Susana Baca returns to the stage after surgery: her health, how she wants to be remembered, her song with Jaze and more

“It’s not just about singing perfectly, but about transmitting emotions to people so that they get excited and want to listen to my music again. I feel that I do a professional job, of excellence and something that people appreciate”, comments, in an interview with El Comercio, the singer who will perform this show only with the presence of her band and some sung poems by writers like Blanca Varela.

― How do you feel after returning from this tour in Europe?

I feel very proud to have gone on this last tour to put the name of Peru abroad. I feel proud to have performed on very important stages in the world, such as the Elbphilharmonie Grosser Saal in Hamburg, the Luxembourg Philharmonic and others, such as the Womad Cáceres in Spain, where there were more than ten thousand people listening to me sing my songs where Peru is present. Although I have been scared during this tour because of how hard it has been. Therefore, I needed to go to the hospital for a checkup. Late yesterday, I was scheduled for a CT scan for Monday. I thought: “How is it possible!” But all is well, life goes on. I believe that music is life and has the power to heal. With that hope, it is that I continue singing in this world.

– How do you keep up to date?

Making music in the company of young people, that way I rejuvenate myself. I’m always curious about what’s happening in the world, what these new singers are doing. Also, sometimes people say: “When Susana Baca goes somewhere, she fills that space.” This is because the public receives professional work with a lot of feeling. It’s not just about singing perfectly, but about transmitting emotions to people so that they get excited and want to listen to my music again. I feel that I do a professional job, of excellence and something that people appreciate.

― During this trip you have seen stages from all over the world, the music industry has changed, but what things never change for musicians?

The only thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that we continue to get on stage and do the work that the concert entails and what comes before doing it. We have to arrive at the theater in good living, health and well-being conditions. On the other hand, there is the sound check, which is the heaviest and most difficult thing to do. I get goosebumps thinking that I have to go upstairs to test the voice and instruments, and make sure everything sounds good. This is a job, it is part of our profession and it is our pursuit of excellence.

“I want to be remembered as an artist who has never lied to people. When I go on stage, I am the same woman who is being interviewed”

― As for collaborations with young singers like Jaze?

Jaze! I remember that he came to my house in Cañete to propose a collaboration while we were having lunch. I read her song and he moved me. I don’t read music, I have to internalize it to make it my own. For this reason, when they ask me to collaborate, I ask them to show me what they have done. In the same way, when I want to collaborate, I send what I want to do, as is the case of a young Belgian-Spanish cellist who collaborated on my new album “Homage to Chabuca Granda”, which has not yet been released. For my part, I did the same with a song on his record, where I sing a poem by Blanca Varela. I will premiere this song in Peru during the show on June 22, although Europeans have already heard it.

― Where does your legacy lie for these new generations?

I want to be remembered as an artist who has never lied to people. When I go on stage, I am the same woman who is being interviewed and who is later cooking in her house. I don’t lie to people, I don’t pretend anything, I am what I am. Authenticity is a virtue that must be cultivated daily. Sometimes I fail, but it is necessary that people know that I am giving them everything I have. That would be my legacy.

― The show is called “Urgent Words”, a long time ago you mentioned that those words were to sing to hope, pain, freedom and also to love. What would those urgent words be now?

Denounce the lies of politicians, those are the urgent words. For example, the mess that occurred with the president of the University of Music [Lydia Hung Wong]whom the minister rejected because she was an artist and did not have the merits to hold her position.

― With more than 600 concerts worldwide, three Grammy awards and many national recognitions, what are your next goals?

I have to finish the record on Chabuca and then I will release a record where Spanish poetry will be present. It will include the poems of Blas de Otero, José Agustín Goytisolo, Federico García Lorca and others. There will be few instrumental elements, it will be almost a cappella, and it will feature guest artists. Besides, I have to write my memoirs.

― Regarding your return to the Peruvian stages, how will the show be?

It will be truly unforgettable. There will be the group of musicians who accompanied me on my tour, I will not have guests. I want people to feel things, that’s why I’ll also sing poetry, in a certain way I take advantage of poets to leave a mark on the public. A friend once told me that people leave my concerts with a smile. That is what Susana achieves, and what I want that day: to transform people so that they leave happy.

― Is there a retreat for artists?

That day is going to come, anyway, you can’t always spend on the scene. I will do an annual concert sitting like Chabela Vargas whom I saw very old performing in Lima, that’s how I think I will be. It will be very difficult because I am very happy on stage… with the operation I don’t know what problem I had with this leg, I walked slowly, my foot hurt and I walked slowly again, but I went on stage and nothing hurt anymore, it’s a magical thing.