One of our Manchester-based writers, Alejandro Burbano, hails from Ecuador and recently proposed a feature on music from his homeland via a series of individual track reviews. Here is the first featured song.
Track 1: El poder #1 (me quitas todo) by Letelefono (2025)
Letelefono is the musical project of the Ecuadorian artist Leo Espinoza. This track is part of his latest album, Cosas de chicos (Kids´ stuff, 2025) which is the first of a double album which will continue with the 2026 release of Cosas de Grandes (Grown Ups’ Stuff).
In a recent interview with Julian Vásquez, Espinoza talks about how he wanted this album to be about the anxieties of love from the perspective of a boy (chico). According to the video, the continuation of this album will focus on a more mature approach to love. If the influences for Kid´s stuff was Alex Cameron, the ones for Grown Ups’ Stuff will be Emmanuel and José José.
I enjoy hearing about Espinoza composing process: he uses the immediate feeling of writing a song and doesn´t let it go. Espinoza goes after a slippery fish every time he creates.
I have always loved songs, movies and books that talk about food: Fellini’s pasta in Roma, Highsmith’s and Plath´s food diaries, and Letelefono with soup and vegetable margarine. Is there something more intimate than sharing a bowl of soup with your loved one? Sharing a playlist, Anora would say. The soup is also an extension of the voice that sings: a communion of lovers. In the music video, the bowl is empty but the smell remains in Espinoza’s fingers, like a child trying a new flavour.
I love Letelefono choice of using, like a Douglas Sirk film, “common objects” and fills them with “ultra emotion”. Music for losers, that’s what Espinoza has described as the music of Leteléfono.
The power #1 (you take away everything from me)
What can we do?
If love treats you well
It makes you an addict
Until you lose all your friends
Ay, tell me,
What can we do?
If the tambourine that turns you on
Hits in another rhythm
And my feeling is a sad maraca for you
You take all the power from me
And I lose again
All my instincts are acts of faith
I just want to go back
To be born again
Go back in time and don´t get old
And everything is for you
You have me here
Falling violently
Finally flying
In this plate there´s a wee bit of soup
I will give you mine if you give me yours
And if you don´t like my flavour
Ay, tell me, what can we do?
I´m watching you in the silence of everything,
You look back at me and I take some time
And you let go of my hand
Ay, tell me, what can we do?
You take away all the power
And I lose again,
All my instincts are acts of faith
I just want to born again
Go back in time and don´t grow old
Now everything is for you
You have me here
Violently falling
Flying at last
I go through the sky, the ground, my phone and I see you there
– El Poder #1 (me quitas todo)
