Ln January 28 and 30, Raúl Paz gave two performances at the Teatro Martí in Havana. Chance of the calendar, your columnist was in Cuba. The opportunity to provide an answer to the question: What becomes of Raúl Paz?
One of Raúl Paz’s last visits to France dates back to the 2015 edition of the Tempo Latino festival. It has already been seven years since the Cuban left France. Of molded at Ven Ven, Passing by Revolution and Havanization, the singer had chained the successes. Since then, no news.
I find Raúl between two rehearsals in the cafeteria of the prestigious theatre. The January air is light and the masks are not a big bother. Despite the salt-and-pepper glasses and beard, the singer hasn’t changed all that much.
When he came to study in France in the early 90s, the young man was frankly not in the odor of holiness at home. From the moment he made himself known internationally, the authorities let him know that he might return. Homesickness, the possibility of seeing his children grow up there, will make him accept. Back, Raúl will continue to record and will find success with the Cuban public.
I ask him regarding his news. “Well, last year I released a new record,” he replies simply in barely blunt French. the bridge will serve as the soundtrack to a successful soap opera that addresses various societal issues such as old age. “A real record,” he says. “We can draw a parallel with moldedwhich I had made with electronic music DJs. the bridge is the result of the meeting with an urban music DJ [Italo]. It’s not reggaeton. It’s still my music. »
« From Mozart to Peace retraces my beginnings in France »
The concert in preparation is entitled: From Mozart to Peace. What is the relationship between Mozart and Raúl Paz? “And yet…” he answers, enigmatic. “This concert has a lot to do with France. I come from classical music. The singer remembers having studied at the conservatory of Evry and having caused a lot of pain to a teacher named Emmanuelle, before entering the Schola Cantorum.
“Like everyone else, I had a lot of time during the pandemic. I wanted to get back to it. I thought of this repertoire, classic, which I will present on Friday. Without pretention. I am not an opera singer. I will start with Mozart, Laughing the Calm, and I will end with the first song I composed in France. This concert retraces my beginnings in France. »
I suggest that my interlocutor play the game of Proust’s Questionnaire. I send the explanations. Raúl already knows the story of this questionnaire imagined by the famous author popularized on TV sets by Bernard Pivot and James Lipton.
1. Your favorite song
« Stairway to Heaven. Stairway to Heaven : Led Zepellin. It is the most complete song. »
Curious coincidence. This is exactly the answer given to me by Yuri Buenaventura a few years ago. There are fundamentals…
2. The artist who inspired you the most
” There are so many. The answer that comes to me right now is Bob Marley. I like his freedom. He knew how to develop native music without conveying the clichés that go with it. »
3. Your cult album
“I belong to a generation of Cubans who didn’t grow up with records. It’s often surprising for the French who have always had this relationship with music. »
He pursues. “In my house, there were only three discs: Led Zeppelinin a version that oddly was released in Germany, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and a 45 rpm: Miriam Makeba, Pata Pata. »
“And then there was the transition to classical music. At seventeen, I became a fan of Schumann, and of a cycle in particular, poet love by Fischer Dieskamn, of which I will sing two pieces on Friday. If I had to choose an album, it would be this one. »
4. The song you are most proud of
« molded. This is the song with which allowed me to find my voice. It’s with the album molded that I found my sound. It was very successful… And is still audible. »
5. The artist you would like to support
“I do this all the time. There have been Cimafunk. He is from Pinar del Rio like me. One day, Erick came to my house. He had dropped out of medical school. His mother had advised him to come and see me. I took him on as a backing vocalist at the concert I gave at the Karl Marx. Next Sunday, my opening act will be provided by Karla, a sixteen-year-old singer. »
6. Your strongest emotion on stage
“My first concert at home, in Pinar Del Rio. I had started my career in France. Coming to sing here was a real challenge. This concert was the very first in Cuba. I didn’t know how my music would be received by Cubans… My father had left the previous year… All these emotions together made this concert remain etched in my heart. »
7. Your biggest regret
“Not having worked enough on my music when I was young. »
I am disappointed with the response. “Your biggest regret, really? »
“The truth is, I’m not the kind of person to have regrets. I don’t like to look back. I always look ahead of me. We all have problems. We all miss a lot of things. That doesn’t mean it’s bad stuff. There is an expression often used in Cuba: What happens is convenient. These things help you to change your path, to build your life. »
8. The musician you would like to work with
“I would love to work with Christophe Mae. It has an energy that is close to mine. He reminds me of myself a little younger. »
9. The musical project you would like to carry out
“Write a musical. And participate in it. »
He adds: “I am a jack-of-all-trades. I love the stage. Over the years, I have touched all kinds of music. I am someone who is very afraid of being bored. »
10. If God exists, what would you like to ask of him?
“It’s not because my name is Paz, but I want to say… Peace. »
I pout. ” The peace ? It’s a bit Miss France, right? »
” I am sincere. What I want is not for there to be no more wars. In our modern age, life has become so complicated. We can never be at peace once more. All the time : i have to do this. I have to do that. I wish people would stop running following who knows what and find inner peace. It would help the world to live better. »
Album: Raúl Paz – the bridge. Available on digital platforms
