Online interview with Javier Limon
Online interview with Javier Limon, producer of several albums by Spanish singer Concha Buika and of the latest CD ‘Traveller’ by Anoushka Shankar.
1) Why have you specialised in producing women singers? How did the ‘Mujeres de agua’ project come about? Were you looking for a pan-Mediterranean sound?
- It’s a matter of coincidence. I never went in search of that sound. I have also produced other male musicians such as Paco de Lucia, Wynton Marsalis and Bebo Valdés among others.
2) Tell us about how you came to collaborate with Concha Buika. What do you like about her voice that is different?
- Concha Buika is a a unique kind of singer. What is really special about her is when she sings in the copla* style. Because there are thousands of jazz singers, but not so many who sing copla. Up until now her success has basically been dependent on the repertoire she has recorded in and on her voice. This is when Spanish melodies are mixed with African rhythms. Nowadays that is where the originality lies.
3) What are your own musical influences in Spain? You can name specific albums and artists if you like. What about external musical influences?
- For the latter, Avishai Cohen, Richard Bona, Jacques Morelenbaum [cellist, arranger and producer of and collaborator with Caetano Veloso and other Brazilian singers], Chick Corea and of course Paco de Lucia for the former.
4) You are very interested in flamenco nuevo and singers too. What do you think about how flamenco has developed recently? What new musical avenues can flamenco explore?
- Ariadna Castellanos, Sandra Carrasco [featured on the ‘Traveller’ CD and on tour] and Tamara Escudero are the future of flamenco.
5) Why the idea of fusing Indian classical music and flamenco on the new album by Anoushka Shankar? What are the difficulties of mixing different musical genres? How did you overcome these challenges? How do Indian and Spanish musicians react to being involved with each others music?
- Music is universal with infinitesimal details and indescribable hues. There are secrets on all side. The least thing can abruptly influence how music develops.
Imagine a journey of an entire race from India to Spain. We are linked to all countries through which we pass and the influences are infinite. Knowing where flamenco originated from is impossible.
6) What new projects do you have for the future? Any other musical fusions that would interest you? Irish folk and Spanish for example?
- I would love to do something with Irish folk music. But I require an appropriate voice and someone with a desire to work with me. I am very open to this idea.At present I am working on my next album ‘Blue Lemon’, contiuing with ‘Mujeres de agua’ and ‘Hombres de fuego’/’Men of fire’ which will be recorded in Palestine. I will also be recording a flamenco symphony in Venezuela. These are the projects I am current involved in.
* Style of folkloric music popular in Spain.