Buika to perform at The Music Hall
Buika, described as the Queen of Afro-Flamenco Soul, is bringing her special blend of music to Portsmouth: The vocalist, born María Concepción Balboa Buika, comes with a genuinely unique and smoky-velvet voice and a great story.
Buika is the daughter of political refugees from Africa Equatorial Guinea. Her family found refuge in a gypsy community on the Spanish island of Palma De Mallorca; hers was the only black family among them.
Buika found a second home there and in Flamenco found individualistic spirit and a path to self-acceptance. Flamenco was an open door, she says. "It's not just about music, it's a way of life. It's about not running away from yourself. Some people sing about what they would like to happen or would like to be, but in the copla and el cante, we confront who we are, with all our fears and all our defects. In the United States there's also a great tradition like this: it's called the blues."
Her music blends copla, an old-fashioned Spanish song style, flamenco, jazz, Cuban music, soul and blues
"El Ultimo Trago," her latest CD, a homage to the Mexican singing legend Chavela Vargas, was nominated for two Latin Grammy awards: "Recording of the Year" (for the song "Se Me Hizo Facil") and "Best Traditional Tropical Album." She recently completed a duet with Seal titled "You Get Me" for his CD "Seal 6: Commitment," and finished taping her screen debut for Pedro Almodóvar's upcoming film "La Piel Que Habito" ("The Skin I'm In").
It took nearly a month to hook up with Buika, who was traveling both in the United States and throughout Europe. The interview was conducted over e-mail.
SPOTLIGHT: Can you describe and explain your fusion of music styles?
BUIKA: Not at all. I cannot explain my music. First of all I don't recognize styles. I don't like to be on one style or another. I don't like when someone tells me you sing jazz, or flamenco, or rancheras. I prefer to just sing and express myself with the music. If I choose just one, I am putting limits on myself that I don't want.
SPOTLIGHT: How did you develop this style?
BUIKA: There is not style at all, just art, singing, feelings. I sing because of a deep need inside me. It's the way to express all the things that happen in my normal life, things that normally I cannot speak about. So it is easy for me, if something hurts me I sing. If I am happy, I sing. If I feel sorrow, I sing.
SPOTLIGHT: Can you tell us a bit about "El Ultimo Trago," your latest recording and why you made it as a tribute to Chavela Vargas?
BUIKA: Because Chavela is one of the big ladies of the music and I think that making a tribute has sense when people (are) still alive. I met Chavela many years ago.
When I was a child my father went away, and my mother suffers a lot for that. She stays alone with five children to raise up and at that time Chavela's music helps her a lot. My mom used to listen to her lyrics and she felt that she was not the only one in the world suffering for love.
SPOTLIGHT: What can The Music Hall audiences expect to see at the concert?
BUIKA: First of all my tour will be focused on ("El Ultimo Trago"), plus other repertoire from my previous CDs plus something new. I never know what I will sing. There is a list before going on stage, but it depends on the audience normally.
In any case, I am a woman who does not expect anything from anybody, so I don't recommend people to expect something concrete for the concert on Oct. 24: I recommend to come if they would like to do it, and come to enjoy.
SPOTLIGHT: You are hailed as the as the queen of flamenco fusion, but it's said you think of yourself as a jazz singer. Hype or truth, and if truth why?
BUIKA: I don't like to be just one thing: flamenco singer or jazz singer or rancheras singer. Why (do) I need to choose if I can be every of that kind of singer?
SPOTLIGHT: Your music is also likened to blues a lot, can you explain that connection?
BUIKA: I don't hear myself, and I don't see myself. I just live me. I don't think a bird will analyze its way of flying and normally a bird will never be flying for the same way and in the same way.
SPOTLIGHT: While this is touted as your first North American tour you actually performed in the U.S. before, in Las Vegas, as a Tina Turner impersonator. How did that come about and how long did you perform that show?
BUIKA: This Las Vegas thing was very interesting. It shows me that I can deal with everything.
SPOTLIGHT: Did it leave a mark on your music in any way?
BUIKA: Well maybe I can do the tour I am doing now because there I used to make three concerts a day for seven days a week. So, I prepare my muscles to sing!
SPOTLIGHT: What are you looking forward to on this tour?
BUIKA: To see if I am able to finish it. It is a lot of concerts with not many days to rest in between. I am a little bit scared.
SPOTLIGHT: Who are your greatest influences?
BUIKA: Songs of birds, all kinds of sounds, Chavela, Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, thousands.
SPOTLIGHT: You have recorded a number of duets, the latest with Seal. Is there an artist you hope to record with in the future?
BUIKA: With Chick Corea, This is my big dream. And also with Wynton Marsalis and others, and maybe. We don't have to force it. It's just a question to wait and maybe all of them come ... slowly.
WHERE The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth WHEN Sunday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. COST $38, $30 CONTACT 436-2400, www.themusichall.org