“Soy Espadin”

The album “Soy Espadin” is the result of a collaboration between Montserrat Franco and musicians, bands, philharmonic orchestras of Oaxaca, Miami and Paraguay.
All compositions are original, written and performed by Montserrat Franco.
The music production and arrangements by Oscar Manuel, Carlos Hernandez, Silvestre Vazquez Cardozo and Sergio Cuquejo.
It was written and sung in Spanish, English and Zapotec, one of the 16 native linguistic groups of Oaxaca.
The songs tell the narrative of the process of harvesting, cooking, fermenting and distilling the agave plants to make mezcal, on the featured song “Soy Espadin” (I am Espadin) the agave species Angustifolia Haw , commonly known as Espadin, depicts the resilience of a sacred plant in the native cosmogony, that strives to reach maturity after 7 to 15 years to bring life and to die as a divine liquid.
Montserrat traveled intensively in rural Mexico during 2019 to 2023. She became a resident of Oaxaca, while studying to be certified as a Master Mezcalier in 2022 where she established a strong bond between artisans, master mezcaleros and musicians.

1-Soy Espadin: Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded at Genera Audio Estudios, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Produced by Oscar Manuel and Oscar Ubaldo.
Arrangements by Carlos “Charly” Hernandez and performed by “Tierra Matateca” Band of Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca.
2-Fermentacion (Acoustic version): Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded at Genera Audio Estudios, Oaxaca, Mexico. Arranged by Oscar Manuel.
3-Paz en el Alma: Music by Silvestre Vazquez Cardozo, Lyrics by Montserrat Franco
Recorded in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca with the Cecam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Luis Porfirio Gutierrez.
Mixed and mastered in Oaxaca city’s Genera Audio Estudios.
4-Concierto para dos alas del colibrí: Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL.
5-Fermentacion (Northern Mexican Version) Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco.
Recorded at Genera Audio Estudios, Oaxaca, Mexico. Arranged by Oscar Manuel.
6-Labrador de Esperanza: Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded in Napoli, Italy and Asuncion, Paraguay at Spirt & Sound Studios. Arranged and directed by Sergio Cuquejo.
7-What should I do: Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL.
8-Un Poquito: Lyrics and Music by Montserrat Franco. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL.

Album cover credits: Mark Medina Photography, Oaxaca
Styling: Mane Haute Couture Oaxaca
Palenque Bendito Mezcal, Union Zapata, Oaxaca