A guitar virtuoso, ingrained in music, he lives and breathes for his art. He characterized music as the divine calling for any musician. The first word that comes in mind upon meeting him was bright yet humble, a bubbly Gemini. A man who challenges himself as a producer, composer as well as a musician. He has studied and worked with the greatest such as Al Di Meola and Roberto Lara. Our meeting flowed more like a catch up among friends rather that an ordinary interview. In his own words, if you’re doing something you truly love and enjoy, you don’t view it as a job at all.
Edited by Anna Radic
Photography credits to Yvonne Zachariou
Is this your first time in Cyprus, in Limassol?
This is my fifth time. Maybe sixth. I played at the Rialto Theater. Then I came with Al Di Meola and we played at Curium Theater. I love it here. The first time I came I said I wanted to buy something and I didn’t do it. It was such a big mistake. I should have done it. The prices are now astronomical.
“This is my therapy. Whatever goes through me, goes through the guitar.”
When did you start this form of “therapy”?
I was actually 6 years old. My parents were musicians so there was music and instruments all over the house. The first thing I remember, there was a guitar there, I grabbed it and I just started playing. My mom was like oh my god. It was totally natural for me. It made sense. It was one of those things that totally made sense. It was no question. My dad immediately instructed that I take lessons. I studied with Roberto Lara, which is a classical Spanish guitar player disciple of Andrés Segovia. It was serious training for 10 years. It was no joke and it was difficult for a kid to go through that but it was worth it.
You come from a musical environment with both your parents being musicians, your mother- Estela Raval – was also very famous and a Grammy winner as well. How does a person with your upbringing define music?
To me, music is so important. For humanity. It’s almost like I was born to do this. I don’t take it as a job. Music for me is a way of living and it’s a necessity to and also for people to receive. With all that is going down in the world you need this kind of medicine for the soul. Even if I don’t play music or do concerts, I am still doing music, composing and I write so much.
When the pandemic started, I had stuff coming in non-stop and I am lucky to have a recording studio at home and I can get everything down. To define that I think it’s just a very divine thing, a part of nature and life. I see it that way. Not as a job. This is the job for me, the interviews, the travelling, or any responsibility that you have to do when you do work.
I gather that the pandemic didn’t affect you in a negative way…
To be honest with you, I am carefully going to say this, it was a blessing in disguise. Of course, the suffering of people is no joke but for me I got to stay in my home for three years, which is something I’ve never done. To really enjoy my house, my family. For New York, because the lock-downs hit us first, it was hard in the beginning but at the same time there was clean air, no sounds, no pollution, it was wonderful. It was uncertain what was going on.
I started writing a lot of music for television and I did very well, I won an Emmy for a show “A taste of history” on PBS. I work for a company through SONY and they asked me to write music for tv, crime scenes etc. So, I would write and record it and then I would send it to my friend in Lithuania to add on some strings. The real deal is a different level. It was very good for me in terms of creativity and reflection.
How does it feel to win a prestigious award like a Grammy or an Emmy? Did you feel like you had to carry on the legacy of your parents?
My mom won the Grammy excellence award, the one that they also gave to Michael Jackson which is the biggest honor, and I attended the ceremony. I was shaking. I was like wow; this is the greatest recognition the music industry can bestow and especially to a singer who isn’t even American. I thought, I could never top that but it was never a competition with my mom. I am such a big fan of hers.
To get any recognition it makes you feel good but I don’t make music for this reason. Of course, if you give me 20 awards I will love it, they are nice. I don’t do this for the awards. I like it when the people who listen to my music enjoy it, true fans, that cannot compare to any comity giving you any award.
How many instruments do you play?
I play piano a lot. Piano and guitar go hand in hand for me. Also, because I like to compose on the piano. Lately I’ve been trying to play the drums. That is very difficult. It’s doing for things at once. I think it is a great exercise for everyone. Kudos to drummers. People dismiss the ability of drummers to be good musicians. It’s not an easy instrument to play.
Multitasking is good but it could also work against you.
What music do you listen to?
Nirvana, one of my favorite bands, honestly. I love metal, rock, classical music, middle eastern, Greek music, tango, flamenco… I listen to everything but my own music. The minute I hear myself I’m like ugh, I dislike it.
Why is that though?
I guess because I was involved in the process and I always like to change something. When you make a record, you finish it, sign it off, that’s it. I’m a Gemini, so today I feel like this and five minutes later I feel completely different.
