Fernando Navarro it does not reveal the percentages where reality and fiction are intertwined. All that matters is in the songs (Hitliks, 2022)the novel he will present tomorrow in Murcia (Plan 9, 19:00) and tells the story of a man whose life cracks into a suffocating maturity that only music can tell. At one point, the protagonist’s psychologist informs him that his music-loving obsession is with him, as if he were fascinated by the same bug that bit Rob Gordon. High loyalty, this is a “delicate matter”. For him, however, this is the only thing that can unravel his inner world: he will be a good father if he can make his son love the Beatles and feel about him the way he feels for him. born to runby Bruce Springsteen. Thus, through fifteen songs (more than could fit on a single record), the Madrid journalist makes a playlist from the life of his hero, only to leave a written testimony of what music can achieve.
What was the process of selecting these fifteen people? songs What supports the plot of the book? Did you clean them from the start?
I didn’t have them in my head until I started writing. It was only clear to me that I wanted to write a book that talked about the emotional power of music and how that power has accompanied me throughout my life and therefore the character I wanted to draw with my words. I searched my emotional memory and many songs came out. A lot. All of the people chosen should also have their own stories, connected to the story of the character in the book, their ups and downs, and their personal circumstances.
Was there anything left out that particularly hurt to be delisted?
A lot! At least enough to count on the fingers of both hands. Or rather, like the ones that come on both sides of the record. Among them, I can sing songs by Wilco, Van Morrison, The Band, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Richard Hawley and Father John Misty.
Do you have songs to make a second part?
I would have songs to create a series of books. Like some national divisions of Galdós. But in this case, it would be the Musical Episodes of a man who lacked that talent, whose head was bent over music, and whose heart was listening.
This is not his first book. when he prefers journalismDid you also consider yourself a novelist at that time? How did you switch to long format?
I have always loved to write. I love the mission that journalism has to interpret other facts that don’t belong to you. To other people, to communities, to societies… To explain and contextualize them. But this never contradicted trying to explain himself and the world that surrounded them. For this reason, I have always wanted to go beyond journalism formats and write fiction. I spend my life listening to and talking about others, and at times I feel like I should listen to myself and explain more about myself, but that doesn’t mean I have to be the real character in my books.
The hero of the novel tries to get the guitar without much success. If you were a musician rather than a journalist, what role would you see yourself in more?
If a song has touched your heart, then have you ever imagined yourself on stage, radiating the full power of connection and communication? After all, imagining yourself on stage is like flying, and we’ve all imagined ourselves flying at some point. However, I consider myself a journalist and am very happy with my role.
The same is said for music journalists as it is said about music teachers. music: that they were frustrated musicians. Does that count?
No, because I’ve never tried. I’ve never picked up an instrument or sang to see where it takes me. Already at the age of 15 I had an urge to write embedded in my body and rock and roll, which took me further in that direction: to write a lot for everything and without fear. What rock and roll opened for me was a tremendous and fascinating window into wanting to know all the mysteries of life. I read more, heard more, saw more. Although I consider myself a writer. How terrible! It would be repulsive to be a teenager and see myself already wearing a scarf, a long coat and a pipe. I wanted to have fun and have fun, not be boring. I wrote to relate the realities of the world to myself, and meanwhile, I know how to spot the wretched, the fools, and the idiots. I am a frustrated rich man because I should have been rich by now and I still check supermarket offers and complain about electricity bills.
Which of the fourteen musicians who signed the songs in the book would you like to have a coffee and talk about life?
While I would certainly be disappointed in some of them, I would tell you that in all of them. If there was a choice, I would say that for Elvis. That way I would show him he was alive, I would privilege the big world, I would be rich, and I would stop looking at how much they nailed us for coffee.
And which would you choose as a psychologist?
I don’t think either of them would be good psychologists. That’s why they’re not meant to be musicians, songwriters, psychologists. But if I had to choose, I would say Tom Waits. I would tell him about my childhood trauma, and he would tell me that ants in Los Angeles are better organized than ants in the rest of the United States to feed off each other and build an ant civilization. Or he’d tell me about locusts or circus gnomes. At least it would be pretty fun.
Reading All That Matters in Songs I can’t help but return to Nick Hornby’s novels. High loyalty with music-loving characters who know no other way but to draw parallels with songs and artists. Besides the songs, what other models and inspirations did you have for this book?
High loyalty It’s like the Empire State: They can build thousands of skyscrapers in New York, but none of them will be Empire State. Trying to be like that book is like trying to catch the wind. It doesn’t make sense and can be ridiculous. I just wanted to write my own story with my own elements and feelings. My biggest model for this book was my mother. He would get up early every day, go to work in the morning, and go to another job in the afternoon. Here it is: Writing a book takes a lot out of this model of perseverance and discipline. Get up and spend hours with one goal in mind.
At one point in the book the hero says: “It’s clear I’m at the point where all the songs are talking about me.” What is it about music that manages to connect with us at that point where nothing else can reach?
Ask the Jedi when they say, “The power is within you.” Only those who have experienced the Force know how incomprehensible and powerful music is.
Just as some songs stay with us throughout our lives, we associate others with moments so much that we sometimes get stuck and stop listening to them (for example, songs we listened to during puberty or associated with certain people). Who are we not related to anymore?) Is it happening to you?
Continually. But be careful: a song can come back at will, just as it chooses you and not a song. The dark side of the force is there.
Do you have any advice for making peace with the songs we left behind?
A bottle of Jack Daniels and a whole night ahead. If it doesn’t help, see a psychologist. Tom Waits will know what to do with you baby. Did you know that storks stopped their migration to Africa and settled in Spain because they found a lot of food in the dumps here?