Granddaughter of the linguist Julio Casares, she wrote her first song at eleven and entered the music industry in 1996 with the duo Ella Baila Sola. Songs like “When Frogs Dance Flamenco,” “Bar Talk Love,” and “Vase Woman,” which challenge social pressure on women to stay perfect, have become classics of Spanish pop.
Marilia will be in Vigo tomorrow, not to sing but to participate in the panel “Globalization and Equality in Complex Stages” as part of the training jornadas “Equality Policies” organized by the Vigo City Council within the 8M programming today and tomorrow at the Afundación headquarters. She will perform on the 22nd in Pobra de Tribes, where she will appear as part of the national tour promoting her latest album, “Baila conmigo.” She says over the phone, “I am happiest when I am making songs. I hope to be able to perform in Vigo soon.”
At the latest Goya Awards, sexual harassment was a recurring topic. What is the situation in the music sector?
She believes this is not an issue limited to one area; it touches all sectors. The path to ending it requires collaboration between men and women. It is crucial to talk about it, share experiences, and listen to each other from personal perspectives. As a musician, she views music as her vehicle of communication. The moment is one of continuous learning, and music has consistently accompanied and transformed people. Music is a vehicle of love and expression that often transcends words, and she has chosen it to reach hearts and contribute her small part. She creates songs because, as a child, music opened new worlds, brought travel, and filled her with hope. For her, music is one of the universal languages that connects us, even when beliefs diverge, and today more than ever there is a need for unity.
Do female singers get valued more for what they say or for their image?
She feels progress is visible, and there is a history of advancement that should be acknowledged. Yet there remains a pressure to soften the gaze on women and to adopt a kinder, non-judgmental view. There is still a long road ahead. Recently, the Thyssen Museum hosted an exhibition called “Maestras,” which featured four centuries of brilliant women painters whose work is often overlooked in school books. That omission is a disappointment. Female genius appears in every cultural field, and missing it means losing something wonderful.
Will globalization help or hinder equality?
She believes we are in the middle of so many changes that predicting the future is difficult, especially in the music industry, which is the field she knows best. It has undergone enormous shifts in recent years, making the landscape radically different from when she started three decades ago. The pace is incredibly fast, sometimes confusing, and there is a tendency to chase the latest click. A moment is needed for thoughtful reflection rather than rapid sensationalism.
What message would she like her songs to leave behind?
Life is not always easy, but there exists the possibility to seek what helps one feel well and to love oneself. She feels honored when some of her songs can offer comfort. On stage she often sees mothers with children, fathers with their kids, groups of friends, and young listeners who crave songs with meaningful stories. It is deeply moving to know that her work has accompanied someone and reminded them they are not alone on their journey.