Recently the national press media announced that one of the most attractive events of Cubadisco’s 2014 International Fair will be a sensational concert by the Spanish group Chambao, which is led by talented singer María del Mar Rodríguez Carnero, better known as La Mari. The concert, with the special participation of Carlos Varela, will take place on May 16 at the Karl Marx Theater.On the occasion of the concert, Suena cubano talked with Varela, renowned Cuban musician…
We are aware that you and La Mari took part in the recent album by Ivan Lins. Was this the first time you sang together or are there other antecedents?
Yes, it is true we were invited to participate in that beautiful album by Ivan, but were never together in the studio because that album was recorded in several countries at the time. I recorded my part in Cuba in a studio I have set at home and I believe she did it in Malaga, Spain. Then, it was mixed in Spain and Brazil.
Even though La Mari and I have been in touch by mail and have spoken on the phone about this and other projects, this will be the first time we will meet and share a stage. I love her voice and her work. I’m looking forward to have her here so that I can show her our city, our music and our people.
How did the idea of a concert with the Spanish band in Cuba come up?
It was Yoana Grass’ idea; she is the general producer of the concert and she got the immediate support of Darsi Fernandez and her SGAE team in Cuba. La Mari and I have been members of this royalties’ society for many years, and one of its functions is to promote the work of its members. La Mari and the rest of the Chambao band are great fans of Cuban music and I’m sure this will be an unforgettable trip and concert for all of us.
What’s your opinion on Chambao’s music?
Chambao’s music is somehow similar to mine, a mix or fusion of our roots with contemporary rock-pop elements. Obviously Chambao uses flamenco and its sticks as the main ingredient and add electronic music. I greatly admire their work because it shows that in order to be popular it is not necessary to rule out the autochthonous, nor copy formulas the media tries to impose. Their lyrics also deal with social topics, which are very important for me.
La Mari has a great special voice and it comes from her soul. Who isn’t moved by her version along with Ricky Martin of the song “Turecuerdo” by Tommy Torres? It is great.
What are your expectations with this concert, in which you are a special guest?
First of all enjoy Chambao’s concert as well the audience because this will be the first time I listen to them live. Then, show them our work so that they can enjoy it and tour them around the city for them to know Havana and our people.
The concert is almost the opening of one of the most important musical events in Cuba, Cubadisco. Can you comment on this international fair and its strengths and weaknesses?
It is no secret that records are not sold anymore and that the musical industry has changed for good. I think from now on this event could be called “Cubamusica” or something similar because its main purpose is to attract the attention of the international market to the Cuban music, which in my opinion is one of the most important places for creation and interpretation worldwide.
However, an annual fair won’t be enough to arouse that interest and to turn it into significant results for Cuban artists. Cuban musicians have inner talent, and in most cases they have had top level training and instruction, yet, when it comes to promotion and commercialization, internationally, there is still a lot of work to do.
There is also a lot to be changed in the national market so that musicians are able to have successful and self-sustainable projects and have access to the technology that is no longer cutting edge to become a need for our work. As long as this doesn’t happen, it will be hard for Cuban artists to compete in the international market and get the expected results.
Have you worked already on the songs you will sing? Will you sing Chambao’s songs or your own?
Well, if I tell you everything that is going to happen on May 16 no one is going to see us at the Karl Marx Theater. I will only tell you this will be a different concert, with surprises for the audience, for us and for Chambao.
Can you briefly comment on your projects, tours or performances?
A few days after the concert i will be leaving for the Dominican Republic, where I have been invited along with Pablo Milanés, Liuba María and other musicians, to the International Book Fair of Santo Domingo. We are going to make a few performances there. Then we will be returning to that nation by the end of May to perform in Santo Domingo and other cities we have never been.
For the rest of the year we will perform in Cuba and other countries promoting a DVD/CD for a career of 30 years, which should come out in the next few weeks. We will also perform in the United States and Canada during the summer and by the end of the year we will visit Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. We are also planning to perform in Spain, Italy and France before the year is over.
In addition, I would like to finish an album with unpublished songs and a documentary I’m beginning to shoot on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the record Como los peces, which was recorded in Madrid in 1994. It is a documentary that involves all the people that played a part in the album and brings them together in Havana and Madrid after 20 years.
This will be a year with lots of work, but in such times as this one that’s a blessing.
By: Alba Lucía Soto in Suena cubano
Author
Redacción OnCuba
