Colombian singer Camilo, one of the great references of current Latin pop, lands today in Barcelona (Palau Sant Jordi, 9:30 p.m.), as part of the Inside Out Tour, the name of his next album, which will be released in September. In Spain he is offering an intense tour of twenty cities, which will end on August 5 at the Cap Roig Festival
The Latin star (Medellín, 1994), also very popular for his numerous collaborations such as Shawn Méndez, Pedro Capó or recently with Alejandro Sanz, will feature collaborations during the concert such as that of his partner Evaluna Montaner, and also Mau and Rocky, El Alfa or The Two Carnal.
Last year's tour, Mis Manos Tour, was the most profitable of the year in Spain. Did you learn something?
It was my first tour of my life, my first meeting with the public, and the first country I visited was Spain. Everything was new and the simple energy of the first meeting was enough to liven everything up. Obviously, this tour is much more ambitious in terms of production and staging. Apart from that, as a Colombian singer-songwriter, being able to travel the world with my songs is a privilege.
How are the concerts on this tour?
In Spain we are going to do about twenty concerts, tour practically the entire country after a tour as beautiful and generous as last year's. Now this tour has many ambitions, starting with total enjoyment, and there is a very powerful commitment to production and assembly with which we want to share many songs that have been part of their lives and mine, and all the creative dedication that comes with this album and that is what animates this tour that comes out in September. This tour makes me feel very proud.
What can be seen and heard in Barcelona?
In each concert we do about twenty songs, from the first album and collaborations that I have been doing and even, yes, sometimes we show the new album. And I love being able to do it because in a way it's honoring the people who have decided to buy a ticket and spend time with you. They are played by me and my four-piece band.
Do you feel like an ambassador of Colombian music?
This label gives me a very big responsibility. My country is an exporter of quality and sound, and there is so much musical wealth in it that my songs are the honest and respectful interaction with it. Of course there are other things that are more faithful to the roots, and there are so many artists that are so good and that leave their name so high, but I am proud to be able to say that I feel part of a new generation of artists in Colombia. Yes indeed.
Do you agree when you hear that you are considered the friendly face of Latin urban music?
I have never said that but I respect it. But my music is a product of the person that I am, and I think music should be as close to me as possible. The best way to be me is to do what I do, that is, in the same way that I celebrate honesty and diversity, I celebrate that there is a space for my music and for the way I share what is mine. In this sense, in no way do I think there is something negative in the way other fellow artists do what they do; On the contrary, I feel very fortunate to be able to be part of what is happening now in the Latin music industry, in urban music.
There are reggaeton lyrics, for example, that are clearly sexist.
There have to be songs that immortalize and put everything that is happening in a frame, just like movies or books. Art has to immortalize everything and I'm glad there's room for everyone. I don't think we should all be uniform and look like each other.
You say that the source of your music is God.
More than seeing it in a mythological way or that God is behind my actions, I believe that the day-to-day experience that we all share is something much deeper than just the material experience. I believe that there are things beyond the everyday, and that these energies are alive and present. And from that place I feel my inspiration is born. It is very difficult to be inspired and sensitized to write and have creativity if you are not awake and connected with the deepest part of yourself. And the deepest is described by things that are intangible and sacred to each person. There are those who call that profound thing, or energy, or universe sacred, and other people call it God. I only know that as I move away from that root, my inspiration shrinks.
Is there a common thread in your songs?
It is very difficult for me to define myself, but there are some common factors in my songs that are above all honesty, and also love, which for me is like a revolution worth getting up for every day.
Why are your songs so intergenerational?
The interesting thing about all this is that it was, is, an uncalculated surprise. I feel lucky that my songs are part of the lives of such diverse people, not only in age but with different histories, genres, social classes, politics. My music is a meeting place for diversity.
Changing the subject. Her daughter Indigo was born a few months ago, when they were about to start their European tour. A logistical complication?
Even before thinking about the tour, we proposed that it be all armed, with the whole family, Evaluna, Indigo and me. Especially thinking about Indigo, that although she is very small, her portability, tranquility and delivery of her are fantastic. The truth is that he has been more beautiful than he has been sacrificed. And that we are just starting, but we have enjoyed it a lot.
Posting on social networks that you and your wife Evaluna were going to be parents means sharing your private life with millions of people. What do you think?
In Hebrew there is a word, kupa, which refers to a small hut where the most sacred and intimate of each person and family lives. There is a corner of ours, of course, of our intimacy that only we try to enter, that we guard with great zeal. There is a corner of ours, of our intimacy, which only we try to enter, which we guard with great zeal. But my songs, my music, my career and everything I do are an honest reflection of what I'm living. And besides, people have been so generous with me that when we found out we were pregnant, the first thing we thought about was how we were going to tell the people we love and value. It was a part of the privilege to be able to tell this great family, rather than a matter of profiting from publicity.
Would you have been a musician without the existence of social networks and platforms?
I am a musician before sharing my music. I get up every day to write songs because otherwise I go crazy. I'm more of an inside musician than an outsider. Apart from this, of course I like to share it, tour, live a successful life. But that's the first
Can social networks become a dictatorship?
In a way yes; they are part of our lives, and sometimes it gets complicated because it is a pattern that repeats itself with all the interesting things in life. But I try to find the positive side of being connected, having a clear limit.
