“With my music I try to instill a love for Mexican culture, without politics or guesswork”

2023-06-18 12:36:29

After five years of waiting, the greatest exponent of Mexican music in the world, Alejandro Fernández, returns to Spain. The artist will present his Amor y patria tour and all his successes at Marenostrum Fuengirola, on June 21; this being the only concert in the province.

The truth is that I can’t imagine a Spanish singer doing a tour entitled ‘Amor y patria’. Do you understand that in Spain the relationship with the country, with what it symbolizes, is so ambivalent, so love-hate, or is it something that doesn’t fit in your head?

No not at all. We are very patriotic, especially I who dedicate myself to art, I always try to instill Mexican music and culture, but there are no more conjectures or go beyond that, there are no policies. It is about talking about the love we have for our country.

He comes from making history with his concert at the Monumental de México, with 50,000 Mexicans in a recital that was a tribute to his father, Vicente Fernández. What a challenge it must have been, setting the bar so high, right?

It was an incredible challenge, as well as spectacular. We were very surprised, it was like a small tribute to my father, he did it 40 years before and it cost him a lot. He wanted to repeat it, and honor him. The concert we took was impressive and our goal is to record it for future viewing.

By the way, he commented that this concert would mark a before and after in his career. In what sense? Where will he direct his steps now?

Beyond the place, since it is a very important site through which many important artists have passed, it is a historic square, the largest in the world. Just playing there was a huge challenge, considering how much it cost my father.

For you, your father was more than a father, he was also your guide, your mentor, your teacher. Now that your boss, as you called him, is no longer with us, with whom do you consult your career decisions?

For me he was a very great author and singer, but I had taken my own path, I had made my own flight. I always asked him for advice, I learned many things from him, he gave me the wisdom to make my own decisions. And beyond everything, I have tried to surround myself with very capable people; I also have a great team that advises me in my career.

It is not unusual for the son of such an iconic figure to also enjoy such success. How did he get it?

When I started working, the fact of being the son of such a great figure put me in the eye of the hurricane. Everything has been based on work and more work.

What can we expect from your concert in Marenostrum Fuengirola?

An incredible night, a spectacular party, there will be mariachis and about twenty musicians. We bring an incredible production to Malaga, encourage everyone to come, we are going to spend a great Mexican night, where I will play my greatest hits.

I think you are a good friend of Malaga paul lopez and that they even plan to collaborate together. Is it so?

We are working on it, it is difficult to coincide because of our agendas. Pablo and I are very, very close and very good friends. Every time he comes to Mexico I love serving him.

Your relationship with Spain is especially intense, right?

Very very good. I think it’s one of the places where I have more fan clubs. The people are very affectionate, I try to go to Spain every two years, but with the pandemic we spent five years without being able to play there. I feel that the people in Spain also want to see me, they have had the patience to wait for me for so long. That is why I want to invite you all to the concert in Malaga.

Latin music, in its urban aspect, dominates the markets, with artists such as Bad Bunny, Rosalía and many more. Do you feel that other Latin music, such as Mexican, regional, more autochthonous and folkloric, have been left behind a bit?

At some point yes, but Mexican music is taking on a force that I have never seen, above the urban, at least in Latin America it is through the roof. We are number one globally.

Cristian Nodal is confirmed to perform at Marenostrum next year. What do you think of artists like him or Featherweight, that new Mexican music?

Now other genres are emerging, which is arousing the interest of many. Mexican music is opening up to other frontiers and I think it’s a very good thing to become immersed in this music.