Interview with Alicia Gil. Cantaora de bareto

What’s a flamenca doing in a notary’s office?
(Laughter)  When I finished studying business administration I immediately began working at a notary’s office, and for eight years I’ve been juggling this job with cane, because it’s always hard starting out.  In the daytime, I work at the notary, and at night, in Seville’s small cabarets.  It was good times, really, because I was starting out.  The only problem was I could never work far from Seville because I always had to work the following day.

But did you always know you would become a professional singer, or did the time come when you had to choose between one life and another?
Well, my first show was when I was 16, after that I had to combine both pursuits, but when I got pregnant eight years ago, I decided to take the leap; I left the notary and devoted myself to flamenco.

“In Seville there are many ‘baretos’ where you can hear very good artists.  This tribute is mostly for those of us who started out in the baretos”

And how have these years been?
Thank God I’ve never been short of work.  It’s going slowly, but steadily, which is the important thing. 

What’s a “bareto”, how could you define it?
It’s a bar with lots of art.  Not all bars are the same.  In Seville there are many baretos where you can hear very good artists.  This tribute is mostly for those of us who started  out in the baretos.

You decided to be a solo singer…is it more difficult being a woman?
It’s complicated because the world of flamenco is a difficult one, but hard work pays off.  I might have more work singing in a company, which I’ve also done, but I really like singing solo. I also like singing for dance, but I’m mostly working on my solo career.

Are you self-taught?
Completely.  I listen to what I like and do what I like.  There are cantes that don’t interest me, and I don’t do them.  I consider myself traditional, but my records also include other things you might hear on the radio.  But my cante is traditional.

You’ve already made two records…are there still things to discover about you?
I think so, little by little, because the first one, produced by Paco Ortega, was more pop than flamenco.  In this second one we’ve tried to get back to the roots a bit, I think it’s much more traditional.

”Most of the time I’m just a normal woman who takes the kids to school and goes to the market”

You’re a mother, and mother always say you love all your children the same.  Are you equally fond of both records?
Each one has its moments.  I like the first one very much, and it’s entertaining, but it’s also true I wandered away from the roots.  In fact, it was very difficult, because to go from sitting in a chair singing por soleá, to singing with a band of seven or eight musicians, is really very complicated.  But that experience was very useful, and now I’m able to have staging with many musicians and be able to do different types of shows in addition to a traditional recital.

What’s your life like?
Very organized.  I take my children to school, make lunch, study a bit, rehears… Very normal, nothing out of this world.  When we’re preparing a show, or a record, then I devote more time to my profession, but most of the time I’m just a normal woman who takes the kids to school and goes to the market to buy groceries.

Your verses are carefully chosen.  Do you like to tell a story when you sing?
Of course.  I like each verse to have a message.  In each theme I have the image of the verse inside my head, they’re very carefully chosen.  I like the ones that have something to say.

“It’s going slowly, but steadily, which is the important thing” 

You’ve got one verse that says “I’m going to leave this work, it just isn’t worth it, not even to pay for other people’s bad ways”…is that true?
Not really, it’s just a verse.

In addition to the verses, there’s your voice, your interpretation…what else of you is there on this record?
My whole being is in this recording.  And it was made completely among friends.  Everyone who took part in the record are friends of mine from many years back, people I’ve run around Seville with, people who also deserve to have their moment.

Lito Espinosa plays a bigger role on this record than on the last one.
Much bigger.  In the first place, he is co-producer, and the title song, “Cantaora de Bareto”, is his.  He also plays in the soleá with Chiquetete.  He’s the person who has always been with me, and has supported and helped me the most…he had to be on the record.

Did you have to convince him?
On the contrary, it’s always him encouraging me.  He’s very faithful and constant, a fine musician who always makes things move ahead.

What I mean is, do you have to push him to the forefront in your work. 
He always likes me to be in the forefront, but I like to have him by my side.

Does Lito have a style of his own’
He’s the most critical person I know.  He knows what I can do, and when I’m not up to par, he tells me so.

What do your daughters think of the record?
They love it, and they love music in general.

Do they sing it already?
Yes yes, and at home they hear all kinds of music, not only flamenco. Carmela who is 8 has been studying piano for 2 years, and she’s just as soon listening to Django Reinhardt as Camarón.  Musical education is very important for children.

“I like each verse to have a message” 

If they wanted to go into music, would you encourage them?
If that’s what they really and truly want, I’d be the first to encourage them, naturally.  But I’d have to see them with that enthusiasm and drive.

What does your father think of the record?
He’s also very happy.  I don’t come from a family of artists, and it’s been hard for them to understand what I do, they would surely prefer I stayed in the notary’s office.  But they see me making my way, bit by bit, and they see I’m just as soon on a stage as cooking  lunch for my children.

What do you sing to your children?
I’ve sung a lot of “nanas” for them.

And for Lito?
Por soleá.

And your father?
Also por soleá

Your mother?
What she likes most is Paquera’s tientos that I do in my show “Cantaora de Bareto”.

Whose eyes have you got, your father’s or your mother’s?
Neither one, they’re from my grandmother.

And the smile?
From both parents.

foto: Rafael Manjavacas

The drive?
Also from both parents, because my father has always been a fighter, and I have six brothers and sisters, my mother was always a hard worker.

What’s your idea of a dream show?
“Cantaora de Bareto”.  It’s the show I’ve had in my mind and in my heart for a long time.

Do you think all your hard work is rewarded?
Yes, definitely.  Well, there are some difficult moments when things don’t come out, but me and Lito are working in it, and when one is down, the other is there to put things together again.

“I listen to what I like and do what I like.  There are cantes that don’t interest me, and I don’t do them” 

How do you live your cante day to day?  Do you like to sing among friends?
Yes, but it depends on the day.  I throw a lot of parties.  For us, anything is a good excuse for a party.  But there are days when you just don’t feel like anything, and others when one beer is enough to get you singing for three days, it all depends on the moment.

Family….music….which comes first?
It’s all jumbled up together.  The family Is very important for me, but I’m my music.  My music is my reality and my truth, and that’s the impetus to keep going…which finger can I cut off that won’t hurt?

What’s your dream?
Right now I’m living my dream, a new record, a wonderful show…  My dream is to be able to present this work in good theaters and festivals so people can experience it.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A singer.