in 2022 damn where surprised her followers with the release of her new single: Incredible story between you and me‘, a very special song shaped after his accident jorge ruiz (group leader); The incident in which he admitted that he changed his perspective on events. The video clip tells the story of two young lovers who travel to various places together and share their stories with their friends, but sometimes do not cease to show accomplice glances or the occasional romantic kiss. Maldita Nerea presented this broadcast on their network – ‘afterA planet calling us‘, their eighth album – as “a new course” and this is the single that paved the way for a project the Murcians were already working on heavily. In addition, they have announced an amazing tour, also called ‘The incredible story between you and me’, which will visit many Spanish cities and arrive in Murcia, where they will hold their second concert this Saturday. We spoke with Jorge Ruiz, who is always positive.
You took a break from touring and new albums and hit the road at the beginning of the year. Should we be positioning for the festivities this summer?
Well, there’s something about that, but there’s also the need to say something new that’s always present in songs. After what I’ve been through for the past two years, composing and touring are two things that seem very necessary to me.
At the first concert, you asked the fans to do an experiment. Are you looking for the public to make a set list for you, or is it more about pleasing?
Both of them. It is a way to take the pulse of our followers and return to songs that unite us and will continue to unite over time.
Why do you do Zaragoza and not Murcia first?
Starting with Zaragoza is secondary, but it was a city I wanted to go to since we had not been able to go for a long time.
How is the ranking of the songs chosen by the public?
Well, even though most of them were songs from the first album, we were surprised that there was so much variety and everything was so balanced. And one of the last: I promise you freedom.
In that last album (A planet called us, 2020) you emphasized the importance of ‘we’ instead of ‘me’. And for the next?
Basically, I’m talking about how important it is to feel like “the hero of your own story” and fully understand the “most valuable, clear and pure variable”: love.
In The Incredible Story Between You and Me, the lyrics send messages like, “It costs me so little to say this so much, I love you and so much more, so much more, because with you all my fears shrink, if they don’t go away.” see me.” When did you write this song? What fears are dwarfs? Why is it so hard to say “I love you”?
I wrote it shortly after I had a sudden and traumatic experience in which I felt death very close. It was a tremendously vulnerable few days, but also very inspiring. In my opinion, it is fear that should not be feared, recognizing that we are extremely sensitive beings to everything that happens. Not understanding this vulnerability is what often makes it difficult for us to say “I love you”.
The song took shape after being crushed. Has it changed your perspective on things?
Yes, it was a tremendous grounding. An enlightenment. As soon as all goes well, you are very close to breaking up or doing a lot of damage in a single moment. We are always “everything and nothing”.
You presented this launch on the networks as a “new direction”. What can you advance? Will it be as rock and roll as the preview? Will it be very different from previous work?
This is a new direction because my life is at a new stage and I see things differently. Working with a new producer is also a huge change and I hope to learn a lot from him. Purely aesthetically speaking, I hope something of the rock core will give the rest of the album as much strength as this first single.
The single was produced by Juan Guevara. Does it show some kind of continuity?
If there’s one thing that doesn’t seem to have lost Maldita Nerea at this time, it’s essence or rhythm. I don’t know if the word is ‘continuity’; I would rather say that we try to be consistent with our history and that new energies like Juan’s always contribute a lot. That’s the whole point, isn’t it? grow
There is currently a promotion for an album that will be released in 2023. Can you guarantee that you won’t be tempted by the city music that now dominates everything?
That’s for sure, because I’m not an urban artist and so I can’t. I’m also usually not good at following fashion or trends. What I’m trying to do is make songs that are forever recorded in the hearts of many people, not just to entertain them more temporarily.
Among your plans, I think there is a personal initiative based on “making music with children, not for children”. What will it consist of?
During the pandemic, Sony Music Latin [la matriz de Sony Music España y de todos los países Iberoamericanos] He hired me to create a music-based educational project that had never happened before in the music industry. My vision is that children are the protagonists of that music, not just a listener who receives it. When I have finished this recording, I will start producing this project that I am very excited about.
You sing “We need more people like you and less fear” in the “A planet that beckons us” choir. What did you want to say with this song?
For me, this song defines what my process of transcending my own ego means. My journey from “I” to “We”. Realizing that I can express myself more fully, accurately and honestly thanks to this ‘we’, but I am also very clear that I still have a long way to go. In many ways, I still have a lot to grow.
What is man’s main fear?
The main fear we have is our own freedom. Neither more nor less.
You may not know who sang the song, but you do know the song and that’s where you want to go. Is your success a triumph of normalcy? Do your songs also depict vulnerability?
My greatest achievement is to look around and see everything I dreamed of as a kid. I dreamed not of being famous, but of people singing my songs, and this is happening. I dreamed of living my whole life with the person I fell in love with and this happened. I have always dreamed that my energy and demeanor would be stronger than my fears and this is happening. I feel like a very lucky person. But at the same time, I remain almost anonymous, although many people do not believe me.
Did you manage to fill three WiZink Center concerts? Does it make you feel?
And hopefully there will be some more if luck continues to be with us. You feel gratitude, wealth, and responsibility. Too much responsibility.
We live in a society of spectacle and noise. What can a musician add, what can you add to such a situation?
Big question. The least we should demand from each other is at least sincerity and honesty. In addition to musicians, we can go far beyond pure entertainment and noise. Bring clarity and clarity to our listeners through our melodies and texts, so that they hopefully feel identified with our stories and fill them with meaning. Neither more nor less. I keep trying and I think I succeed at times.