I remember specifically once, we we’re on a tour bus and the music playing in the back sounded cool, I told them to turned it up until I realized it was my song and immediately told them to change it. I could spot all the things I believe I should have done differently, because it was mine. Disconnecting as the artist to enjoy something as a listener is impossible.
You are a producer, a composer and a musician. When you are called to action for any of these roles separately, is there a different thought process that goes on?
When I act as a producer, I become also a listener and I can be more focused on the actual performance and the performer. So, when the time comes and I have to work on my albums I like to work with the producer. You need someone’s input to guide to. At times you can get so into what you’re doing that you become isolated. The producer is on the other side to ground you. Multitasking is good but it could also work against you. I put on different “hats” depending on what role I have to take on, if I’m the performer, I’m the performer. I’m going for it. I engage with the audience. I play with no monitors; I like to hear the sound coming back from the venue.
Who would you say has been your favorite musician to collaborate with?
I would say with my mom. We did a lot of stuff together. I remember I was in the studio recording for “3 caras de una moneda” and when she was singing the needle that shows the volume was going crazy. She was like a female Pavarotti. So powerful.
I still listen to all the stuff she did and I isolate her vocals. She hit every note. Like an athlete, when you see and incredible tennis player. A genius. Watching something that is unique, very special. That was my mom. An absolute virtuoso.
To be able to communicate to someone from a different culture, in a different language that to me was it. I did something and it meant something.
You’ve been on tour a lot. You’ve traveled all around, which would you say has been your most memorable performance?
So many. We had one last week actually. We were in Lithuania of all places; they don’t understand a word I am saying. It was an interesting thing; I was singing this song in Spanish and I saw this lady crying in the frond row. After the concert she came up and with her very limited English, she said I don’t really know what you were singing about but I felt it. That to me was special.
To be able to communicate to someone from a different culture, in a different language that to me was it. I did something and it meant something.
If you could give a message to your younger self, right before you embark on this journey, what would you say?
I have young kids. They are wonderful. I am very proud. So, to anyone who is young I’d have to say there’s no shortcut. If you want to be a good athlete for example you get up every day, you work on getting better, you have to. A lot of young people nowadays they want to learn something, they can go on YouTube and find a video on learning how to play the guitar in 3 minutes. Okay, you can maybe play but it is not the same with having to work on something really hard.
The more knowledge that you get, it pays off. Technology though is a double-edged sword. My generation used to remember like 50 phone numbers and directions to go anywhere without any GPS. We took more chances going into the unknown. Sometimes, I am playing a show and I see everyone on their phones recording, looking at me through the screen, even though I am right there. I worry that we will lose the substance of human experience.
Do you feel like streaming music, because people no longer buy albums in a physical form, maybe collectors who buy vinyl but it is rare. Doesn’t it take away from experiencing an artist’s work? Because an album is many years of work that involves so many people encased in that little thing.
My problem with this is that the streaming companies are paying the artists. You pay a subscription for let’s say 10 bucks and there are so millions of artists there so they have to divide everything to cover those 10 dollars. If for instance I stream 3 thousand streams that’s 000,01% of a cent, you can’t make a living like that. In the old days you’d buy a record, you’d give like 3 bucks, it’s yours. The artist was selling records and making money. You’d open it up an there was something to read, credits, the artwork. Making an album is a process involving many, now you buy a laptop, go on garage band, you record something and release it.
The quality is not the same. Everything in mp3 is compressed. When you listen to a vinyl, it is so much better. Again, the technology is very convenient. You search for someone, you find them, you listen to them, that’s it. I used to go to Tower Records and spend like two hours looking for things. When I saw my album there it meant something. No one will buy your album online they’d rather stream it. It is terrible for the artists. It hurts the artistry. But I do believe that at some point people will be like, I’ve had enough.
Could you tell us a few things about your upcoming performance in Limassol on the 28th? I was informed you are to start off with your own set and then gradually merge with the other performers.
I wanted to collaborate with local artists. One percussion player from Chile is based here, Rodrigo and two artists from here Larkos Larkou and Atys. I heard her singing and it was very interesting. She’s Turkish-Cypriot, I love that already, it’s like putting extra spice in the recipe. We have a few more days ahead of us to keep working on something amazing and special. I like the word fusion for everything I do. I am looking forward to it.
Grammy & Emmy award-winning Argentinean guitarist and composer Hernan Romero will appear on July 28th at 9pm at Kyklos (Irinis 90, Limassol)
Resv. & Tickets: 97798206