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Interview with La Susi, Arcángel
and Diego Carrasco on 'Territorio Flamenco'
"We're taking risks to open doors for
flamenco"
Silvia Calado Olivo. Madrid, October 2003
Photos Daniel Muñoz
"We're like Indians; we keep taking up more and more territory".
Diego Carrasco jokes about the project, but the truth is that for its stars, 'Territorio
Flamenco' means a visa of free circulation around the broad world of music: rock,
folksongs, boleros, jazz... The invention isn't new; rather it's old. The novelty
lies in the gathering. What other way, if not, would José Mercé,
Diego Carrasco, Estrella Morente, Rancapino, La Susi, Miguel Poveda, Remedios
Amaya, Carmen
Linares and Arcángel coincide? All of them have known how to appreciate
this joining of hands. Diego
Carrasco recognizes that "we miss getting together. And it was thanks
to Carlos Herrero -executive producer - and Isidro Múñoz - producer
and musical director - who, without leaving Sanlúcar, thinks about what
to do with each of us; it's not chance". Pointing at La Susi, he comments:
"He tells her to listen to Sting and he's motivating her. And he tells him
- referring to Arcángel-, since he knows what he likes, what he's going
to record".
Arcángel, La Susi and Diego Carrasco
And what Arcángel
has recorded is 'La bien pagá'. The Huelva-born cantaor describes the experience
in very positive terms, "because I was allowed to sing something I've always
felt like doing and which has no place in one of my own projects. It's incredible
to record a song that I really felt like doing. And, on the other hand, I'm very
happy to share an album with all the artists who are here and for having worked
with Isidro Sanlúcar". For Arcángel, who is already preparing
his second album, 'Territorio Flamenco' means "a bit of freedom, since it's
nice that we flamencos can sing other things that aren't flamenco and without
being reminded fifteen minutes later that it isn't your stuff. It's important
and it's great that we all respect each other mutually, that we can do what we
really like, with more or less fortune".
The cantaor from the land of fandango recognizes that "I've always been
a folksong enthusiast and I've always liked this one in particular. I don't know
why, when I used to meet up with my friends in Huelva to hang out, we always ended
up singing it. It's always been a constant in my life; I've always heard it and
loved it". And having performed this composition by Juan Mostazo and Ramón
Perelló, a genuine emblem of Spanish song, has caused him to reflect upon
the relationship between both genres. "I think the copla (folksong) is in
itself flamenco; it has flamenco inside. It originates practically from the same
culture, the thing is that the techniques with which folksongs are sung, the folksongs'
voices, might not draw out that flamencura which is implicit. And that doesn't
mean it's bad, but rather that it's another completely different form of expression.
Flamenco collects this series of melodies and makes them its own because they're
turns which make up a part of flamenco; they're melodies very adaptable to flamenco.
For many, the version of 'La bien pagá' might be the easiest one on the
album because it's what's closest to flamenco, but it's also a challenge to try
and make it sound different, which I don't know if I've managed, but I've given
it a shot, which is saying something".
La
Susi nods. "Yes, yes you've managed to. I'm a flamenco and I'll tell
you so". The case of the Alicante-born cantaora is totally different. She
tackles the famous 'Roxanne' by the group The Police. "I've gone to another
terrain which has nothing to do with what I sing, but does have to do with what
I feel. I think any kind of music, if you like it, can be felt just like flamenco:
classical, jazz, blues... I chose this version because it's a song by Sting which
impressed me quite a bit. And 'Roxanne' now sounds flamenco. I'm impressed by
how Sting sings. I discovered him a long time ago, I even met him. And now I've
rediscovered him and I'm in love... with how he sings".
La Susi and Diego Carrasco |
La Susi and Arcángel |
-Arcángel: Ah.
-La Susi: Well, if I meet him I might also be able to fall in love with him...
because they say he's really hot. I'd love to meet him and I'd really like him
to hear the version which has been done of 'Roxanne' to know what he thinks of
it. I think he's going to like it because he likes flamenco a lot. Tomate's daughter
has also done another version which is beautiful. We'll see if he likes listening
to his compositions in flamenco voices.
-Diego Carrasco: He's going to die when he hears it!
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La Susi: "What would happen if a singer like Sting wanted
to sing bulerías? He can't"
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Let's turn things around. What would happen if a singer like Sting wanted to
sing bulerías, if he wanted to annex flamenco to his territory? La Susi's
answer is categorical: "He can't". Diego Carrasco agrees, but in his
own way: "First a rebirth or two would be needed". The cantaora adds
that "flamenco, not 'lolailo' flamenco, but that of enthusiasts like us,
can go a lot further than what people think, since we can afford to sing not that,
but a great many other things. But they can't do what we do; I'll make that clear.
And I hope that doesn't sound horrible to them. If they're enthusiasts and they're
good as musicians, they have to appreciate it because what we do is make music
with our throats". Diego Carrasco backs these assertions when he says that
"this is music but seen from a flamenco prism. Coming in here, into flamenco,
is more difficult than the other way around. That's categorical. And I think the
professional dignity is there. If we like it, I think they have to like it too,
whether they understand it or not, no matter to what degree they like it".
It's impossible to get the Jerez-born singer and composer to talk about his 'Hello,
Dolly', no matter how much one insists...
-Diego, in your case, did you choose the song, too?
-My case is no big deal; it's not much to speak of. I manage by myself. My
case is open and shut.
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Diego Carrasco: "Flamencos need to come together to share
music"
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After several attempts frustrated by as many more of his quips, Tete gets serious
- that's a manner of speaking - and explains that "we're very happy because
you realize the value works of this kind can have. The movement there already
is through the album is great. And the debate about whether it is or isn't flamenco
is unnecessary. Of course it's flamenco! What else could it be? Portuguese?".
Of everything good the project may have, what stands out is "the way, I think
consciously, because I don't think it was unconsciously, it brought us together.
And I think we need to come together to share not only this, but to share music.
Now Arcángel is talking to me about his album; now I'm dying to do a song
on each one's record. We're very happy to be together, to do a serious job, which
we all like... That's also delicate because at times, due to questions of marketing,
you're taken to places where you find yourself between the devil and the deep
blue sea. That's happened to all of us. And in this case, on the contrary, we're
happy to do a job with dignity and freedom. I love everything I've heard on 'Territorio';
every version, how each artist performs it... I mean it from the heart".
On asking the question whether the project might be continued, it's also Diego
Carrasco, who's on a roll, who responds. "Of course, this is the first step;
we're going to go really far. We've already proposed paying tribute to Carlos
Gardel, something which Miguel
Poveda's done, which I think is awesome. And you'll see how we shake things
up with the kid (Arcángel) in folksong. We're going to grab Martirio and
you'll see. I think it's really beautiful to do it with that prism; that's opening
things up. And what we're hearing lately from El Cigala ('Lágrimas
Negras', with Bebo Valdés)... I think we're just where flamenco
deserves to be, above all because we're taking risks to open windows or doors.
It has to be put on record that we're here. The ones who were here before us have
passed. Now we're here".
revista@flamenco-world.com
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