One of the three members of Orishas, ambassadors of Cuba around the world, explains where the group wants to go in the future. This Thursday, the trio lands in Lanzarote, at 11:30 p.m. in La Biosfera, and the next day in San Bartolomé de Tirajana to raise funds, together with Pereza, for those affected by the fire.
Yo-tú-él. Three syllables, three people that make up a name. Yotuel Romero is one of the members of Orishas. After ten years of showing their "Cuban rap" to the world, the group has just released "Antidiótico", a compilation with which they take a "break" to reflect, with the promise of returning in April with a new album under their arm.
Q.- "Antidiótico" is Orishas' latest album. For the followers of a group, it is sometimes a bit scary to see a compilation album on the market, in case it is a sign of the end. Is this the case with Orishas?
A.- When we talk about three emigrants who have had to leave their country, who have had to make a living, learn a new language and lay a foundation from scratch, I think ten years is a long time, so it was good to take a break and stop to see what we have achieved so far. But we will be back soon, of course. In fact, we already have a new album for next year, in April.
Q.- Do you feel like ambassadors of Cuba when you tour the world?
A.- We represent Cuba in everything. We are Cuban, Cuban blood runs through us, and in fact our music is rap with Cuban music. I left Cuba when I was twenty years old, being a kid, but there is still rum, blood and guaguancó running through my veins, and that is impossible to end.
Q.- What was the Cuban music scene like when you left there?
A.- It was quite traditional, the music that was listened to in Cuba was totalitarian music, rumba, guaguancó, and when we returned with "A lo cubano", Orishas gave a change to Cuban music, until then rap was not a genre followed by the masses, and Orishas changed this, this first album was crazy.
Q.- Did this musical situation have a relationship with the political scene?
A.- Yes, as always. When we started making our rap music with the group "Amenaza" they told us that we were making the music of the enemy and they did not understand what we rappers could tell. It broke with what there was until then.
Q.- Were the beginnings in France difficult?
A.- Not difficult, quite hard. In life one has difficult moments, but when one has hard moments, it takes everything else away.
Q.- What does it feel like to leave everything behind to do what you like and fight for what you want?
A.- In life, fighters win. I believe that even if life puts you in difficult situations, you have to try to fill yourself with energy and optimism, and say 'let's move forward, that we can win this hard battle, we can cross the mountain and when we reach the plain we are going to pick the fruit and we are going to eat it calmly'.
Q.- After so many awards and having the recognition of the public, what do you expect now in the professional and personal field?
A.- Continue without disappointing the public. I think that the main thing, although I especially have projects outside of Orishas, such as film or television, is that my soul is in Orishas, and it is like the base, it is my home, I will never detach myself from Orishas even if I have other projects to do.
Q.- You talk about projects in film, is there any in sight?
A.- I have a project for the end of the year for a film with a Mexican director, with the production company Iroko Films. I have signed a contract with them. It is a very beautiful period film, based on the 19th century. And I have another possibility later also in film, to do in Spain, but there is still nothing confirmed. On television I have been offered several things, but now it is very difficult because we are touring with Orishas, and I don't have time.
Q.- Do you find common points between film and music?
A.- The good thing about acting is that it transports you to another universe where you are not you, while music is always yourself, with your lyrics, your melodies. However, when you act you have to put yourself in the shoes of different people who have nothing to do with you, and that is also quite exciting.
Q.- Yotuel, you also compose, where do you look for inspiration for your songs?
A.- She guides me. I love music and I always have an open mind for it to arrive, transmit to me and tell me. I have a studio at home, where we produced the last Orishas album, and when an idea comes to me, I go down quickly and record it.
Q.- Social issues are quite recurrent in your songs, and especially in the beginning, they were quite related to Cuba.
A.- Yes, society is what fills us with experience and songs. Orishas is a group that comes from a condition of emigrants that has made us see the reality day by day at street level.
Q.- In the Canary Islands, immigration is a topic that is much talked about. What message would you transmit to the Canarian public?
A.- First of all, I would tell them that one of the great colonies of the Canary Islands is in Cuba, of Canarian emigrants. Emigration from Spain is not so far away because it has been a country of emigrants. I have traveled all over the world, and wherever I go I always find Spaniards and Cubans. We must not trivialize this issue or discriminate against immigrants, because this is a world for everyone and for everyone, and we must integrate them. You cannot trivialize when half of the Spaniards who emigrated were illiterate Spaniards who were going to work in the fields, who were going to Cuba to work in the wineries, who were going to Switzerland to work in construction. People forget very quickly and sometimes you have to remind them who they are.
Q.- The Canarian public has always supported you. Next week you are going to give a concert in Las Palmas to raise funds for those affected by the fires, is this a way of thanking this support?
A.- Of course. For us, the Canarians are like family, and if they have had a tragedy, we believe that the best we can do is contribute our grain of sand and with the tickets for the concert, give a part to this cause.
Q.- Finally, Yotuel, what is Orishas?
A.- Orishas is not only an example for Latinos, but also a hope. A way to show people that we immigrants do not only come to steal, but we also come to make good music. We are three Cubans who left Cuba without any ambition, only with a great desire to make music, and today we have the opportunity to express many things.
Ana Lázaro/ACN Press
