{{Infobox album | name = Otra Era | type = studio | artist = Javiera Mena | cover = Javiera Mena - Otra Era.png | caption = Censored digital cover | alt = | released = {{start date|2014|10|28}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | language = Spanish | genre = * Indie pop * synth-pop * Latin pop | length = 41:32 | label = Unión del Sur | producer = {{hlist|Cristian Heyne|Javiera Mena}} | prev_title = Mena | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = Espejo | next_year = 2018 | misc = {{singles | name = Otra Era | type = studio | single1 = Espada | single1date = {{start date|2013|11|27}} | single2 = La Joya | single2date = {{start date|2014|6|3}} | single3 = Otra Era | single3date = {{start date|2014|10|15}} | single4 = Que Me Tome la Noche | single4date = {{start date|2015|4|7}} | single5 = Sincronía, Pegaso | single5date = {{start date|2015|11|20}} }} }} '''''Otra Era''''' ({{IPA|es|ˈotɾa ˈeɾa|lang}}, {{literal translation|Another Era}}) is the third studio album by Chilean singer-songwriter Javiera Mena, released on October 27, 2010, by Unión del Sur.<ref name="ClubFonogramaReview">{{cite web |last1=Casillas |first1=Andrew |title=Club Fonograma Archive: Javiera Mena - Otra Era |url=https://www.oldfonograma.com/2014/10/javiera-mena-otra-era.html |access-date=13 February 2026 |date=October 2014}}</ref>
== Background and release == Following the release of ''Mena'', Javiera Mena announced a crowdfunding campaign in July 2013 to fund the creation of her then upcoming third album.<ref name="Super45-1">{{cite web |last1=Ferrari |first1=Rodrigo |title=Javiera Mena anuncia tercer disco y crowdfounding para realizarlo |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/javiera-mena-anuncia-tercer-disco-y-crowdfounding-para-realizarlo/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=23 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fondea el nuevo disco de Javiera Mena |url=https://www.mehaceruido.com/2013/07/fondea-el-nuevo-disco-de-javiera-mena-comprandolo/ |website=Me Hace Ruido |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=23 July 2013}}</ref> For the album, Mena worked once again with long-time collaborator Cristián Heyne, although this time co-producing the record with him.<ref name="Super45-2">{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena inicia preventa digital de su nuevo álbum “Otra era” |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/javiera-mena-inicia-preventa-digital-de-su-nuevo-album-otra-era/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=10 October 2014}}</ref> The decision to crowdfund the album came as a suggestion from Heyne and her then manager, Consuelo Cortez.<ref name="Me Hace Ruido 1">{{cite web |title=Entrevista /// Javiera Mena nos platica de Otra Era |url=https://www.mehaceruido.com/2014/11/entrevista-javiera-mena-nos-platica-de-otra-era/ |website=Me Hace Ruido |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=10 November 2014}}</ref> Mena admittedly was unfamiliar with the model, but became interested upon learning that community financing extended beyond music to support various artistic and architectural projects. While the campaign did not cover all expenses due to the project's scale, it provided crucial initial momentum. The funds raised through the campaign helped her purchase the master recordings for her earlier work, which would be released as the compilation album ''Primeras Composiciones'', in addition to supporting production costs for ''Otra Era''.<ref name="Me Hace Ruido 1"/> By the time of the campaign, portions of the material were already in progress. The track "Espada" was partially assembled and served as an early foundation.<ref name="Me Hace Ruido 1"/>
