Eating dirt isn't usually a good thing, but in the new Amazon Prime series, “Dirt Eater,” it's a superpower.
The supernatural crime thriller, which premieres on Halloween, is based on Dolores Reyes' 2019 novel of the same name. The book follows the story of a young woman who has the ability to communicate through visions with the dead and missing of Argentina by eating the physical land they walked on.
“Cometierra” stars Lilith Curiel with supporting roles by Oscar nominee Yalitza Aparicio and Gerardo Taracena. It follows the same outline as the book but is set in contemporary Mexico to address the themes of state violence, feminicide, and the missing persons epidemic.
The original material and its new twist were what attracted Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade to perform the series' main song, “La Cometierra.”
“We have this reality in Mexico, there is violence against many women and there are those who are missing. It is a very sad situation we have, but it is a fact,” said the singer. “It is inspiring the way the series develops and how this girl, together with her neighbors, creates a [positive] tribal force to get her out of her situation.”
Lafourcade especially liked that the series provides an organic avenue for debate and serves as a call to action to recognize that these are all problems in Mexico, while also showing that there is a deep well of beauty within the country.
“We all have a talent that we can always use as a service to our family, our country, just to other people,” he said.
The 41-year-old artist's recently released single channels the energy of the series and its themes by evoking a spoken word cadence that culminates in a children's chant about the powers of the Earthcometer.
“I wanted to make a sound that was very strong and that presented a reality and that the lyrics were not fluid,” Lafourcade said. “But at the same time, I would have hope and light and this feeling of joy for the next generations. So I wanted to have this mix of girls singing in a very naive tone, but also with a direct voice and telling hard truths.”
The song, while oriented toward a Mexican experience, now has surprising relevance in the United States as Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids (largely targeting Latinos) continue to take place across the country and as hundreds of detained people are missing.
“I hope that music has this ability to make us wake up and be aware of situations,” Lafourcade said. “I've realized that there are many themes you can convey through music, but sometimes music can become something where you hear truths that probably aren't so pretty.”
Regarding some of the ugly truths about America right now, the “It's Never Enough” artist said it's not okay for people to feel ashamed of where they come from and that communities should stand up for themselves right now.
“No one should take away our pride in our roots, our culture, our people,” he said. “Miss [in the show] She reaches a point where she is confused about whether she should use her power and give it to her people or not. She feels very scared and insecure and is going through all that. But I love how she becomes a hero by her own power and I think that is the destiny of many of us, the way we can put a twist on the story we live every day.”
