Alejandro Sanz’s authentic journey

by Sergio Bastos
September 2006

With a voice as powerful as a steam locomotive, Alejandro Sanz is back with El Tren de Los Momentos, his first album of original songs in two years, where he encourages the audience to embark on a musical journey. On this train you will run into familiar faces such as Juanes, Shakira, Calle 13, Antonio Carmona, and Alex Gonzalez from Maná, all passengers in this expedition.

Alejandro asks for the listeners to be the operators of this train, and let their emotions guide the journey. As the conductor, Sanz invites everyone aboard and warns, “There are a lot of surprises. I think people will be amazed by the style of some of the tracks. There’s a funky side to the record, which can be a little difficult since funk from Spain has always been a little ‘Mickey Mouse.’ To make funk music you have to have that mischievousness, that naughtiness. You can’t make clean funk.”

Fresh from an exhausting stop in New York City where over the course of four days he shot the album cover and two videos, including “A La Primera Persona,” Alejandro takes Batanga along for the ride.

I have read that the idea for the video of “A La Primera Persona” is to tell a story that will continue with the other videos.
Exactly, we want to connect the videos so there’s a story that will be told with the first four singles. El Tren de Los Momentos is an album of circumstances where somehow they all converge. It talks about daily occurrences becoming something extraordinary. That’s what we want to convey in the videos.

You have won a total of 15 Latin Grammys and Grammys. Do you feel this new album can take you to the Grammys again?
Ojalá. The Grammy is given by my peers, the people in the media and the music business, therefore it’s extremely important because it’s recognition of your work. But I would give up my 15 Grammys for the assurance that someone will listen to the album and enjoy it.

What was your most memorable train ride?
I have traveled by train countless times. Fortunately in Europe the short distances make train traveling very common, plus it’s the most romantic way of traveling. In the train strangers get to know each other, share their lives. There’s always someone sitting next to you to talk to, stories intersect, things happen, it’s a meeting place. It’s the authentic way of traveling, because nowadays we don’t travel anymore, we transport ourselves from a starting point to our final destination. For me traveling encompasses the stories in the middle. El Tren de Los Momentos is packed with magical and real stories.

Stepping inside a train makes you feel like a real traveler because it gives you the complete experience of a journey. I’d rather tour on a bus than on a plane. The airplane is the fastest way to transport anything, but it’s way more uncomfortable. Getting on a plane isn’t traveling, it’s transporting oneself. The train is a pure and genuine way of traveling, where the things that happen during the trip are just as important as the place you’re heading to.

In the last 10 years the music industry had to go through some changes to adjust to the piracy threat. What’s your opinion about piracy? What do you think should change?
That’s a difficult subject. There are a lot of theories about how to control piracy, and theories about what piracy is and what it isn’t. I believe the Internet can open doors to both paradise and hell, depending how you use it. It’s a door that’s completely open, the most anarchic place on the planet. Just like the train, it’s a location where anything can happen. It’s hard to determine how much of it we can fix now. The recording industry asked for changes at the wrong time. That should have been taken care before the issue got out of hand, but the executives were spending too much money on banalities and didn’t see it coming. Now it will be a lot tougher.

You’re always writing, plus you like literature. Have you ever thought about writing a book?
Not at the moment. I started to write something after one of my close friends passed away, he always wanted to write a book and I promised him I would finish. Maybe I’ll finish it one day. People say that before you die you have to have a child, plant a tree and write a book. I’ve planted a tree, I have my daughter … one day, why not?

Where does your inspiration come from?
From the train cars of life. I have been able to tell a lot from my own life experiences. I try not to talk about myself, but it’s almost impossible, there’s always an autobiographical aspect in what I write. But I never talk directly about myself otherwise people start making assumptions. Fame can be a little tricky. My inspiration comes from many places but need and vengeance are good motivations to write. I’ve written songs to confess and avenge.

You have a lot of flamenco influence in your music. Have you ever thought about recording a traditional flamenco album?
There’s a song, a bulería [style of flamenco], that I’m slowly working on it with Paco de Lucia every time we see each other. Maybe one day we’ll finish, but for now is not in my plans. Is not that easy because flamenco is not something you can say, “I’m going to do a flamenco album tomorrow.” Flamenco is a way of life. You have to feel, breath, eat, drink, and live flamenco in order to make the music.

How does it feel when you see Niña Pastori, whose career you helped jump start and attain commercial success outside flamenco?
Blissful, grateful and extremely proud. Proud of being there, even if it was to tell people “Hey, check this out.” That was the best gift I could get. Her latest album is fantastic. I met with Fher from Maná and told him, “You know, that song [‘Vivir Sin Aire’] wasn’t one of my favorites but sung by her it was completely captivating.” She also sings one of my songs [‘Cuando Nadie Me Ve’] and one from Juan Luís Guerra. Last time Juan Luís was in Miami he came to visit me and I played it for him. When he heard “Burbujas De Amor,” he loved it. I’m very proud of her career. She’s a wonderful artist.

What’s the best part of being Alejandro Sanz?
To be able to do what I love, write the songs I want to write, and take my career where I want to take it. But above all, to be able to express myself.

What was the most difficult moment in your life?
My father’s death was very hard for me. It’s something that stays with you forever. The pain is something you eventually get used to, but the wound never heals.

Women go crazy with your music and poetry, but many of your fans would like to know how is Alejandro Sanz outside of the spotlights … outgoing, enigmatic, down to earth?
I like to laugh. I believe laughter is a great antidote against any poison, including the poison of the tongues. I’m found of honest conversations with depth and substance, where there’s a blaze of words and the incentive to discover messages hidden in the sentences. I like to enjoy life for people to enjoy it.

You’re now 37. Is there anything you would like to accomplish by the time you’re 40?
I never thought I was going to get to 40 [laughs]. The concept of time is what makes us old. The way you count is very important. When I was 15 years old I used to count with halves, a day and a half, a month and a half, now I count whole numbers. People tend to stretch the concept of age. Now someone who’s 50 is not a senior, but when I was 15 a 30 year old was an elder to me. It really doesn’t matter how old you are but how you got there.

What was the last song that moved you?
The other day I heard a rendering of one of my songs [“Lo Ves”] by Sin Bandera, and I was thrilled, it truly touched me. Many things me emocionan, but music is a constant in my life.

Have you achieved all your dreams?
The big, fat, shine dreams aren’t my target anymore. I have small dreams. To be moved by a song, that a scent will bring memories, that my daughter smiles today … those are my goals, dreams and aspirations.

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