoco backstage by Melanie Marsman

"La Bruja de Texcoco's spellbinding set was the first we saw at LGW19, and yet it remained one of the finest all weekend. We may have only been able to decipher bits of the Spanish she introduced her songs with, but the music itself required no translation. Deftly switching from rousing violin flamboyance to delicate, harp-led lullabies, certain moments made you feel like you were witnessing a ritual rather than a concert - such as when she blew cigarette smoke through a demonic mask while echoing percussion soaked the audience in sound. The end result was something that felt intimately human and yet completely otherworldly." - MusicMap