Née: Sílvia Pérez Cruz
Raíces: Palafrugell, Spain
Sounds Like: a strong-but-tender hurricane of emotions in four different Romance languages.
You should listen to Sílvia Pérez Cruz because…she pushes the boundaries of traditional Iberian music as we know it. And also, to enjoy her one-of-a-kind covers.
Sílvia Pérez Cruz is so much more than a traditional Spanish singer. When you hear one song and try to lock it into a certain genre, the next one proves you wrong and makes you start from scratch. Sincerity and elegance crown the work on her solo debut album, 11 de novembre, in which she displays her unconventional ways to blend dialects, world rhythms, and thoughts.
One question arises: why would a woman with such talent and an impressive repertoire of her own focus on covering famous songs? Because she is able to destroy them. And after those chosen songs lay on the ground, torn down to pieces, she breathes new life into them and reconstructs them as her own. For example, take a look at her rendition of Chicho Sánchez Ferlosio’s anarchist classic, “Gallo Rojo, Gallo Negro.” From the moment she awkwardly walks to the chair and the guitar strikes, her bare soul takes the wheel, giving us goosebumps from beginning to end with an amazing, visceral performance.
But the credit of these phoenix-like musical arrangements is shared with someone else. Fellow guitarist Raúl Fernández Miró is part of their collaborative project, Cruz Miró, where they find the freedom to interpret many popular songs they love. The duo will be performing for the first time on U.S. soil opening for Fuel Fandango at the Beyond Flamenco concert series. So, if you’re willing to listen to some Leonard Cohen, Edith Piaf, Fito Páez, Violeta Parra, or even Beyoncé receiving their unique treatment, head out to Catalan Sounds on Tour at Summerstage on Sunday, June 28, to watch them perform.