Written by Pablo Barrera / Images by Xela In Focus, photographer: Raschael Shenyo
Pride in one's homeland is not just a statement of principles, but a conviction defended through actions in every corner of the creative process. When Molly Hentze's music has crossed borders and reached the ears of producers in the United States, the initial reaction is usually filled with wonder. Faced with the inevitable question about which foreign studio achieved such quality, the artist from Quetzaltenango responds with deep, genuine satisfaction: “In Guatemala.”
To shape this project, weekend schedules require a constant trip to the capital city, specifically to Juanfer Herrera's Studio 502. Far from seeking options outside the country, Molly fully trusts national talent, describing her producer with a blend of admiration and complicity—not only as an industry genius, but as an authentic "musical genius" living among mixes and arrangements, achieving a level of sound that has nothing to envy of any other nation: “Juanfer has equipment—wow!—nothing to envy of any other country, right? And he, being a genius, a total genius, but musical. He never leaves the studio and he works magic; he works magic there.”
That same patriotic pride extends flawlessly into the visual direction of her works, where Guatemalan landscapes become the undisputed protagonists. The music video for her debut release, Falling Into You, found its ideal backdrop at Hacienda El Baluarte, located in Chicacao, Mazatenango. Among carefully cared for Spanish-bred horses and a dreamlike natural environment, the production flowed smoothly thanks to the warm hospitality of the Moll family—a place where respect for animal life completely captivated her, delivering a visual atmosphere as breathtaking as it is touching, with the scenery combining with the beautiful equipment found there: “The horses are Spanish; the ones they have, I can tell you, are impressive. I mean, being next to those horses is just wow! How well-trained they are, how they treat them with so much love, with so much respect... they take better care of them than of me, hahahaha,” the artist laughs as she makes this confession, clearly pleased with everything accomplished at this location.
The duality of her artistic vision is enriched by adding a top-tier international perspective, guided by renowned American director Ben Hobbes. Coming from Oklahoma with an impressive career working alongside major figures in the US industry, Hobbes traveled specifically to capture the project through his lens. This collaboration will be repeated very soon to bring her third song's music video to life—a true emotional anthem: “We're shooting the music video for my third song, which I'll give you a sneak peek of, is called 'Road to Oklahoma'. It’s a song we have a lot of faith in. That song is incredible. From the moment you press play, it embraces you, it captures you, and it makes you want to listen to it again and again and again,” she shares excitedly about this upcoming trip, which promises to capture unique sunsets and unmatched surprises. She is also keenly watching people's reactions to the track: "And the people who have had the chance to listen to it, I swear their... I observe a lot, and their first reaction is always «ah!», right?"
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated release of her second single, I Say Yes, shifts the visual magic directly to the highlands of Quetzaltenango. Directed by Meme at Labor La Selva—an impressive event space surrounded by nature and fresh air on the way to Los Vahos—the setting immediately evokes the purest essence of the countryside and the country music genre. Its beauty is such that many mistake the location for foreign landscapes, to which Molly always proudly replies: “A beautiful place. Everyone asks: ‘Is it here or in the United States?’. And I’m like: ‘No, it’s here in Xela’, ‘In Xela?’, and I say: ‘It’s here in Xela, it’s a gorgeous place’.”
The singer is excited for people to enjoy the landscape in this video: "They will be able to see all the beautiful places in the video, the little details it has of something truly magical, surrounded by lots of trees, lots of nature. Eh, it takes you to that country feeling, right?, of the countryside." She gets so excited that she confesses she would love to live there: "If you have the chance to go and visit, to get to know that place, it’s incredible; I would love to live there. Yes, it’s beautiful," she says, her face lighting up completely like someone in love with the place.
However, it is not just the environment and the atmosphere, but also the deeply moving song itself, which Molly hopes people can use for that special moment when a lifelong proposal is made: "I hope with all my heart that you like it, that you enjoy it, and that you fall in love all over again with the person you're with when you listen to it, and that... and that you use the song for that special moment, right?"—something that many couples will undoubtedly do during that unforgettable milestone.
This journey across capital-city studios, coastal haciendas, Quetzaltenango mountains, and a future connection with Oklahoma proves that Molly Hentze's music knows no geographical boundaries. With a chapina soul and a universal calling, the artist continues to build an unbreakable bridge between her roots and her greatest dreams, reminding us that true art flourishes wherever you give it your heart.
Don't miss the upcoming installments of this fascinating series, where we will continue discovering the secrets, passion, and next steps of an artist who came to transform the music scene. You can read the first and second parts of this great story on our website.
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