Pablo Alborán says that his new album originated after returning to the road last year, having already overcome the covid restrictions, and returning “with a suitcase full of songs”. A musical journey between dance music and love stories that took shape in La cuarta hoja, the sixth album by the award-winning artist from Malaga who, in addition to singing his love for life and friendship, has served as an excuse to start a new tour that this Saturday takes him to Tarragona to perform (9 pm) at the Tarraco Arena.
“Carretera y manta” says in the first verse of the first song of his new album. Is that the secret of happiness? Don’t get caught up in problems?
It is an expression that I use to leave behind what hurts us. But problems always have to be faced. I’m not one to run away, but I do turn the page quickly when something hurts me.
“We don’t have any more internal wars, I’ve already made peace with myself” Do these words reflect learning?
You have to learn to forgive yourself but also to accept yourself and accept the other. You can change for the better, but it’s also good to know who you are and find someone who loves you like that, and vice versa.
Do you have to take the pressure off to continue at the top?
To continue, dry. At the top I don’t know, but moving forward is worth it. It is important to understand that the industry is one thing and music is another, it is important to take care of your public, of the people who have always believed in you, but also to be faithful to your instinct. It is also important to understand what is good and bad about your profession, sharpen your style and try to dignify your work as a musician and defend it to the best of your ability. The pressure exists in all jobs in the end, jobs as rewarding as this one, no.
He talks about turning off the lights of fame. How do you do it when you have 7 million followers on Instagram alone?
I live with her, like any relationship I have my streaks, but it’s a perk of the trade. In my house, in my environment, I always manage to turn off the light, I am very happy in normality.
On the cover he has a record under his arm
It is a circular mirror that reflects the sky, a way of explaining that everyone can carry a piece of happiness, of heaven, with themselves. My metaphors and me, hahaha. The circle is a perfect element, without edges, “natural” and that is organically around us (planets, some fruits, cells…) it symbolizes harmony, calm, and that it reflects the sky is a way of convey that I carry a little piece of heaven with me. Music is like a mirror, we all look at ourselves in it somehow.
And the fourth sheet, where is it?
I am the fourth leaf of my clover, and you of yours, that is the grace. We cannot constantly depend on external luck.
He has commented on several occasions that we live in a world that moves very fast
The system, consumption and information go very fast, but life has other rhythms and it is a matter of knowing how to find the pace. Every day I do the braking exercise, I find myself dragged many times by that speed, but I personally like calm.
Is this speed also noticeable in music?
In music no, in the industry yes. It is terrible, exhausting and demotivating. But we musicians are moved by emotion, the vertigo of a live concert, the warmth of the audience singing your songs, the tears and joy that the notes cause, the rest goes so fast that tomorrow it is forgotten.
The tour closes with performances at the Palau Sant Jordi and the Wizink, how does it feel to perform for so many people?
It is a great luxury to be able to continue giving concerts, now we have Tarragona, Badajoz, Palma De Mallorca… and we come from being in wonderful cities and the public is always just as important. I feel lucky to dedicate myself to this and be able to transmit it at each concert. I really appreciate that people continue to believe in live music and I am going to continue to give my soul to each show, for each ticket sold. There is a lot of work behind each show and it is very nice to see how your audience supports you.
He has 24 Latin Grammy nominations, and his three previous albums have been nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Album.
That they remember you is always gratifying, I keep dreaming of being able to dedicate myself to this with dignity for many more years, whether there is a Grammy or not.
Music in Spanish is experiencing a sweet moment worldwide. What do you think it is due to?
By a thousand different factors. Reggaeton, although it is demonized by many, has done a lot to bring Spanish to many places, although it is a shame that some lyrics are terrible and reductive. But hey, Julio Iglesias managed to position his songs in Spanish in millions of foreign countries years ago without doing reggaeton. Everything comes and goes, they are cycles, fashions, currents, although I believe that our language is extremely rich in nuances and we have a very broad vocabulary to describe what we feel. Latin/Hispanic music has millions of roots that make everything connect in the end. There is a lot of copla in tango, a lot of ranchera in bulerías, a lot of salsa in rumba. In the end we all talk about the same thing, in different ways, it’s beautiful to be able to sing in your language and that people get emotional even if they don’t understand you! Long live music in whatever language it is!
This Thursday is the day of pride. How do you live it now that it seems that some people want to retrace paths that seemed consolidated?
We will have to continue defending human rights, the freedom to love, respect and equality. All this is not a political ideology, it is humanity.
