1. For many artists, they cite a
defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a
singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan
show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later. Is there such a
defining moment for you?
When I was 5
years old, I would sneak out in the middle of the night to play Flamenco music
with the gypsies in the streets of Sevilla. The passion and fire of the palmas,
guitars, dancers, and wailing voices, the beautiful ancient versos passed
down from generation to generation... it was all so magical to me. I remember a
song by Spanish artist Antonio Flores that said “Oye, pero mira yo soy
Flamenco, por mi vena yo lo siento” which translates to “Listen, I am
Flamenco, I feel it flowing through my veins”. For these people, music is the
essence of who they are as beings. The first time I sang those words I knew
nothing would come between me and music, because in my veins, music runs
thicker than blood. And in that moment, I knew my destiny was to pursue this
path.
2. When you’re not
creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your
favorites?
I listen to all kinds of
music, everything from Jazz to Hip-hop, Afrobeat to Bossa nova, Soul and R&B
to Singer-songwriters... so many styles. My very favorite stuff, though,
usually falls into two categories: artists who are no longer with us or who
come from other countries. Jazz legends like Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and
John Coltrane really hit home for me, great singers like Nina Simone, Betty
Carter, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles, and then there are my favorite Spanish
artists like Joan Manuel Serrat and Concha Buika, Sara Tavares from Portugal, Seun
Kuti & Egypt 80 from Nigeria, Habib Kotié from Mali, as well as classic
Brazilian artists like João Gilberto and Tom Jobim, Buena Vista Social Club and
the Afro-Cuban All Stars (and anything Cuban, really), Jorge Drexler from
Uruguay... and the list goes on. One of my recent discoveries and new favorites,
who I just had the honor of meeting at the Globalquerque World Music Festival
last month, is Nawal from the Comoros Islands - she is just stunning!
Music from the past and from
foreign places is special to me because there is a whole different sensibility
about it - it speaks to you on another level; digs deep into your core. To
listen to it is almost like traveling to that other place or time in history
and experiencing the hardships, the joys, the passion, and gaining an
understanding of the unique perspective and identity of that certain country or
period in time.
3. What would you say is your greatest
moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?
When I held my CD, Out of
the Box, in my hand for the first time - what a feeling! To have something
concretely represent what you do, something you can point to and say "Wow,
I did that!" - it feels like such an amazing accomplishment. And
considering all the wonderful people involved, all the work and time and effort
that went into the project… it's just a really special thing to have evidence
of that collaboration, especially when it's something you are proud of. I
feel such tremendous appreciation and joy every time I look at it.
4. Do you believe music can
change the world or is just something to listen to?
How much can music influence current events?
Absolutely - I think music is
the answer to peace in the world, the best means for creating harmony between
people who are completely different from one another. Music lives inside the
heart and soul of every person, no matter where they come from, what their
beliefs are, what color their skin is, or how old they are. I’ve found, with
all the traveling I’ve done throughout my life, that music is truly the
universal language that unites all people of all walks of life. I’ve never
experienced a more powerful force.
In terms of current events, I
think music can be incredibly influential, because it hits you at another level
– it feeds both the conscious and the subconscious mind, so it targets both your
emotions and your intellect. It fuels the passion inside of you; makes tears
flow, smiles linger, and bonds form. Music creates awareness of a very unique
sort – which is why I chose to name my group illumiNation, because our
purpose is to do just that – to illuminate; to bring consciousness and light into
the world through our music. Look at the impact of artists like John Coltrane,
Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, John Lee Hooker, Bob Dylan, John Lennon – artists
like these have shined a light on the issues of racism, sexism, war, politics…
you name it. Music, throughout history, has always played a key role in making
this impact on the public, of waking us up and inspiring us to make a
difference in whatever way we can.
5. How has technology affected the
music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?
I have a love-hate
relationship with technology. I’m such an old soul, so I have a hard time
dealing with the way technology interferes with little pleasures of life I hold
so dear – namely, the face-to-face connection with other human beings. It can
become a really unhealthy distraction, because ironically, being “plugged in”
seems to result in people “checking out” completely. I find that creativity is
often thwarted by it because, if you have the right kind of gadget at your
disposal – voila! – everything can be done for you instantly at the push of a
button. I have also noticed that people are less likely to make an effort to go
see a show or search for an album because they can easily download it for free
or check it out on YouTube instead. That human-to-human interaction, the core
of the musical experience, is lost. I find that part so heartbreaking, because
that, to me, is where the magic happens. But I do also see the value that
technology gives us in terms of connecting with people all across the globe, and
being able to share my music with people I would never have contact with any
other way is truly a beautiful thing.
6. Now for my Barbara Walters
question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
High-Heeled Sneakers. Hands down.
