Healing sounds from Mexico City.
Theory Therapy 39 is a strangely beautiful balm of textural drifts and atmospheric leftfield by Alma G. Ferrer aka Mim.
Based in Mexico City, Alma is an art historian and founder of Mitamine Lab, one of the longest-running and best mix series I can think of. She’s also a unique selector and musical storyteller so we're very happy to have her contribute to Theory Therapy.
There’s so much love in this mix. It was recorded in Mim's mum’s garden while they both recovered from COVID and there's a playful, almost psychedelic quality to it. “I can't smoke or drink so this has been a mix created between plants, medicines, coffee, tea and lots of elderberry gummies.”
Mim isolating at her home in Mexico City.
Hey Mim. Thanks for the mix. It's incredible. Firstly, how are you doing today? Secondly, what was the last song you listened to?
First of all thanks so much for the invite <3 I'm good but after two years of escaping COVID-19, it finally got me. Currently feeling good but I think it is because of the medicines.
The last song I listened to was ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ (Gloria Gaynor’s cover) by The Communards. I'm in a disco and 80s mood today.
Do you have a favourite place to listen to music? If so, where?
I don't have a favorite place per se, music is really important to me so everywhere is a good place, alone or with company, on the street or on the beach, at the market or the subway…music everywhere.
What inspired you to start Mitamine?
Mitamine started as a personal escape from routine work and as a therapy for personal wellbeing. In a simple sense, Mitamine was inspired by the search for mental health and because of my personal interests as an art historian and culture curator.
Mitamine mixes are always paired so nicely with artwork. Tell us about how that process works.
I like to imagine possible curatorships that I would love to exist in a physical space, exhibitions in which works and sounds are a natural match and whose trajectory or recognition doesn't matter but rather its authenticity and timeless condition. I have a pretty evident obsession for contemporary art forms and vanguardism.
What kind of mixes do you enjoy listening to most? Is there a specific ingredient you look for in a mix?
I love all kinds of mixes but of course my favorites are a lil bit ‘dark’ or ‘weird’. I deeply love Demdike Stare’s cassette mixes — the Empirical Research one is an all time fav for me. I have in my classic iPod a mix called ‘herbal lectures dr john r christopher’ that is also my favorite but I have no idea who’s the author; the most important thing I look into a mix is narrative and quirkiness.
Your selections are always amazing. What's your favourite part of putting together a mix?
Thanks so much, I'm glad you like them. When I cook a mix I set an intention, like when you are meditating. I completely surrender to the exercise, the most favorite part is when I realize that my memory is not as bad as I thought and suddenly start to remember music based on specific sounds (e.g. arps, synths, toys sounds, etc.)
What inspired this mix?
I have lots of things about my life to be grateful for so if I have to choose a soundtrack for this present moment these tracks would be a perfect fit. I think this mix matches my current energy.
Where did you record it?
I recorded the mix at my mom’s garden. We both have COVID so she’s on one side of her house and I’m in the garden with Momo almost all the time. I can't smoke or drink so this has been a mix created between plants, medicines, coffee, tea and lots of elderberry gummies.
Where would you recommend listening to it?
Maybe while taking a long walk alone, not in a specific place.
Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic or cathartic in some way. What does that mean for you?
According to anthroposophical medicine, music is considered an art therapy, it has the power to move our threefold human being (body/soul/spirit). For me music has the power to activate my self-healing powers and healing processes. Disco, funk and house give me energy; ambient, folk and organic new agey music give me patience and comfort; techno and intense music helps me to focus.
I even sleep listening to specific frequencies and quantum medicine according to my day so, for me sound is like water, an elemental part of my human being.
Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons?
I think Will Saul's mix for Aus Music’s All Night Long Compilation (2009). I was 12 years old when it was released but in those days I was pretty moved by leftfield and that slow housey techy vibes. I always unintentionally return to that specific mix (CD 2) — maybe I just need to (finally) update my iPod, lol.
Tell us about something fun you have planned in your life, music or otherwise.
I’m always experimenting with different art techniques, sounds, foods and materials even though I have no idea what I’m doing; eg. sculpture, punch needle, anthotypes, acrylic painting and more…I don’t take technique seriously so I enjoy to do things wrong and fuck it up… that’s something fun I guess?
Tracklist:
Hebe Rossell - La Hora del Lobo
Exicon - Gathering Sea Moss (Compilated by Avon Terror Corps)
Alexandre Centeio - Mother Tree
Holland Andrews - Gloss
Ippu-Do - Crystal Leaves
After Dinner - Paradise of Replica
Art of Primitive Sound - Sea Langua
Yann Tomita - Talk To Me Talk To Me (For Biological & Robotical Research)
Suso Sáiz - Two Souls
Bola - Aguilla
Aural Float - Freefloat
The Irresistible Force - 12 O'Clock
Chari Chari - Esfera de Água [Yoshiharu Takeda Rework]
MYSTICS (Marcus Henriksson, Kuniyuki & J.A.K.A.M.) - GROUND CHIDA RMX2 (SLOW)