How did this idea come about?
About a month ago, I received a call from some friends from El Hierro, residents of the island, immersed in a major depression, which we from the rest of the islands don't have much awareness of how bad they are having it. The island is closing down, becoming depopulated, left in solitude. The media, in their obligation to inform, may have magnified a bit what has happened with this volcano, and the rural hiking reservations they have have been canceled. The island is sunk in a great depression, not only economic but also emotional. So, these friends told me to do something, they told me to invite a song, that we would record it and then see what to do with it, whether it was sold or not, but at least to cheer people up a bit. I said of course, I involved Los Sabandeños, no one said anything to me, everyone was delighted to collaborate, we got to it in the Multitrack studios. Everyone has done this without receiving anything, no one has charged a penny. And well, we made this song, a traditional song, since it is the baile del salto to the island of El Hierro, to which what I did was give it a personal touch, give it lyrics, but I have not invented the melody, it is traditional. And I have tried to give it a positive, encouraging touch and that it serves a bit so that people go to the island of El Hierro. The people of El Hierro do not want alms, but for people to go to their island, enjoy it and give it the life it needs. Now we have made it available to the Cabildo, so that they can channel what they want, if they want to sell it, post it in the media? The copyrights are assigned, and everything that is the EGM will help the little sister of the family, who now has a little fever.
This record, if it comes out, would then only be a single, right?
Yes, indeed. We were also looking at the way to perhaps download it with the phones or make a DVD with the video that Rodrigo Cornejo has made and perhaps sell it through the newspapers, but that now corresponds to those who are now moving it to monetize this.
And you were saying then that the lyrics are yours, but that the melody is traditional? What voices participate in it?
The music is also mine, but based on a traditional melody. The chorus is as is and what I have modified has been the part of the soloists. And the soloists are one for each of the municipalities of the small island of El Hierro. There are Angélica Casaña, for Farinosa; Calendaria Gorrín, who is from El Pinar; Claudia de Álamo, who is from Valverde, and then also representing the entire island and all of the Canary Islands, our Canary Islands Prize for Popular Culture, María Mérida, who came from Madrid specifically to record it with great joy and contributed her experience.
