"Hay Veces": A Conversation with Petite Amie

Interview by Imani Dominique Busby

Photography by Tiana Smith (@digitalteee)

Blending influences from classic rock, French chanson, and indie electronica, Mexico City-based band Petite Amie weaves emotion and introspection into their new album Hay Veces. In this conversation, we sit down with Isabel Dosal, the band’s lead vocalist. She shares how studying law led her to music, the band’s creative process behind Hay Veces, and how language, vulnerability, and analog warmth shape their sound. Fresh off their first Toronto performance, Isabel reflects on growth, connection, and the joy of making music with friends.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your introduction to making music.

I always thought of myself more as a writer, and I kind of got hooked on writing poetry as my favourite form of writing. I actually got into music while I was in university studying law. I felt like the way of thinking of, I don't know, lawyers and law students was so square that I felt kind of like I couldn't breathe.

I really wanted to make something more artsy, and I started hanging out with people who make music. One time, I was with my friends around the campfire and we made a song. Then we recorded it, and I felt like it was the first time I truly... I don't know, it felt like being alive. I was like, “I cannot let go of this feeling ever. I need to continue making music.” And that's when it felt like the stars aligned. I met everyone from Petite Amie a couple of months after that, and they invited me to join the band.

Did you grow up in Mexico?

Yeah, yeah. I was born in Mexico City and I lived there my entire life.

Would you say that living and growing up in Mexico City has influenced your sound and artistic perspective?

I think Mexico City is a very diverse city, and funnily enough, it's a place where people really like rock music. But I think more than Mexico City, my dad really influenced my taste in music. Like, all the bands I like now are bands that my dad introduced me to. Of course, new ones as well. But it just felt like, I don't know, we have a very special love through music.

Which artists did you grow up listening to and how have they kind of influenced your music today?

Well, I grew up listening to mostly the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young,  you know, the classics. And then my sisters — I have two sisters — my older sisters introduced me to more of the indie music scene, you know, like the Strokes. And then, I don't know, The Weeknd and everything that was going on in the 2010s. I really like that sound, and it's been the music I've been listening to ever since.

You also recently came to Toronto to perform for your album and were there also. It's so incredible, and congratulations! Was there a particular moment, emotion, or experience that sparked the creation of Hay Veces?

We took close to three years making the album, and it's mostly a collection of life experiences and reflections we had throughout that time. So there are times when you feel really inspired and like you can take the world, or times when you're feeling down and don't know if anything makes sense anymore, or when you're feeling heartbroken. And that's kind of the vibe of the album, just letting ourselves be guided by the music more than by a specific idea.

There’s this warmth to your production, especially with the synths and the guitar tones. What feeling are you trying to invoke in the listener? What do you want folks to take away from the album?

It's funny because we always say that we want our music to be easy listening. Like, you can just play it in the background while you're doing whatever you like: taking a walk, cooking dinner, maybe. Like having something that's kind of like an atmosphere that absorbs you more than something that really needs your full attention. I feel like every time you listen to a song, you discover new pieces and bits of it and new details.

We really like to make that happen in our productions. We also recorded I think five songs on a tape machine. We like to use analog gear mostly, and I think that gives it that warmth, that quality of touchingness and realness, and trying to make it feel like you're there with the band.

My favorite song on the album was Palabras. Is there anything that you can share about the writing or creative process behind the song?

Yeah, funnily enough, our songs are in French and in Spanish, and we kind of like to use languages as instruments as well. We wrote that song in French first, and I think French is very velvety, the consonants and the vowels are very soft. We adapted that melody to Spanish, and I think it came out really well. We really wanted to convey this idea that maybe sometimes you're going to be the villain in someone else's story, and no matter how many times you try to explain yourself or try to make peace with that other person, you'll never see eye to eye. You kind of just need to let go — but with a really dancy vibe.

You mentioned singing in both French and Spanish. How do you decide which language you're going to use for a song? You also mentioned the velvety texture it can bring. How intentional is the language selection compared to the song, the sound, and the lyrics?

Well, I think it changes depending on the song and what we learn. Sometimes you just feel like the focus needs to be in French, and I find it really beautiful.

I think the choice of language really varies depending on the song. Sometimes it feels like you are connecting to something bigger than yourself and there’s a message that you need to convey, and the words just fall perfectly into place. It's not even a conscious decision. It just happens. I think that when we're struggling a little bit more to find a melody or an idea behind the song, or what to write about, I lean more.

What was the creative process behind creating the album? Did you have any inspirations?

We're really inspired by a band called Unknown Mortal Orchestra. We really love the tone of their guitars and the way everything is melodic. It's not just a bass playing the root notes or stuff like that. It's like everyone playing together. We really wanted to explore that way of making music. I don't know, it started with just Carlos playing a melody on guitar and Alien and I trying to follow that melody on vocals, and everything kind of built up around that.

Which song do you feel most personally connected to on the album?

It depends on the moment, I think. But for me, I think it's the first two songs of the album. The first one is called La Lave, which means lava, but the title of the song isn't really related to what I was singing about. I was just looking at the lava lamp while I was singing and recording the song. And the second one is called Hablar de Más. I think they really express two big events I was going through at that moment, which have been persistent in my life.

La Lave is about realizing that your life isn't going exactly the way you originally imagined, but deciding to take a risk and try to make your dreams come true — really putting your hands in the fire. I always say that it's better to take a risk and fail than not to do anything at all and stay the same.

That's kind of what that song is about, and I really resonate with that. You know, deciding that it's better to stop fighting because you can kill your relationship with people you love. It's better to have them in your life than to be very proud and keep your pride, but maybe lose the people you love.

That's a very beautiful sentiment. And it's so true. For my next question: if a listener could only hear one song on the album, which one would you recommend and why?

Oh, that's a very tough question. I would say... oh, damn, that's a very hard question. I don't know. I would say maybe listen to Tomber or Hablar de Más.

You were all just in Toronto. How was the show and how did you feel playing in the city?

It was very fun. It was our first time playing in Toronto, and we are really trying to build an audience here in Canada. We've been working a lot on the French part since we sing in French, so I think that's a little bit easier. But Toronto, I love the diversity, and it feels really hectic. That kind of reminded me of Mexico City. It was really fun. We met up with Charles Bing from Broken Children — legendary! We realized we were playing at one of those iconic small venues bands have always played in.

Do you have any upcoming shows, drops, or videos people should keep an eye out for?

We are going on tour with Girl Ultra in August in the U.S. She's a really cool RnB Mexican singer. We're going to be playing a couple of shows on the East Coast with her, so that's cool. When we released our album, we also released a live session that we recorded in a really iconic place in Mexico City called El Polyforum Siqueiros, who was a very famous Mexican muralist. It's actually, I think, one of the biggest murals in the world. That kind of captures the vibe of the album and the vibe of what our shows sound like live.

Congratulations! I feel like that'll be such a wonderful tour. If you could leave a message to your future self or selves as a band, five to ten years down the line, what would it be?

It would be to remember to enjoy what we're doing and realize that life is an adventure and we're sharing it with friends. So always remember to love one another.

Oh, that's so beautiful. Thank you for making the time to speak with me. It was lovely getting to learn more about you and your music and everything that you guys have got going on.

Thank you! And hopefully we'll be able to see each other next time we go to Toronto.

Yes! Absolutely.
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