After a long pause that stretched beyond a year, the Andalusian singer and songwriter Carmen Boza returns to the spotlight. She steps back onto the stage to share what she has gathered during that quiet period and to revisit her body of work with an honest, reflective approach that invites listeners to hear it anew.
What has occupied you this year that you haven’t been involved in before? type?
Essentially, living. The decision to take a break came after extended touring, a rhythm that had become all-consuming. The immersive pace of life on the road left little room for the deeper, calmer space that creativity often needs. Boza explains that a slower tempo was necessary to reconnect with the more intimate process of composing, arranging, and producing, allowing ideas to breathe and mature away from the pressures of constant performance.
You hadn’t released a full album in some time, with The Black Box dating back to 2018.
That is correct—there were several singles released in the interim, yet none of them were compiled into a cohesive album project. The focus was on individual songs rather than a traditional LP, a phase that felt intentionally exploratory rather than definitive.
One of those singles was San Juan, released last summer. It has been described as a simple track that carries a powerful message. What is that message in your view?
Songs are small works that help me process life’s moments. They can travel from being deeply personal to belonging to listeners who hear their own stories in them. The act of turning a moment into a song is, for me, a way to claim control over my life: what I choose to do or not do is mine alone, and no one should be held responsible for the decisions I make. That sense of freedom paired with responsibility was a transformative realization at the time, a realization I still value as part of my growth as an artist and person.
You seem to be touching on maturity here, don’t you?
Yes, in both good and challenging ways. I’ve learned to live with the understanding that my life is mine and that my actions shape what happens next. It’s a steady reminder that ownership of one’s choices is a central part of adulthood, and it influences every future step I take in music and life.
Are your lyrics your life?
Earlier in my career, I tended to be confessional, almost diary-like, focused on inner dialogue with little editing. As I’ve grown older, I ask questions that don’t lock me into a single view of who I am or how I think. Sometimes I present a way to interpret a situation rather than a fixed stance. I enjoy playing with metaphors and leaving space for interpretation. The aim of a song isn’t just to entertain; it’s to move the listener, to evoke a thought or a feeling that lingers long after the music ends.
The guitar remains a steadfast ally, and the lyrics still play a vital role. Would you describe yourself as a singer?
I don’t like labels, but I have always stood out in the singer-songwriter tradition. In Spain, lyrics have historically carried weight and substance, which I’m honored to be associated with. Still, my approach has evolved beyond that early identity. When I started, the guitar was central and the vocal line often carried the narrative. Over time, the instrumental texture grew in importance. My explorations with different sounds and textures have pushed me away from the classic singer-songwriter sound toward a broader sonic palette.
And the work is self-produced as well.
Learning to produce came through collaboration, trial, and a lot of mistakes. It has been a journey, and it’s hard to imagine doing the job any other way. Just as lyrics convey meaning, production choices—what instruments appear, where silences sit, how vocal effects are used—become essential tools. They enrich what a song can express and deepen its emotional resonance.
This approach makes every project deeply personal; the creator decides every detail.
Definitely. This is the path I walk—my career, my songs, and my willingness to own both the triumphs and the missteps. Self-producing feels like the most honest form of artistic self-expression, and I continue to refine it with unwavering honesty, even if it means pushing through mistakes to reach a clearer voice. I am committed to the process as long as I am making music.
The conversation began with a plan to pause and reflect. Is the road ready to welcome you back?
Yes, I’m ready. There was a moment of doubt about how to face a return, but the work is there—the shows, the new material, the forthcoming concert experience. Rehearsals have been rigorous, and gradually I’ve come to believe this restart is real. I feel prepared, hopeful, and eager to share the harvest from a year spent in contemplation. Galicia will be where the seed is planted, and I’m excited to see how the new songs and the renewed format land with audiences in Canada, the United States, and beyond (Carmen Boza interview, 2024).”