Focus Caradefuego

Article by Severine

August is here, so if you're lucky, you'll be enjoying some nice weather. But even if you're not, you can still enjoy Caradefuego, a Spanish group coming from the hot and sunny Costa del Sol! Their sound is relaxing, ambient but also very original. Maria has a fantastic voice that will transport you to a lounge atmosphere and bring a bit of sunshine to your gloomy day. We7 has met up with Maria, the lead singer, to talk about the band and their coming album.

The interview

Hi Maria, how are you?

Hi!!!! I'm fine. Málaga is a special place to live. In the summer the air changes its colour and jasmine flowers perfume our nights...

Who chose the name Caradefuego and why?

A traditional Indian tale says that "The Sun" burns Indian faces to prove they are his sons and daughters. The Sun thought "they will be respected forever..."

When and how did you meet?

A long, long time ago, many years...around twelve years. Since then we have remained the same people and I think this is our biggest success. When we met we were a group of people wishing to play live wherever; for a long time we never thought about the possibility of recording our music.

What is your favourite moment since the beginning of Caradefuego?

Everyday I think what a big honour it is to share my life with Miguel Paredes (musician, arrangements and production), Pepe Trueno (musician and art director) and Paco Yañez (musician and sound engineer). They believe in my songs and they give me special meaning to my life.

How would you describe your first album, "Masculina"?

We will always love this album because it materialised a dream. We wanted to say with those songs that "music" is the power of our lives. When listening to it, people can feel all our love, love, love...We can describe "Masculina" like a piece of our soul.

What are your influences?

This wonderful world and the people that are improving it.

Are there any other artists that you would like to record with?

We would like to collaborate with all kinds of artists because we respect people that have decided to be creative. To record a song is always an honour and a mysterious way to spend the time... However there are people that are a "pure inspiration" to our lives and music and to share a song with them would be a "magical present": Cesarea Evora, Caetano Veloso, Rufus Wainwright, Joni Mitchell, Ricky Lee Jones, Joan As Police Woman, Arto Lindsay, Estrella Morente, Paul Winter, Philip Glass, R. Sakamoto, Marisa Montes, Adriana Calcanhoto, Bebel Gilberto, Lole Montoya, Ruben Blades or David Bowie…

What are your plans for the rest of this year?

At the moment we're planning autumn and winter gigs and finishing our second album.

Are you currently working on a new album?

Yes! We are concentrating on our new project: "Déjame Vivir con Alegría!" (Let me live happy!). It's going to be published internationally and it'll be the first opportunity for us to offer our songs to everybody in the world.

What would be your advice to bands who want to stand out from the crowd?

Collaborate and help people to make their dreams come true and to feel that music can make a better world.