Everyone has a favorite singer, a music group or a preferred musical style. There is music for all moments, and for many it is necessary to be able to cope with day to day. However, for some it is not only an enjoyment, but a job to live from.
This is the case of Aithor Hernández, Arminda Martín and Ángel Gopar, three people from different generations but with the same passion for music. They live the genre from three different perspectives: Aithor is starting, Arminda combines it with other jobs and Gopar has been dedicated to music alone for more than 30 years.
Aithor Hernández, from playing at 13 years old in Lanzarote to touring in Galicia
Aithor Hernández is a young 27-year-old saxophonist who, after dedicating himself to music in a “semi-professional” way throughout his life, has decided to dedicate himself solely and exclusively to it this year. Before, his main profession was that of sound technician, even working at Radio Nacional de España, and before that he was a cook in a restaurant on the island.
He started getting some money with just 13 years old, in the Rikabanda orchestra of Lanzarote, and from there he was a regular in these groups on the island. Until in 2015 he received the call from the Armonía Show orchestra, from Gran Canaria, to do a tour in Galicia in a summer.
“From there I stayed in Las Palmas, to work and study”, says Hernández. In addition, that tour was a turning point in his musical professionalization, since he later did another tour with the same orchestra, and another year one with the Grupo Bomba orchestra of Fuerteventura, while continuing with his musical studies.
Hernández returned to Lanzarote to live with his partner, and after much thought, he decided to get fully into music: he registered as self-employed and started playing in hotels. “It's something I've always wanted but never dared to. Now, due to things in life, I had the opportunity to take the step and try”, explains the young saxophonist.
Aithor recognizes that what is really difficult to start the professional life of a musician are the “psychological barriers” that each one puts on. “Sometimes we have enough level to perform some work but we don't see ourselves capable. Many times it's just a matter of closing your eyes and moving forward”, adds Hernández, who makes special emphasis on that “with confidence, seriousness and perseverance, everything comes”.
The saxophonist recognizes that the uniqueness of Lanzarote makes that in the world of music “everyone knows each other”, and that even if someone new appears “they are quickly identified”.
In addition, Aithor Hernández highlights one of the main tools to make himself known in the world of music: social networks. “Before it was much more difficult to reach people, nowadays we find everything just by moving a finger on a screen”, he says.
The main idea of the young saxophonist is to be able to dedicate himself professionally to music for as long as possible. “It would be ugly if now, once inside, I say the opposite”, he says with a laugh, and adds that he hopes to dedicate himself to music “as much as he can”.
“At least I can justify so many years invested and so many annoyances to the neighbors”, adds Aithor, who little by little is having more work on the island as a professional musician, performing in hotels and in different events on the island.
Aithor Hernández sends a message to those young people who, like he did, have in mind to dedicate themselves professionally to music: “Don't be afraid, it's sacrificed, but it's dedicating yourself to transmit sensations and feelings to others and there is nothing more beautiful in the world like music. Being able to live from it is wonderful”, he concludes.
Music, a “therapy” for Arminda Martín
Arminda Martín is a woman who has performed different jobs throughout her life, and has always combined them with music. From clothing saleswoman, to bus driver to beautician, which is the latest work project in which she is immersed, although always with music as a companion.
And she started very young in the world of music, at 17 years old, and in a casual way. “I listened to music from my house, and it was that it was next to the premises of the Son Caribe orchestra. I went in out of curiosity to see if I could help the girl sing the song 'La chica del apartamento 512', and that's where it all started”, she narrates.
The singer got on the train of music, a railroad from which she has never gotten off and from which she hopes not to do so. The daring and the “little shame”, in the good sense of the expression, served Arminda to start in music in Lanzarote. “I remember that my mother let me go to a verbena, and I asked the girl from the orchestra that was there to let me sing the song 'Amor Prohibido'. When I went down, the councilor of Festivities asked me if I could present myself to the festival of that year”, relates the singer.
That first contact with the public was very fruitful for her, because apart from the result, which she recognizes was not the expected one, it taught her that music would be her passion for the rest of her life. From there, and until 2004, she combined her work obligations with being the singer of the Güiracaibo orchestra, in which she was almost four years, to later enter into performances in hotels.
However, she recognizes that she could never fully dedicate herself to that work. “I always had to combine it, because despite the fact that in hotels I had a salary of 700 euros, if I missed a day I had to pay the substitute out of my pocket, which was already becoming unprofitable”, she says.
