Vicente Soto Sordera, cantaor. Interview

“I sing with thought”

Silvia Calado. Madrid, December 2004
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

Vicente Soto Sordera has a state of mind to get across. And the vehicle is rhythmic, upbeat, lively flamenco. 'eStar Alegre’ is a plunge, without beating around the bush, into the most outgoing flamenco, and in passing, a tribute to maestras of bulerías, tangos and alegrías such as Adela la Chaqueta, La Repompa and La Perla. The son of Sordera de Jerez has more than demonstrated his ‘seriousness’ as a cantaor in the vast discography dotting his career. And he can afford to specialize in his records. The maxim is not to lose track of the roots, which run in his blood, and to update the sound of his works making them suitable for today's audience. Not only does he produce himself, but he also creates lyrics inspired in his own personal experiences, since he is just like Manolito de María, who sings “because I remember what I've lived”. And he's lived a great deal... and in a very flamenco way.

How did making an album on which you give up the serious styles come about?

The idea of being able to make this album seeks to reflect flamenco's vivacity. We're living in a period in which people are clearly tending to listen to singing through tangos or bulerías. I've tried to do those cantes of ours that have always been done, molded to these times. Moreover, with reminiscences of La Repompa in tangos, Adela la Chaqueta in bulerías, La Perla de Cádiz in alegrías... There's reminiscence of the great cantaores we've had and of the sources we've drawn on. Of course, with lyrics of mine and my way of doing it.

Vicente Soto 'Sordera'

On previous albums you sing texts by poets and here, however, they're your own verses...

I identify with my own things here. I'm a very lively, very rhythmic cantaor, as is shown in my previous recordings, but what's been achieved here is to give it what the title says: estar alegre (to be happy).

Does the album reflect a personal state of mind?

In the period I recorded the album, it does. Not right now because I had the thing with my mother and I'm more down. When I recorded it my morale was really high, really happy; I didn't have this grief that I have now. The album helps, especially when you sing live.

Besides the lyrics, you also produce together with Josete Ordóñez. What sense did you want to give it?

I think we're abusing with too much instrumentation and things are really clear. When you sing through tangos or bulerías, the rhythm's already there. When there's clapping with rhythmic tapping and a good air in the guitars, what you want to show is displayed; nothing else is needed.

Three Jerez guitars accompany your cante. Does it need that sound?

That sound is always on my records. I was among the first to record with Moraíto Chico; he has like two or three recordings with me and he's always collaborated on my albums. Manolito Parrilla is also a guitarist I like a lot; José María Molero, who usually comes with me too; and Diego del Morao... They're all Jerez guitars because my air is displayed with the sound of my native land. And each one contributes a nuance. Diego gives it those more modern airs, he plays a couple of things and you can tell, just like with Manolito Parrilla. Moraíto is a little more from the old guard. We're now starting to belong to the old guard; our children are already playing now. I try to soak up everything from the new generation and try never to lose those roots I carry inside.

When you write lyrics, what inspires you?

I sing a lot about personal experiences, about things I've lived, and about love, of course. The first song on the album, for example, is a reminiscence of Adela la Chaqueta which is lovely, ‘Sale la luna’. She was a woman who I spent a lot of time with when I started working at Los Canasteros as a kid and later on we coincided working together in shows. She's a woman who went a little unnoticed and she was an extraordinary artist; she used to sing like the angels. It's a song done with a lot of affection for her.

	Vicente Soto 'Sordera'

It's not usual for cantaores to sing their own lyrics...

In order to be able to write, it's important to be in a good frame of mind and moreover to have lived a lot. Having personal experiences is a fundamental starting point to be able to tell something. Memories always contribute things to me. I think you have to resort to those memories... And look at what lucky memories I have from having known Manolo Caracol, from working at his house, from having heard him speak... I've also been lucky enough to know La Perla, Adela la Chaqueta, very important people from a generation. And those duendes (that magic) come and wake you up when you're sleeping. I sing with thought. As Manolito de María used to say when he was asked why he sang: “I sing because I remember everything I've lived”. That happens to me.

Has the relationship you've had on prior records with the poetry of authors such as Pessoa and José Hierro opened any doors for you?

I think it's really important to flamenco. I feel very proud to have contributed my tribute or remembrance to certain poets, starting with the record to Fernando Pessoa, which was great back in those years. The truth is that beginning there I became interested in it, without ever taking it away from our flamenco roots. You have be very careful with it because flamenco has that great musical standing and when I join one of those texts to it, it's incredible. Joining a text by Fernando Pessoa or Ramón María del Valle Inclán or any of those great poets to one of our master cantes, I think is to create a jewel between the text and the music our culture has.

Sometimes this encounter between flamenco and poetry can turn out to be difficult... and perhaps even forced, don't you think?

I'm very lucky because since I'm a rhythmic cantaor, it's much easier for me than for someone who doesn't have compás or doesn't have rhythm or sings free verse. When I see those great poets who write with rhythm or with quadrature, honestly, I find it simple. I'm lucky enough to coincide with them.

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