According to Mena, on ''Otra Era'' she wanted to think in terms of a kind of “robotic pop” rather than to appeal to an organic concept.<ref name="Super 45-3">{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena: “La composición de este disco fue más fácil” |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/javiera-mena-la-composicion-de-este-disco-fue-mas-facil/ |website=Super 45 |language=es |date=29 October 2014}}</ref> The concept emerged from personal sessions on her computer, which were later developed in what she called her “ship”—her personal laptop along with instruments such as keyboards and synthesizers. Mena acknowledges that for this reason, the creative process for her new album was much easier, because she could take her instruments anywhere.<ref name="Super 45-3"/> Mena drew inspiration from her visits to Spain, Spanish club culture and unapologetic hedonism, where the ''discoteca'' represents something deeply rooted and cultural rather than superficial;<ref name="Jenesaispop-Interview">{{cite web |last1=Guillén |first1=Raúl |title=Entrevista Javiera Mena: «Con este disco he buscado transmitir la pasión y la pasión es sexo» |url=https://jenesaispop.com/2015/04/08/222228/javiera-mena-otra-era-esta-muy-influido-por-la-escena-de-clubs-espanola/ |website=Jenesaispop |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=8 April 2015}}</ref> and also Latin music elements which was something more organic: rhythms absorbed since childhood through family gatherings centered on cumbia, which she sang as a young girl,<ref name="Jenesaispop-Interview"/> and also influences from African and Japanese music.<ref name="Me Hace Ruido 1"/> Thematically, the record centers on the concepts of desire and search,<ref name="IndieHoy 2014">{{cite web |last1=Piedra |first1=Rodrigo |title=Javiera Mena anuncia nuevo disco: Otra era |url=https://indiehoy.com/noticias/javiera-mena-anuncia-nuevo-disco-otra-era/ |website=Indie Hoy |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=15 October 2014}}</ref> as well as passion and love expressed through its most intense and physical aspects, which are emotions ultimately adapted and translated into the dance floor.<ref name="Medium">{{cite web |last1=Orellana |first1=Nicolás |title=Javiera Mena: Otra Era |url=https://medium.com/@orellanam/javiera-mena-otra-era-9daf2a8bc63f |website=Medium |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=18 October 2016}}</ref> Notable contributions from other artists on the record include Gepe on backing vocals on "Sincronía Pegaso;" Andrés Nusser of Astro on "La Joya," and El Guincho on "La Carretera."<ref name="Rock&Pop2024"/> The title track "Otra Era" was the album's only track mixed in Chile, the rest of songs were mixed in Miami.<ref name="Super45-3">{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena estrena single: “Otra era” |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/javiera-mena-estrena-single-otra-era/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=15 October 2014}}</ref>
"Espada" was released as the album's first single in November 2013,<ref>{{cite web |title=Estreno: Escucha el nuevo single de Javiera Mena, “Espada” – |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/estreno-escucha-el-nuevo-single-de-javiera-mena-espada/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=27 November 2013}}</ref> followed by "La Joya" in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena lanza su nuevo single “La joya” este martes |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/javiera-mena-lanza-su-nuevo-single-la-joya-este-martes/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=2 June 2014}}</ref> On October 10, 2014, Mena announced the digital pre-order for ''Otra Era'', ahead of its official release on October 28 of that same year.<ref name="Super45-2"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena adelanta su nuevo disco |url=https://paniko.cl/javiera-mena-publica-breve-adelanto-de-su-disco/ |website=Paniko |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=October 2014}}</ref> The album's lead single, "Otra Era," was released on October 15, 2014.<ref name="Super45-3"/> "Sincronia, Pegaso" was released as the album's follow-up single in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=“Sincronía, Pegaso” es el nuevo single y video de Javiera Mena |url=https://archivo.super45.cl/noticias/sincronia-pegaso-es-el-nuevo-single-y-video-de-javiera-mena/ |website=Super 45 |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=20 November 2015}}</ref> In Chile, the album was released through Unión del Sur, label co-founded by Mena and Cristián Heyne.<ref name="IndieHoy 2014"/>