“I know that if I proposed it I could work only from music, but there you are sacrificing the family. Most jobs in hotels are at night, and that affects everything”, explains Arminda. In addition, she recognizes that the work of self-employed being a musician is even more sacrificed, since in addition to having to comply with the payment of self-employed fees, she has to pay for the material she uses. “In the end, there are always more losses than gains”, she adds.
Arminda Martín assures that for her, music becomes a “therapy”, necessary for her day to day. “I can be sick one day, without wanting anything, but it's getting on stage and if it's not with the first song, with the second I forget all the evils”.
That passion for music is increasing as the years go by. In addition, she recognizes that she still has those nerves that she had when she was younger, and that she experienced it even more a few months ago: “They called me to do a substitution with the Mambo Latino group and I got very nervous. I had a great time, seeing the public enjoy and dance has no price or comparison”, she says. In addition, Arminda started another musical adventure last year, which she recognizes was also a dream, setting up the Mariachi La Llorona.
Music and art continues in the house of Arminda Martín, since her daughter is studying performing arts, and her son started studying trumpet at the Insular Center of Musical Education of Lanzarote, something that for her is a “pride”.
“I always tell my daughter that everything that comes to her from music, which is what fascinates her, to close her eyes and go. All that journey is experience and, after all, you will always learn”.
Finally, Arminda invites those young people who dream of music, as she did in her youth, to “try” to live from music. “Experiment, fight for your dreams, you never know if you will be able to live from it if you don't try”, she concludes
Gopar, a reference of music in Lanzarote
There are people in the world that few people know their full name, and this is the case of Miguel Ángel Gopar, known by all as Gopar, one of the historical musicians of Lanzarote.
More than 35 years being a professional musician endorse him, and not even a pandemic has been able to with his impetus and desire for music. He started with only 8 years old, in the school of Florián Corujo, learning to make pulse and pick with the guitar. Then, with 14, he learned to play the keyboard.
He turned 19 and, despite being passionate about music, he did not have as main objective to dedicate himself to it professionally. The oldest of five brothers decided at that age to start working at the Salinas de Costa Teguise hotel, as a waiter, to help in the economy of the house. What he least expected is that there, serving drinks and food, he would realize that he could live from music.
“There I saw how musicians came, played in piano bar, duets, trios and even quartets, and I analyzed and said that I could do that”, he says. That was the beginning of what would be his life, playing in different parts of the island and with his guitar on his back, which has served him to be one of the most valued musicians of the island scene.
Although the beginnings are usually hard, Gopar recognizes that to him “they came alone”. “There were places where it worked well that I played, in hotels and restaurants. Places that were starting to open at that time and to attract tourism they called you”, he explains. In addition, Gopar combined his life as a musician with teaching, starting in 1991 to give classes in schools through an agreement of the Culture area of the Cabildo of Lanzarote.
Time went by and Gopar continued accumulating experience in various musical styles. In fact, one of its main characteristics is the ability to participate in very different styles, such as pop, classical, rumba, folklore and even in a mariachi. “I think that is summarized in that, just as there are people good at mouth and who eat everything, I am good at hearing and I like all musical styles”, he says.
“Due to that ease perhaps is why people usually call me, but if I can't I call someone who is able. I think that each moment has its musical style, if we are receiving massages we are not going to put a song of ACDC”, explains Gopar, who highlights that if there is a musician who only plays one style, “tends to be limited”.
For Gopar, the best thing about being a musician is the amount of contacts he has achieved throughout his life. “The treatment of the musician is always different, especially if you are a musician who behaves well with people. Normally musicians have that character, and that's what rejuvenates us”, he adds.
El Rincón del Majo, a glorious era of music in Lanzarote.
“People even came down from Haría, and when they arrived I saw that they couldn't enter, because the place was full”
More than 35 years are those that Gopar has been a professional musician. And for him if he had to choose a “glorious” era would be the one he lived in the famous pub El Rincón del Majo, located in Arrecife. This place was, for twelve years, the place par excellence of live music in the capital, where usually on Thursdays was filled with people who came from all points of the island.
“People even came down from Haría, and when they arrived I saw that they couldn't enter, because the place was full”, says Gopar, who emphasizes that this situation occurred despite the large capacity with which the place had.
“Many musicians from the island passed through there, and we invited people to sing. We had a great time. Even from there came couples who are married today, that I know”, he adds.
Would it be possible for a place like El Rincón del Majo, with live music and hanging the sign of full capacity every Thursday, could be reopened? Gopar is very positive about it, although he qualifies that it would be necessary to study what type of music would have to be played today. “Generations are changing, and with them musical tastes, you have to adapt”, he concludes.
