On April 18 Elain Morales will launch his disc My Paradise at the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater of Cuba. In the disc is “The Queen” a song the artist wrote to honor the legendary Cuban artist Celia Cruz. After a rehearsal in the National Theatre’s Café Cantante we spoke to him for nearly 25 minutes.
Long ago almost nobody talked about your career and your music was not played often. Where were you?
I was always in Cuba. There was a time when I had to meet international commitments of work and so I was apparently absent. But Cuba has always been present. I care a lot about work from here. I am an artist trained in the streets of this country.
Major musical influences…
Cuban music is in the first order and a little Brazilian and flamenco music. Also American music. I am a tireless seeker of music. 98 percent of my life is music.
Do you consider yourself a professional who is extremely a perfectionist?
No. Things themselves have their own identity. I try that things maintain their identity but I do not like to be extremist. We have to respect the public. They come to see us, pay for our concert and follow us. So the music demands respect and dedication. You have to be thorough and careful in that regard.
How is your relationship with Cubans outside the island?
That relationship is of love. Not only in Miami but all over the world. So wherever I go I carry a piece of this country. My guitar dsiplays the Cuban flag and they identify strongly with that and tell me their stories, their nostalgia.
You really do not care about competition?
Look, my competition is with myself. Every day I try to improve, reinvent myself, I look for new sounds. Competition exists but it is not something that worries me so much. Everyone has their seal, each has his own light.
You think you’ve managed to create a different seal?
That’s where the challenge is. I once heard from Celia Cruz that the challenge of being an artist is to be every day a new artist. I fight for it.
If they compare you, what happens?
You have to live with that. It happens constantly. I live at ease and have no problems. Yes, I am sure what my course is and what I want to do.
Incidentally, you dedicate a song to Celia Cruz, did you meet her?
I was able to have her around once. At that time I did a concert in the city of Miami and played in front of her. Then we met in a hallway and she congratulated me. But I have a relationship with Celia as do all Cubans and worldwide. I greatly admire her legacy, her music, her smile, her strength … her love for Cuba. I felt the need to make a tribute and I wrote the song “The Queen”.
Do not you think that being so liberal is a defect?
I do not know whether it’s a defect or a virtue. No one is completely free. We are always prisoners of something: a question, a consciousness, a government … But if you we have the opportunity to exercise your little freedom, why not?
Goals to reach…
I lack a lot. Music is infinite so I study every day to improve.
Are not you afraid to repeat your work?
Not fear, but I am very careful about it. In fact, the other day I was going through some files and I have songs to make 50 discs.
