Although turntablist Maria Chavez’s work is often performed in contemporary art museums and other rarefied locations, she herself doesn’t come from a place of abstraction or the aloofness that’s sometimes associated with such venues. On paper a deeply experimental artist, her work comes from a place of pure emotion rather than an ideological stance, and embraces the possibilities of the creative accident. A native of Lima, Peru, but raised in the United States, Chavez’s use of broken vinyl and semi-destroyed record needles have set her apart from other practitioners in her field. In addition to her solo work, she is also a member of The Turntable Trio along with Victoria Shen (previous show guest Evicshen) and Mariam Rezaei. Hear how works by Robert Wyatt, Hector Lavoe, and Autechre guided her path. We spoke to her live at the 2026 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN.

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