Son Jaleo
Ten seconds into the chorus of her single ‘Vida’ and you'll be nodding your head. With an infectious lyrical style and sublime measures, the Latin artist known as Son Jaleo seems poised to vault straight up the charts.
BLAKE: As an artist on the rise, what is one thing you are most excited about and one thing you are most afraid of happening in your career?
SON JALEO: I´m so excited to keep doing my original music and adding more and more flamenco into it. I´m so focused on studying flamenco right now and that is the sound I want to find in my future recordings. Flamenco has been there since the beginning but since I have focused my last two years on studying a more traditional flamenco, I think that´s the sound I´m finding more and more with the new musicians as well. I´m excited about our future tours too.
BLAKE: Your song ’Vida’ is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
SON JALEO: I was excited to know it was out there being shared with more and more people.
BLAKE: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
SON JALEO: My mom...She died from cancer 3 years ago. I made that song for her during the last week of life. I was going through a lot of pain but she was teaching me to be at peace with death, accepting it as part of life. She was a very wise teacher her last days. And my song was a reflection of that peace she was transmitting to us mixed with the pain of her imminent death. I called it "Vida" which means "Life" in Spanish because there´s no life without death. It´s the only thing we have for sure.
BLAKE: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
SON JALEO: Well my mom´s death was a very painful experience. She was very young to die (56) and that made it more painful. But all that we went though really helped me create or canalize my pain into my art. But that´s common in me. Every time I go through hard experiences like finishing a relationship or difficulties in life, it helps me make music.
BLAKE: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
SON JALEO: Responsible but playful...Creative...Focused and dispersed at the same time hahaha.
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BLAKE: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
SON JALEO: It´s been amazing. The people in my team have been changing but they all have been amazing. A total sensation of family and friendship. I have always admired a lot all my musicians.
BLAKE: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
SON JALEO: Yes, my sister and I both studied classical music since we were children. And even though my parents were not musicians, my family from my mom side has always been so musical. They sang in choirs, play piano and guitar. Not as professional musicians but as part of their daily life.
BLAKE: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
SON JALEO: I find it very rewarding to keep growing and the band to sound better and better. I find it super challenging to coordinate everybody with all our different schedules and to extend our market.
BLAKE: Who are your role models in music?
SON JALEO: Many different ones! I very much admire Mayte Martin, Sandra Carrasco, La Buika, Silvia Perez Cruz, Celia Cruz,Pastora Pavon, Marchena, Eliades Ochoa, Silvio Rodriguez, Rocio Marquez as singers, Lisa Bause and Bernardo Parrilla as violin flamenco players. I admire my teachers Maria Jose Perez, Juan José Amador, Rosi Navarro "La Divi",which for me are the best flamenco singers and artists in general. I admire Pedro Dabdoub as a composer which I collaborate a lot with. He has a project called "Jazzpango" that I collaborte with as a singer and viola player. We´ve had other proyects together in the past too. He´s a great friend and composer. He´s composed music for Alejandro Fernandez, Gloria Trevy, Lila Downs. Important people in the actual Mexican showcase.
BLAKE: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
SON JALEO: In the "Les Terrasses the Picarrou" festival last year. It was beautiful and we had lots of fun. And everything sounded great.
BLAKE: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
SON JALEO: Trust yourself. I play music because that´s all I like, want and know how to do. If you put all your energy into it, you will grow into something amazing for sure.
BLAKE: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
SON JALEO: For now I´m focused on learning more and more the flamenco bases. And putting all that into the compositions I already have. I would like to record my first CD again with more musicians and better production. I´m expanding the places for our tour every year and trying to find a better sound every time.
BLAKE: Wonderful! Thank you sharing some insights into what makes you the artist that you are. I wish you continued success in your career.