MULA’s new album echoes both Dominican tambora and post-apocalyptic rave, gliding confidently through electro-merengue, mutant reggaetón, darkwave, and dancehall.
For over a decade, Dominican trio MULA — made up of Rachell Rojas and twin sisters Cristabel and Anabel Acevedo — has defied every attempt at categorization. Their sound is an alchemy of electronic music, Caribbean heritage, and a militant queer aesthetic that has evolved with intention and conviction.
“ETERNA”, their fourth album, not only reaffirms that vision — it elevates it. It’s a sonic manifesto that traverses genres and eras, echoing both Dominican tambora and post-apocalyptic rave, without ever losing its emotional or political core.
Recorded between Santiago de los Caballeros, Mexico City, and Madrid, “ETERNA” was crafted across multiple geographies, but its roots remain unmistakably Caribbean — sacred and expansive. The record glides confidently through electro-merengue, mutant reggaetón, darkwave, and dancehall, with a production that embraces both the absurd and the sublime. It’s music that points to the future without losing touch with the ground.
One of the album’s most deliberate choices is its network of collaborators — predominantly female and Latin American. Jessy Bulbo injects Caribbean frenzy into “Grandes Escobas,” while Javiera Mena brings gothic drama to “Acelero.” Lao Ra turns “Colmadón” into a minimalist urban rave, and joins Letón Pé on “Sin Permiso” for a shape-shifting reggaetón anthem.
They team up with Lucía Tacchetti on “Fugaz,” a gem of experimental techno pop, while Niña Dioz appears on “Como Hacemos,” where dancehall merges with a ghostly, electronic gagá. These collaborations don’t dilute the album’s core — they amplify it.
But “ETERNA” shines even brighter when MULA stands on its own. “Formequé,” the opening track, is a statement of intent: pulsing synths, tense harmonies, and an energy that erupts from the Cibao into the cosmos. “Visión,” one of the album’s high points, reinvents merengue as a shape-shifting artifact — it dances, implodes, folds in on itself, and bursts back out, all while staying rooted in tradition.
“Mar,” the lead single, was born from a pre-Columbian story written by Cristabel, and unfurls with cinematic atmosphere. “Soñé Contigo” lets in a romantic breeze without slowing the album’s pace, while “Popsy 404” explores the illusion of digital love through techno-house beats tinged with futuristic melancholy.
Since its release, “ETERNA” has sparked an emotional and immediate response. “Once the music is out, it no longer belongs to us,” say its creators. But that’s not surrender — it’s an offering. “ETERNA” opens a space where queerness, tropical roots, electronic experimentation, and intimacy coexist freely, without needing permission.
Undoubtedly MULA’s most ambitious and mature album to date, “ETERNA” isn’t just a record — it’s a cornerstone for understanding where Caribbean pop can go without betraying its roots. In a regional music landscape that often rewards predictability, MULA insists on sounding like no one else. And they succeed.
Stream “ETERNA” LP on Bandcamp, Spotify and YouTube.
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