== Cover artwork == The cover artwork, in which Mena appears topless, was conceptualized by Carlos Diez with photography by Javier Bernal and design by Alejandro Ros, with its reveal coincided with the pre-order announcement of ''Otra Era''.<ref name="Super45-2"/> The image generated significant discussion on local and international media,<ref name="Rock&Pop2024">{{cite web |last1=Henríquez |first1=Paz |title=10 años de 'Otra Era': 5 curiosidades del icónico disco de Javiera Mena |url=https://www.rockandpop.cl/2024/10/10-anos-de-otra-era-5-curiosidades-del-iconico-disco-de-javiera-mena/ |website=Rock&Pop |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=28 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=De Lorde a Javiera Mena: Siete portadas de discos que causaron sensación, pudor y hasta censura |url=https://www.theclinic.cl/2021/06/08/de-lorde-a-javiera-mena-siete-portadas-de-discos-que-causaron-sensacion-pudor-y-hasta-censura/ |website=The Clinic |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=8 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Super45-2"/> being censored by media outlets such as iTunes, Spotify and Deezer.<ref name="Jenesaispop-Interview"/> In this respect, Mena commented: "We took the photos and decided to do it with a bare torso because it looked cleaner. We had the option of using a statue, but that would have been censored too. It also serves to make you realize how everything works and that power always ends up belonging to the conservatives."<ref name="Me Hace Ruido 1"/>
The white-framed snow goggles worn by Mena on the cover are inspired by the futuristic design from 1965 created by André Courrèges.<ref name="Rock&Pop2024"/>
== Critical reception == ''Otra Era'' received positive to mixed reviews from music critics. ''Club Fonograma'' gave the album a 92/100 rating, with Andrew Casillas describing it as a "sensational dance-pop classic" that refined her established sound—Casio keys, electric drums, sound effects, bass-centric melodies, and direct lyrics—into its purest, most uniform, and aggressive form yet, drawing comparisons to Kylie Minogue's ''Fever'' and Pet Shop Boys' ''Very''.<ref name="ClubFonogramaReview"/> While acknowledging that ''Otra Era'' does not quite equal the heights of ''Mena'', Casillas ultimately calls it a “modern classic” from one of the generation’s defining artists, one that confidently packages her identity and places her firmly "on the road to immortality."<ref name="ClubFonogramaReview"/> Spanish magazine ''Mondo Sonoro'' gave the album a 4/5 stars rating, describing it as a "bold and invigorating" evolution in Mena's career, representing a fearless leap into “intelligent and sophisticated mainstream” territory: high-quality, radio-friendly dance music free of indie prejudices.<ref name="MondoSonoro Review">{{cite web |last1=Sánchez |first1=Xavi |title=Discos - Javiera Mena - ''Otra era'' |url=https://www.mondosonoro.com/criticas/discos-musica/otra-era/ |website=Mondo Sonoro |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=11 November 2014}}</ref> They deemed the record as a confident step forward that presents “another Javiera Mena” ready to dominate the dance-pop arena.<ref name="MondoSonoro Review"/> ''Indie Hoy'' described ''Otra Era'' as a "major regional pop production," naming it the 11th best album of 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rocha |first1=Adrián |title=Los 50 Mejores Discos del 2014 |website=Indie Hoy |url=https://indiehoy.com/listas/los-50-mejores-discos-del-2014/ |access-date=23 February 2026 |language=es |date=31 December 2014}}</ref>
In contrast, the Mexican edition of ''Time Out'' magazine gave the album a mixed review. While praising the dancefloor appeal of ''Otra Era'', they criticized the excessive use of synthesizers on the record, which made it felt saturated and gave the listener "no time to breath" and pay attention to the songs' lyrics.<ref name="TimeOut Review">{{cite web |title=Reseña: 'Otra era', de Javiera Mena |url=https://www.timeoutmexico.mx/ciudad-de-mexico/musica/resenya-otra-era-de-javiera-mena |website=Time Out Mexico |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=10 November 2014}}</ref> Additionally, they criticized the absence of melancholic ballads such as "No Te Cuesta Nada" or "Un Audífono Tú, Un Audífono Yo" from ''Mena'', and overall lamented the lack of the immediate charm, simplicity, and freshness of her earlier output, marking this chapter as a deliberate but less enchanting "new era."<ref name="TimeOut Review"/>
