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A striking self-portrait is painted in CRIS CHIL’s newest song, “La Respuesta,” as she settles into her determined personal journey after the ending of a relationship. The track captures the internal push-and-pull between moving on and falling back into a lover, but ultimately putting your foot down and choosing yourself. It’s emotionally reflective without ever losing its sonic edge — a genre-mixing song that feels as expansive and fearless as the story she’s telling.

GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum Ecuadorian songwriter, producer, artist and executive CRIS CHIL is entering a new chapter with her debut EP, UMBRAL (THRESHOLD), arriving this December. The project further introduces itself with the latest single, “La Respuesta” (“The Answer), a deeply personal release that encapsulates what CRIS described the EP as: “...the story of choosing to rebuild.” Written, directed, produced and performed entirely by CRIS, the song becomes visually vibrant through the self-directed music video — moving through intimate moments of isolation and cathartic release as she slams a bat into a television. 

Long devoting herself to celebrating individual artistic expression, CRIS has spanned her songwriting across global hits for artists including Kali Uchis, Karol G and Selena Gomez, as well as being the found of CHIL HOUSE, a creative company in Miami that connects a record label, recording studios and publishing division in one singular space. Now, with “La Respuesta,” CRIS CHIL is continuing to step fully into her own artistic identity, bringing forth her memorable musical experience.

There’s such an intentional power behind the production of “La Respuesta,” plummeting into heavy bass-driven hits and crunchy electronic elements before coming up for air with a soft piano and honey-like vocals. It’s a contrast that makes the track so incredibly dynamic and impossible to press pause on. If you get distracted for even a second, you’ll miss a new sonic detail woven in there.

Right off the bat, the atmosphere is set with the opening lyrics, “Ya no me duele despertar / Y no ver tus mensajes” (“It doesn’t hurt anymore to wake up / And not see your messages”). And that sentiment becomes the catalyst for the track. “La Respuesta” translates to “The Answer,” and for CRIS CHIL, the answer will always be no if her ex comes knocking on her door. No amount of waterworks or pretty words will make her fall back in again. She is standing her ground in honor of herself.

There’s a quiet strength within CRIS’s voice, a self-assurance in her emotions and in her story. Self-respect is coated over this track as CRIS sings about her growth post-breakup — the reflection that comes with that process, finding yourself again and having that assertiveness to leave that person in the past while still acknowledging the hurt you went through. It’s truly powerful in its emotional awareness, and it’s something so many people can connect to.

Musically, CRIS CHIL gives that emotional story and equally compelling landscape. The pauses in between electronic beat drops in the verses make both the musicality and vocals a standout moment in their own right; the sonic elements hit you in your body while her voice hits your heart. She uses vocal glitches, echoes, distortion and harmonies in so many diverse ways without overpowering or cluttering the song — a skill that emphasizes CRIS’s musical intuition and exploration. 

Not only does the chorus soften with graceful piano, but it’s also elevated with sweet and subtle orchestral flutterings. The result is a true genre-bending song that still feels completely cohesive through its organic and synthetic blend. By the end, the track almost feels like an echoic back-and-forth between her normal voice and a lower, slightly distorted one as the piano guides them in the background, before ending on that electronic vocal stutter. It’s a fitting close to a song about finding your voice again, and knowing when to use it to say no.

With “La Respuesta,” CRIS CHIL turns the introspective comedown of a breakup into something sonically intricate and emotionally assured, creating a track that is already a captivating glimpse into what is yet to come with her forthcoming debut EP, UMBRAL.

Listen to "La Respuesta" below: