Flamenco x 3. Farru, José Maya & Barullo, bailaores. Interview

“It isn’t about being a baile percussionist,
but knowing how to understand the password”

Silvia Calado. Jerez, March 2008

There’s under an hour left for them to come out on stage. The ‘sold out’ sign is hanging outside the ticket office. And the square of the Teatro Villamarta is swarming in a different way... ‘farruco’ style. Meanwhile the artists in question, this time Farru, José Maya and Barullo, shuffle back and forth with thundering heels along the hallways of the backstage, amidst recently-ironed shirts and family members from several generations. Though it wasn’t easy, we managed to get a ten-minute break to listen to the three very young bailaores converse about the ins and outs of ‘Al natural’, a show which has been gaining experience since last season not just on the flamenco circuit, but also opening for massive pop stars of the likes of Beyoncé and Björk.

Farru and José Maya (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

What is ‘Al natural’?

Farru: ‘Al natural’ is a flamenco show.

Barullo: The name already tells you.

José Maya: It’s a flamenco musical.

F: I don’t think there’s any more or less to explain; it’s a show with flamenco dancing, flamenco cante and flamenco toque. There’s no other storyline than that. The natural, naturally. Just the way we are and we feel; dancing, singing and playing.

What does each contribute?

	Barullo (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

B: What each one can. Each one’s touch, heart, feelings, each one’s purity.

J.M.: The affection and respect we have for the same vision of baile. And freshness and youth.

At yesterday’s press conference you spoke of contributing something new, but from purity. How is that done?

J.M.: We’re always learning from everybody, but always from the roots. Our stock couldn’t be purer. They’re from Farruco’s family and I’m from my aunt Fernanda Romero’s. We always notice purer people... Michael Jackson...

B: The thing is that I don’t think pure and flamenco mean the same thing. You can play the drums purely, but not flamenco. Even if you play por soleá. That’s what we mean by pure and flamenco and things that can be contributed.

F: Always within the traditional, the racial, which is what I think characterizes the three of us. I think ours is traditional baile, but at the same time with today’s freshness. It’s normal to have that freshness at our age because otherwise, I think it would be too phony.

J.M.: I think the art’s there. You can do new things, you can innovate, but with some roots...

F: With a core.

J.M.: Moreover, a respect for purity... We’re talking about purity and I don’t know, we’re referring to the mother of genuine baile.

Coming from two different flamenco families, what unites the three of you?

Farru on 'Al natural' (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

J.M.: Well, the same way of understanding the rhythm, of understanding the cante... and of understanding ourselves.

F: Practically everything unites us. We’re united by the affection we have for one another, and people notice that affection and appreciation as people, not just as artists. And as artists, you can imagine. I think we’re also joined by understanding and wanting to carry out a mission.

B: It’s the same baile, but each one is very different. He -José Maya- has the same way of feeling it, the same taste...

F: But not of expressing it.

Each one comes with his career...

B: And his own trademark.

F: But always within the same thinking, within flamenco dancing...

B: And macho!

F: Yeah, and macho.

What is that about macho baile? That you drive girls crazy?

F: Ha ha ha. Not that way.

B: The thing is that there are bailaores and dancers.

F: And we’re bailaores... and not therefore better, but different.

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