They sing — in English
They say music is the universal language, but song lyrics… are another matter. At least for these six singer-songwriters.
None of them find it strange that the songs they write are in English. They see it as their natural way of expressing themselves, because it’s their second language, the one they studied in, or the one spoken by their partners or their parents. But in every case there’s something in common: it’s the language of the music they grew up and were raised on, the language of most of their influences, even though those influences come from different generations and places. It’s also the language that fits the different musical styles they play: jazz, pop, gospel, rock… Russian Red may have been the first to break ground, but these women have not the slightest intention of being left behind.
Anni B Sweet · Málaga, 1988
“As a kid, I used to play at composing with a keyboard my older siblings had, which had samples in it. I’d start from there to write and compose a melody on top. Then I’d record them onto a cassette tape. But it’s when I moved to Madrid, at 18, that I began a closer relationship with music.” That’s how Anni B Sweet describes the beginning of her intense and productive history with music — three albums in six years — in which her personality also played an important role: “I’m a very shy person. I’ve been that way since I was little when it comes to talking; I’ve always felt embarrassed sharing certain things I kept deep inside. Speaking in public, I express myself terribly and end up saying things I don’t even mean. I suppose that’s what leads me to write, so I can let it out, analyze myself, or simply feel better.”
In all likelihood, that’s why she herself admits her lyrics tend to be autobiographical in nature: “I tell things that have happened to me or that have crossed my mind. This latest album — Chasing Illusions (Subterfuge) —, for example, is inspired by the feeling of seeing how, the more time goes by, the more complexes and prejudices grow inside me, and the urge to drag along everything that makes me feel bad and self-conscious.” She also admits, though, that it’s a brighter album than her previous ones, especially compared to Oh! Monster: “I had a period of reflection, I moved to another city, and that fresh air helped me see that the size of the fears I had wasn’t as big as I thought, and that they shouldn’t define me either.”
- 04/09 Kultur Kutxa · Donostia
- 05/09 Ebrovisión · Miranda de Ebro
- 13/09 Festival de la Luz · Boimorto (A Coruña)
“I’m very shy, I suppose that’s what leads me to write so I can let it all out.”
By: Cristina Bisbal · Source: Shopping & Style, July–August 2015.