“I grew up in diversity,” recalls the artist Miguel Poveda. “A Catalan born in Badalona, in an Andalusian neighborhood, with two parents who were not Andalusian and each one listened to different music.” While his mother immersed him in the richness of flamenco with Farina and Manolo Caracol, his father introduced him to the international scene with Pink Floyd, The Police and the Beatles. This musical melting pot significantly influenced one of the most prominent exponents of flamenco who this Friday performs at the Auditori del Fòrum in his last concert of 2023, to put an end to his Diverso tour.
Within the framework of the 55th Voll Damm Jazz Festival in Barcelona, Poveda closes the year with a musical celebration that will range from the most traditional flamenco to the reimagining of classics from his repertoire. In addition, he will touch on Catalan poetry, address issues of social commitment and pay tribute to Bufalà, the neighborhood of his childhood.
Two guests will occupy a special place, since they are two people who have seen him take his first steps in music: his cousin Agustín Campo and his close friend Manuel Fernández.
Poveda will be accompanied on stage by musicians Joan Albert Amargós on piano and musical direction, Jesús Guerrero (guitar), Alejandro Carballo (trombone), Manuel Reina (drums), José Manuel Posadas (bass), Paquito González (percussion) and Carlos Grilo together with Miguel Ángel Soto (claps).
A projection of images will begin the show which, according to Poveda, is “a journey to diversity.” Through individuals from different parts of the world, the audience will appreciate the richness of religions, races and identities. “All the colors of the planet and the multiple ways of loving, a sample of how I understand the world,” explains Poveda, who highlights his commitment to global representation in his art.
This month, the singer released a preview of what will be his next album, which will be released in April. The single Encuentro, a return to his deepest flamenco roots. “I wanted to record a flamenco album again, but I didn't feel like making a traditional album that hundreds of singers had already made, I needed another element.” Then Poveda decided to record a tribute to the words of Federico García Lorca. “The new album is a musical reading that I give to the book Poema del Cante Jondo, to which we flamenco people owe so much.”
Poveda's commitment to Lorca goes beyond music. At the end of next year she will premiere a documentary about Federico García Lorca, more specifically “about what he has caused to me.” The musician confesses that he has had an “obsession” with the classic Spanish writer for years and he gets goosebumps when reciting his verses. “The more the years go by, the more his murder hurts me, as if he were a family member. For me he is my God.”
“I need to feel like myself, I have already tried to be who I was not many years ago,” says the artist, who will turn 51 next February. With such a significant end to the year and the promise of new projects on the horizon, Miguel Poveda consolidates himself as an artist who transcends borders and genres, and affirms his brand in the world of flamenco.
