“ANDI’m very happy to return (to Portugal), and I’m taking my album ‘Palabras Urgentes’, which is not just any word, because we’ve been through very difficult things, we’ve been through very difficult situations and times in Peru and in the world”, he said in an interview with Lusa from Peru, through the Zoom platform.
“Palabras Urgentes”, published in 2021, is a work that “comes from within the soul” and, “for that reason, (it has) a reinterpretation of ‘Cambalache’ (by Argentine Enrique Santos Discépolo), and a tribute to the women leaders who , with their passion for freedom, made America’s independence possible — Juana Azurduy and Micaela Bastidas, to whom (Peruvian singer-songwriter) Chabuca Granda dedicated ‘La herida oscura'”, which is also reinterpreted on the album.
In the work that marks the 50th anniversary of Susana Baca’s career, there are “these homages”, but “things of love too, of intimacy, of this detached, stray love, without problems of sex or choosing who you want”.
On this European tour, Susana Baca is playing “with a new group of people”, in which “they are all very young”. “I even say that they are my grandchildren. They don’t know what it means for me to sing in Portugal”, she said.
The singer said that whenever she takes a poll with the team, after the last concert in Europe before returning home, to decide where they feel very good, “Portugal always wins, always”.
“Because the food is very good, very well organized, the sound equipment travels with us, we take buses to the nearest cities, which allows us to rest better and enjoy the landscape and everything”, he said.
In 50 years of career, the most beautiful moments happened in places “where they don’t speak your language, and maybe the beat of your music is not familiar to them”.
“This was in Macedonia, and people danced to the beat of the music with what they felt in their soul, what they received from my music. That moment is when you prove that there are no barriers, when you let go of your soul”, he said.
At 78 years old, there are still young people who look to her for collaborations, and they are “the ones who sing the truths now”.
“There are ‘rappers’ and there are ‘rappers’, right? But there are ‘rappers’ who are involved in politics, and they’re doing really well. I just recorded a very small thing on a song by a rapper, Jaze, and this did- reach children. This is the future,” he said.
Although she had a “very short” term as Minister of Culture, in 2011, Susana Baca recalls that throughout her career she was involved in politics in Peru.
“In events, whether against racism or politicians, I participated. It is very hard work, with many difficulties, with many inconveniences, with many closed doors. Even if they think it is not important, I will do it. And I will. do despite the criticism, despite everything,” he said.
“(I will) continue to the end, because that is honest: and that honesty is the greatest wealth I have, isn’t it?”.
Susana Baca released her first album in 1987 (“Color de Rosa Poesía y Canto Negro”), gaining attention outside her country after publishing the compilation “The Soul of Black Peru: Afro-Peruvian Classics”, by David Byrne’s publishing house , the Luaka Bop, in 1995, where she appears singing “María Landó”.
The singer has already been distinguished, among others, with three Grammy Awards, the Order of Merit for the Republic of Peru and the Order of Arts and Letters for the French Republic.
He recently edited a memoir, “Yo vengo offer mi corazón”.
Susana Baca’s shows in Portugal are scheduled for May 4th, at Teatro Tivoli, in Lisbon, May 6th, at the Espinho Auditorium, and May 7th, at Theatro Circo, in Braga.
Also Read: Susana Baca looks sadly at Peru but has hope for young people
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