SELF HELP is an ambitious exploration of the human condition that combines music, film, and philosophy into a unique project. Through an album of songs and interludes, alongside a documentary series, Lekuona addresses nine essential themes: time, identity, consumption, consciousness, love, work, truth, power, and death. With a minimalist and intimate approach, the project uses the language of self-help ironically as a framework to examine complex philosophical, political, and spiritual questions. The result is an introspective experience that reflects on the nature and meaning of existence.

At its creative core, SELF HELP follows the logic of a collage. The songs are built from carefully chosen samples, selected for both their sonic richness and evocative power, while the interludes are constructed from audio excerpts that serve to connect the musical pieces. The episodes, in turn, incorporate visual footage sourced from the internet, along with recordings of individuals the artist encountered through her online research. This handcrafted, deliberately fragmented approach gives the project a rich, layered texture in which each element weaves together to generate deep and interconnected meanings.

Philosophical and intellectual references are at the heart of the album, giving it a conceptual weight that is rarely seen. The voices of Jiddu Krishnamurti, Sunaura Taylor, Noam Chomsky, Zen master Hyon Gak Sunim, Toni Morrison, Franco Berardi, Slavoj Žižek, María Galindo, and a reading of Ecclesiastes intertwine with the songs, creating a dialogue between music and ideas.

Musically, SELF HELP defies traditional structures. Some songs break away from the classic verse-and-chorus format, opting instead for organic and experimental progressions. Tracks evolve into crescendos of layered vocals and instrumentation, intensifying the emotional weight and transitioning from introspection to catharsis.

The documentary series expands on the album’s themes across nine episodes, featuring interviews with experts such as theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, queer theorist Jack Halberstam, sociologist Renata Salecl, Zen master Gu Ja, Buddhist nun Robina Courtin, philosopher Franco Berardi, professor of psychology Sam Vaknin, radical African feminist Patricia McFadden, and palliative care physician BJ Miller. These are complemented by autobiographical monologues from the artist and Zoom conversations with anonymous individuals sharing their life stories.

The entire project is a testament to creative independence. SELF HELP was entirely produced by Lekuona, who wrote the music and lyrics for all the tracks and performed the album’s vocals. The musical production, carried out in collaboration with her regular partner NOIE, was mixed in Los Angeles by Ingmar Carlson and mastered by Edsel Holden. The series was written, filmed, narrated, and post-produced by Lekuona, with Sara Lekuona contributing as a camera assistant and David Rodríguez handling the sound mastering.

SELF HELP stands out for its coherence across music, philosophy, and visual storytelling. Every element—be it a song, interlude, or episode—is an integral part of a whole that invites the audience to reflect deeply. While its philosophical density and structural ambition may feel challenging, those who embrace the journey will find it profoundly rewarding.

In a world dominated by fast entertainment designed by algorithms, SELF HELP emerges as an act of resistance. It is a work that poses big questions, does not shy away from discomfort, and trusts its audience to rise to the challenge. Lekuona has created a project as conceptually stimulating as it is formally bold, demonstrating that music and audiovisual language remain powerful tools for uncompromising, deeply human art.