Composer and guitarist Orlando Molina steps into the spotlight with the release of his debut album Autorretrato en Tres Colores (Self-Portrait in Three Colours) on May 23, 2025 — a sweeping, seven-track reflection on migration, transformation, and the emotional terrain that lies between.
Blending contemporary jazz with the vibrant folk traditions of Latin America, Molina crafts an intricate and deeply personal sonic portrait. Each composition is a chapter of his life, composed during different stages of his journey from Venezuela to Ireland, and informed by the emotional tension between departure and arrival, longing and belonging. With striking clarity, the album reveals the quiet resilience and joy found in cultural hybridity and self-discovery.
At the core of Autorretrato en Tres Colores is a powerful international collaboration. Joining Molina are some of the most distinctive voices in jazz and world music: Matthew Jacobson (drums, Ireland), Scott Flanigan (piano & rhodes, Northern Ireland), Cormac O’Brien (double bass, Ireland), and Steve Welsh (saxophones, USA). The album also features exceptional contributions from guest artists Miguel Siso (Venezuela), Boris Schmidt (Luxembourg), Pablo Contreras (Chile), Freddy Adrian (Venezuela), Gilbert Mansour (Lebanon), Alicia Garcia (Mexico), and Eric Chacón (Venezuela).
The album was recorded in Ireland’s Hellfire Studio with Joe McGrath engineering, mixed by Darío Peñaloza, and mastered by Jesús Jiménez. Molina himself produced the album and performs on guitars and percussion.
More than just a collection of compositions, Autorretrato en Tres Colores is an emotional memoir told through harmony and rhythm — a work that resonates far beyond borders, echoing the experiences of those who carry multiple homes in their hearts.
First Single: “Paciencia”
Released on April 28, 2025, the first single from the album offers a gentle yet profound entry into Molina’s musical world. Paciencia (Patience) meditates on the tension and release that come with waiting — not passively, but as a form of resilience.
Second Single: “De lo vivido a lo vivo”
Officially released on May 2, 2025, this second single, De lo vivido a lo vivo (From Days Lived to Life Living), seeks to portray how memory and the present moment gently intertwine.
Built around Molina’s signature nylon-string guitar, the track’s understated intensity is complemented by an exquisite ensemble: Matthew Jacobson (drums), Scott Flanigan (piano), Steve Welsh (soprano saxophone), Freddy Adrian (double bass), and Alicia Garcia (voice). The interplay between instruments evokes both vulnerability and strength, underscoring the emotional and thematic depth that runs throughout the full album.
About Orlando Molina
Born in Venezuela with Chilean roots, Orlando Molina brings a rich and global perspective to his music. Now based in Ireland for over a decade, his career has seen him perform for President Michael D. Higgins and share stages with Wynton Marsalis, David Bisbal, Rubén Blades, and Gustavo Dudamel, among others. His style draws from jazz’s harmonic complexity, Latin America’s rhythmic pulse, and a lifetime of cross-cultural experiences.
As both a performer and composer, Molina’s work invites listeners into an authentic journey — one marked by adaptation, cultural fusion, and emotional honesty. With Autorretrato en Tres Colores, he offers his most personal work to date: a story not just of one artist, but of anyone who has ever left one home in search of another.
Autorretrato en Tres Colores will be available digitally on all major streaming platforms from May 23, 2025.
Autorretrato en Tres Colores will be available on Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify from May 23, 2025.
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