After an album dedicated to understanding herself, Tijoux is turning her focus to the world that surrounds her. La Bala, which was released in South America last year and will be available in the U.S. on Jan. 31, comes at an explosive and pivotal time in Chilean politics. Protests, catalyzed by a massive student movement advocating equal access to education, are causing a level of upheaval not seen since the nation’s return to democracy in 1990.

Recently on our show Alt.Latino, Felix Contreras and I discussed how difficult it is to find songs that are both musically solid and socially conscious. Tijoux excels in both areas. She can be laid-back and sexy, letting words drip slowly from her mouth, then issue a scathing social critique. Listen closely to “Desclasificado” and the bitter but lyrically stunning “Las Cosas Por Su Nombre”: “Not your Ministry, your Monastery, nor your money, which by the way come from our taxes … Be careful, the doors might close! … Well, let’s be clear, these doors have never been open.”