"Mosaïques", track-by-track by Naomi Aguilera
Photo credit: Belinda Aguilera
Nice to meet you! I'm Naomi Aguilera, a Belgian-Spanish artist, and I’m so excited to introduce you to my debut EP, Mosaïques. Music became a part of my life in 2022 when I started La Forestière, a project focused on creating concerts, jams, and DJ sets to support emerging artists. Through this journey, I met incredible musicians and producers who became not only friends but also collaborators, encouraging me to dive into this new chapter of my life. Mosaïques is made up of eight tracks, each telling a story connected to a kind of love or connection that has shaped who I am. From family to friendships, exes, sorority, and self-love, these themes reflect moments and relationships that define me. Sonically, it’s a blend of genres—pop with touches of neo-soul, reggaeton, and French touch—that mirrors my love for mixing different inspirations and sounds.This EP is a first step, a way for you to get to know me, piece by piece.
1. Appel: Appel is one of the most personal songs on the EP. It was inspired by a moment that marked me deeply during my university exchange in Santa Cruz, California. For my birthday, my friends and I decided to take a trip to Los Angeles—a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. But I received a phone call and found out that someone very close to me was in the hospital, battling severe depression. It made me feel guilty to be so far away, but coming back didn’t make me feel any less helpless. It made me reflect on how a single phone call can shift the entire course of your day, your week, or even your life. We often talk about depression but we rarely talk about the emotional toll it takes on those who want to help but don't know how. Appel talks about the balance of wanting to be present for others while also navigating your own life. It’s a song about connection, empathy, distance, and how deeply we’re all intertwined through the ones we love.
2. EGO is one of the first songs I produced in the studio with Leo Fifty Five. Our connection actually started in a pretty unexpected way. I’d been following Leo on Instagram, admiring his music, and when he posted that he needed a ride to see Dua Lipa in Antwerp, I offered without thinking much about it. To my surprise, he actually took me up on it, and we hit it off during the drive. I told him how I liked singing but never took it seriously, and with his generous spirit, he invited me to his studio. For this track, I wanted an upbeat vibe, something inspired by Kaytranada, and it all came together pretty quickly. Some of my friends and family told me it should be the first song I release so I was like 'okay let's go'! The lyrics are playful and a bit silly—it's about that moment we all secretly wonder if our exes still think about us. We don’t always admit it, but I think everyone’s been there at some point. I also wanted my sister to direct the music video and include tons of my friends in it, just having fun and looking fire. EGO is about embracing that alter ego, the side of you that’s a bit bolder and more carefree, something I don’t often show, but music and art give me the perfect excuse to tap into it. That’s why this song holds such a special place in my heart—because of all the amazing people I got to collaborate with because of it.
3. Corazón is a song that started as a love letter to my brother and sisters. We all became huge fans of C. Tangana, a Spanish artist whose Tiny Desk concert really resonated with us. He blends pop music with flamenco in such a beautiful way, and the whole vibe felt like a cozy Spanish dinner with family in the garden. That’s the feeling we have when we’re all together in Spain, especially when we’re with my grandma, aunts, and cousins. With Corazón I wanted to bring that vibe to life and pay tribute to all of them, especially my grandma, whose resilience and sacrifices shaped the lives of all of us in the family. The music video, which was directed by my sister Belinda, was filmed in Barcelona and Muntanyola, where my grandma lives in the mountains. It feels like the perfect gift to ourselves, a way to keep these memories forever ingrained in us. Leo produced Corazón in one afternoon during a residency, and we had a lot of fun exploring that sound together.
4. Luna came together one day while jamming with my flatmate Adrien, who played some beautiful chords that inspired the melody. The lyrics flowed quickly and naturally in Spanish. It took me a while to produce the song exactly how I envisioned it. One morning, during a residency, I showed it to Florian Hernandez. We were outside in the sun, and he immediately came up with the most beautiful guitar arrangements. It felt like that was exactly how Luna was meant to be played, and it was magical. The song is about a time, not long after Santa Cruz, when I was back in Europe living with my best friend Luna. I was struggling with a lot of things—one of my family members dealing with mental illness, a breakup, the pressure of writing my thesis—and everything felt overwhelming. Luna, with her empathy, patience, and presence, was there for me. She didn’t need to say much; just by showing up, she made me feel safe and reminded me that I was stronger than I thought. She wasn’t the only one, though. I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible women who uplift me and inspire me every day. That period made me realize how powerful the bond of sisterhood is, how beautiful these connections can be, and how important they are. My friends are so freaking cool, and in that moment, I knew I must be doing something right.
5. Soleil is about my current relationship—how we met in Madrid, and the fear I felt committing to something new after a tough breakup. It felt huge from the start because I knew it would be serious, but also so light, easy, and refreshing. It’s healing to experience love this way. I honestly believe I'm with one of the most amazing people on the planet—though I may be biased haha. I still think I could write a better love song that fully captures his beauty, but for now, I enjoy how simple and easy this one is, much like our relationship. Creating it with someone I adore like USEA was so much fun. I love how he brought his unique sound to the track while still listening closely to my needs. We also made a music video (yes, I love music videos—oops) with Lili Hubery, starring my partner Oumar, it captures our long-distance relationship and it’s just sweet. Towards the end of the video, we’re sitting on a bench my grandpa made for my grandma because they loved to walk there together. As my grandma’s health declined, she couldn’t walk much further and needed to rest. Now that they’re both gone, their names are engraved on the bench, and I wanted to celebrate them as I celebrated so many other people I love on this EP.
6. Démences is a track we created with Jo Raharison, and the whole vibe was about having fun and experimenting with sound. We really played around with different elements, adding a French touch that brought a whole new dimension to it. I loved being able to watch Jo’s creative process unfold as we worked together. The song itself is about running away from your problems by diving into different vices—whether it’s partying, dancing, or even sex—without thinking too much about it. It's about letting go, feeling yourself, and allowing connections to happen naturally. Sometimes, it's just about escaping for a while, not analyzing every move, and surrendering to the moment.
7. Libre holds a special place in my heart, as it’s one of the very first songs I ever wrote. The idea came to life during a solo residency with my sister, Belinda Aguilera, who also directed the music videos for EGO and Corazón. At that time, I was focused on writing songs, while she was busy working on a short film. The melody and lyrics for Libre just came together naturally, and from the very start, Belinda has been its biggest supporter, always encouraging me to turn it into a full track. Later, during another residency, I had the chance to collaborate with Jo Raharison and Aprile to bring it to life. I wanted the song to feel organic—something light, yet uplifting, while staying true to its roots. Funnily enough, I almost rewrote the entire thing at the last minute, but I’m so glad I trusted my initial instinct. Libre is all about embracing freedom and fun—no shame, no judgment. It's about enjoying the moment, living without overthinking, and, yes, exploring those spontaneous one-night stands cause... why not?
8. Feuilles Mortes reflects on the end of a relationship, the end of a cycle. It's a bittersweet theme—sad, but much like the dead leaves in autumn, it’s strangely beautiful. We created this song on the last day of a residency, and what made it so special was that Jo Raharison was producing, but everyone was there adding their touch—Leo, Aprile, Flo, and more. That collaborative energy gave the song an optimistic vibe, almost with a Disney-like magic that I really vibe with, haha. Feuilles Mortes is all about embracing what’s been, finding beauty in the experience, and welcoming the opportunity to start fresh. Even though endings can be tough, there’s always room for new beginnings.