The album title track "Otra Era" was nominated for Best Alternative Song at the 16th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena nominada al Grammy Latino y jurado de Viña 2016 |url=https://www.potq.net/noticias/javiera-mena-nominada-al-grammy-latino-y-jurado-de-vina-2016/ |website=POTQ |access-date=13 February 2026 |language=es |date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{track listing | collapsed = | headline = ''Otra Era'' track listing | total_length = 41:32 | all_writing = Javiera Mena | title1 = Los Olores de Tu Alma | length1 = 5:01 | title2 = Otra Era | length2 = 4:05 | title3 = Esa Fuerza | length3 = 4:34 | title4 = Sincronía, Pegaso | length4 = 4:46 | title5 = Pide | length5 = 3:28 | title6 = La Joya | length6 = 3:28 | title7 = Que Me Tome la Noche | length7 = 3:28 | title8 = La Carretera | length8 = 4:49 | title9 = Quédate un Ratito Más | length9 = 3:40 | title10 = Espada | length10 = 4:14 }}
== Personnel == Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Otra Era''. {{div col}} * Javiera Mena – vocals, composer, arranger, programmer, synthesizer, piano, producer * Cristián Heyne – synthesizer, programmer, producer, guitar (4), chorus (4) * Francisco Straub – synthesizer, Waldorf bass (one oscillator) * Gepe – additional vocals (4) * Andrés Nusser – additional vocals (6) * Laura Put – additional vocals (6) * El Guincho – additional vocals (8) * Fernando Herrera – mixing (2-10), guitar, co-producer, assistant producer, recording engineer * Javier Garza – mixing (1) * Sebastián Valdés – recording engineer * Francisco Straub – recording engineer * Francisco Holzmann – recording engineer * Tom Coyne – mastering * Javier Bernal Belchi – photography * Alejandro Ros – design * Carlos Diez Diez – art direction * Consuelo Cortez – recording coordination and management {{div col end}}
== Release history == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+Release dates and formats of ''Otra Era'' ! scope="col" |Region ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Format ! scope="col" |Label ! scope="col" |Ref. |- ! scope="row" | Worldwide | {{start date|2014|10|28}} | {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="3" | Unión del Sur | <ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena - Otra Era |url=https://www.portaldisc.com/contenido/disco-javiera-mena-otra-era |website=PortalDisc |access-date=23 February 2026 |language=es |date=2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" | Chile | {{start date|2014|11|21}} | rowspan="1" | CD | {{efn|First made available for purchase at Feria Pulsar 2014.<ref name="Disorder">{{cite web |title=Ya puedes escuchar el nuevo disco de Javiera Mena: Otra Era » |url=https://www.disorder.cl/2014/10/28/nuevo-disco-javiera-mena-otra-era/ |website=Disorder |access-date=24 February 2026 |language=es |date=28 October 2014}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena - Otra Era |url=https://www.sonartienda.cl/producto/javiera-mena-otra-era/ |website=Sonar Tienda |access-date=24 February 2026 |language=es |date=2014}}</ref> |- | {{start date|2014|12}} | rowspan="1" | LP | <ref name="Disorder"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Javiera Mena – Otra Era (Vinilo) |url=https://musicjungle.cl/producto/javiera-mena-otra-era-vinilo/ |website=Music Jungle |access-date=23 February 2026 |language=es |date=2014}}</ref> |- | rowspan="1" | {{start date|2015||}} | rowspan="1" | {{Hlist|CD|LP {{small|(reissue)}}}} | Meni | {{efn|Available for purchase through Mena's official web site.}} |- |}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Javiera Mena}} {{Authority control}} Category:Javiera Mena albums Category:2014 albums Category:2010s Spanish-language albums Category:Pop albums by Chilean artists Category:Albums produced by Cristián Heyne