2023-12-03 14:47:22
After two years touring with the songs by Triana, Manuel Martínez, Paco Ventura and Manuel Ibáñez They return to the essence of Medina Azahara with a double album of new songs that will silence the critics that arose from some when it came out Came the day and the group was criticized for a certain lack of creativity. Like a new rebirth, the band now takes the departure, last Friday, of The eternal dream, a work that means that, after four decades, the band is more alive than ever and continues with the desire to get on stage and live on the road. Although there is still no date for their presentation in Córdoba, tomorrow, Monday, the members of the group will approach their followers at the Hipercor de Ronda in Córdoba, where, at 6:00 p.m., they will sign copies of their new album.
Why ‘The Big Sleep’?
Manolo Martínez (MM): We liked the phrase, which appears in a song, and we decided to give that title to the album.
Paco Ventura (PV): It is not a farewell title, quite the opposite. For us it means continuing, resurfacing, continuing to do what we know best, which is music, and continuing to be part of the history of Andalusian rock. We have the eternal dream of continuing on stage.
Twenty-three new songs and a version of ‘I will walk’ by Umberto Tozzi. A real waste of creation, they look inspired.
(MM): We have written even more songs, but it wasn’t a question of making a triple album. It’s a bet on ourselves, because after The Day Came we began to hear that the group had made that album because it no longer had ideas, that it was finished. And our response to those criticisms has been this album.
They claim that this new album represents a new rebirth for the band. What are they referring to?
(MM): I imagine there is talk of rebirth precisely because after our last albums we have returned with our own songs.
(PV): I think that after the stop we made with Triana’s songs, we had to be reborn again, regain momentum with new songs and unreleased songs. Reborn is a word that has always been our flag, since we are a group that after this long history we have had to continue showing that Medina Azahara has a lot to contribute to music.
Manuel Ibáñez (MI): After so many studio albums, this is like being reborn from our ashes and now we are more Medina Azahara than ever.
What themes do they address in these songs?
(MM): We talk about love, our childhood, women, children who live in war… And a little politics, but without addressing anyone in particular. As always, we protest about everything, but at the same time we are consistent with what we write, although sometimes we would like to write more black than white. Between the two there is always the ash.
(PV): There is also a song dedicated to the radio, to whom we have a lot to thank, and other very live songs like Everyone Standing, a title that encourages fun.
Is there any significant change in the sound?
(MI): The change has been to return to our sound, to the essence of Medina Azahara. It is true that this album has a rock character, but without losing the keyboard melodies.
(PV): There is an evolution in the sound because as the technique advances a more sophisticated sound is achieved and we have always had the concern of trying to make each album sound better. The evolution will be very noticeable when listening to this album.
Has it been difficult, especially for Manolo Martínez, the only original member of the band, to maintain the essence of the group over so many years? Has he been tempted to take other paths?
(MM): Some producers and companies have tempted us, but we have remained faithful to what we once thought was the essence of the group, without forcing anything. I have tried to be the same singing, without problems with the accent, contributing that quejío that makes Andalusian music different from the others. Sometimes it is difficult, because there are people who think that success could come in another way, with other styles, but the greatest success is having been on the road for 43 years, being ourselves and with a handful of people who follow us and sing. our songs.
In the previous album, ‘Llegó el día’, they had the production of José Luis Figuereo, El Barrio, and in this new work he also collaborates on a song.
(MI): He heard the song, he loved it and he suggested singing it with us, which is an honor because we are united by a great friendship, in addition to being a fan of Andalusian rock and Andalusia.
What is your assessment of your tour album in tribute to Triana?
(MM): Totally positive. It was a very risky project, Triana set the bar very high and composed such beautiful and romantic songs that it was difficult to face that task. We started with a topic, we liked the idea and we continued with it. We have been on tour for two years with this work and we have met very diverse people in the audience, from those who knew the group and experienced their music live, to young people who were very curious to know what Medina Azahara had done with them. topics.
(PV): One of the great benefits that the tour has had is that by doing it in theaters, in venues where people have been able to stop and listen, the range of audiences has expanded. We have recovered many followers who prefer tranquility.
Will those songs still be in your repertoire?
(MM): Few, because there are many new songs, especially those that we have to play out of obligation, like Walking through the Mosque, Córdoba, I need to breathe, Everything has its end…
When does the tour start?
(MM): We started on January 19 at the Cartuja Center in Seville.
Is there a date in Córdoba?
(MI): We are working on it.
Almost 4,000 concerts throughout their career, more than 23 albums, with which they have obtained ten Gold and two Platinum Records and some 230 songs. What do they need to achieve?
(MM): I think maybe perform in some emblematic place, although we have played in very important venues. We have always liked the idea of going to Japan.
(PV): And the Medal of Andalusia, which they haven’t given us yet. We have the Gold Medal for Fine Arts and we would love to be recognized in our land. Maybe they are waiting for us to have 50 years of experience.
What does it mean to you to be the reference of Andalusian rock? Do you think it is a lot of responsibility?
(MM): It is an honor, but not only we deserve it. Maybe we are the reference because we have never left. When everyone deserted, we continued fighting for that torch that is Andalusian rock.
His lyrics often reflect the history, culture and traditions of Andalusia. How have you seen the evolution of this land in the last forty years?
(PV): Above all, the roads have improved a lot (laughs), before it was an odyssey to go to Madrid. Joking aside, forty years ago music served to claim things that now people can say out loud, people go out into the streets and are not afraid.
Throughout their careers they have experienced very different political moments. How do you see this one?
(MM): A little chaos. I think politicians leave a lot to be desired. We have met very good politicians, like Julio Anguita. Politics practically left with him. Now there are political apprentices who only know how to promise what they themselves know they will not be able to do. We are neither right nor left, we are music.
(PV): The politicians of before were from the heart, no matter the party. They gave their lives to improve the situation of the country…
Despite being in the 21st century, today there are many artists who suffer censorship. Have you experienced any moments like this throughout your career?
(MM): We have never felt pressure to eliminate a song from the repertoire, although we were somewhat afraid. We mess with whoever we want and we have always proclaimed freedom.
Is live music still Medina Azahara’s strong point?
(PV): It is the reason for its existence. We are the soul of the road and live music has always been our source of diffusion. Before the networks, word of mouth worked.
(MI): We need the warmth of the public, records are part of our history but concerts are the meeting with our people and what makes us happier.
As they say, they live on the road. What residue does that life leave behind?
(PV): We still have fun, we are very familiar, we love being at home, but when we have been there for many days we feel strange. And we have controlled all the restaurants, our own Campsa and Michelin guide.
(MI): The road is part of our life.
How do you manage to work together for so many years? What happens when someone disagrees on something?
(PV): We know each other so much that when someone disagrees we know how to convince them.
(MI): That is also part of our essence, it is the salt of life. I’m the one who always gets angry.
Which of your songs-hymns does your audience vibrate the most?
(MM): I need to breathe. It’s a song that the companies didn’t want to record, but people jump as soon as it plays. And I let them sing the first phrase.
How would you like to be remembered?
(PV): With a street in Córdoba (laughs).
(MM): I don’t know, I think we would like to be remembered for what we are, a group that has maintained a long, always stable career and that has managed to survive many cultural movements. Genius and figure.
#thought #finished #answer #album