An
interview with Tania Pantoja from Bamboleo,
by Kerry Ribchester
Casa de La Música
Tania’s new album, ‘What do you think?’ (De que piensas?), has just been released. She is the toast of Havana and probably the Salsa world’s leading female Latin soloist, with four live shows a week, performing two and an half hour sets and a Grammy from the Parisian Music Awards. I caught up with her to find out what this Latin Diva really is thinking when she sings.
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Kerry: “Tanya, your vocal range and the quality of your voice is loved and respected in Cuba: What was your musical and vocal training?” Tania: ““I have no formal academic training as a singer. I am a qualified infant school teacher. My voice, my singing ability comes naturally. Kerry: “What and who have been your biggest musical influences?” Tania : “Elena Bourke, Beatriz Marquez and Omara Portundo. I love all forms of music, from Rock, American music, Timba, however it’s the Bolero music that really moves me” |
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Kerry: “When did you first begin to sing professionally?”
Tania : “At the age of 17, I was part of an all female Salsa group called ‘Lady Salsa’. It was a great experience and the Director, Sonia Saveara taught me a lot about dance and choreography.”
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Kerry: “Your dancing skills: today I saw you mixing the dances of the Orishas, Reggaeton and Son into your Salsa. There is even a ‘Tania’ move that everyone copies and plays within the club. What formal dance training have you had?” Tania: “Again I have had no formal training – it all comes naturally. It is the fusion of all these rhythms in the music that inspires me to move in this way. |
Kerry: “When you are on stage you have a fantastic connection and interaction with the audience. Tell me more about how you create this?”
Tania: “When I am on stage, I am always thinking about my people and that they deserve a good show. I want to transmit happiness and energy and for everyone to have a lot of fun”
Kerry: “You sing a lot specifically to the women, especially in one of my favourite songs ‘Mujeres’: what do you say to them?”
Tania: “I sing about the rights of all Cuban women. They have the right to be independent, to work and to be free. I work to support myself and really value my independence”
Kerry “Some Cuban songs talk about the tourists as ‘Yumas’ and have been known to take the mickey out of the tourists. What do you think of the tourists that come to your shows, how do you interact with them?”
Tania: “I really value all the many tourists that come to Cuba, where would we be without them? They bring money to Cuba and they respect our music. Even when I travel abroad to Japan or Poland, I know that people may not understand the Spanish words I am singing, but they feel the sentiments. In Japan, the enthusiasm and respect is palpable. Every culture and country has its benefits: I respect all cultures. Sometimes I talk to our Spanish sisters: they say we Cuban women have amazing ‘Cinturas’ meaning our waists really move!
Kerry:
“Tania, for me
you have so much femininity and grace as well as being a powerful
woman Do you have the influence of any of the female Goddesses?
Surely you have ‘Oshun’ the Goddess of love with you?”
Tania: “My Goddess is ‘Yemanja’ the Goddess of the Sea. She is with me all of the time (Tania gestures with her hands moving up and down her body). Of course I have some influence from ‘Oshun’. ‘Yemanja’ and ‘Oshun’ are sisters together.”
Kerry: “What is your dream for your future in music?”
Tania: “To sing at a huge International concert and to reach out to, and sing to thousands of people. I would like to lift up the world with my music.”
Kerry: “Is there anything else you would like to tell the fans in the UK about yourself?”
Tania: “Just that I am really a very down to earth single woman! A romantic and a lover of all music. I have no children.”
Kerry: “Who do you respect the most in Cuba from the music scene right now?”
Tania: “Alberto Alvarez, Juan Formell from Los Van Van and Pupy”
Kerry: “The Cuban people love you so much; can you accept their love fully?”
Tania: “Yes. I love them and they love me back!”
Part two of this interview will be published later in the year.
Tania Pantoja won the accolade of Most popular Latin American Female Artist in Paris in 2006.
Kerry Ribchester, Director of Key2Cuba Ltd, interviewed Tania at Casa de la Música on 13th January 2008.
