Blanco White Samara Interview

Folk Vocal Soars Over An Addictively Driving Psych-Rock Inspired Guitar Line

Blanco White's first 2020 release is here, and it comes in the form of psychedelic new single "Samara" out now. White's incredible folk vocal soars over an addictively driving psych-rock inspired guitar line in this track, marking a significant departure from his soothing Latin American-style folk releases of 2019, "On The Other Side", "Papillon" and "Desert Days". However, the talent, uniqueness, exoticism and poignance of Blanco White as a musician remains.

Interview with Blanco White

Question: How would you describe your music?

Blanco White: My sound is shaped above all by the instruments I play. The charango and ronroco are stringed instruments from the Andes that are normally at the heart of my songs. Finding colours and tones that complement those instruments is often my aim in the production. Since I started out, rhythm has become more and more important to me. Andean, flamenco and Saharan African rhythms are what inspire me most.


Question: Can you tell us about Samara?

Blanco White: Samara was a song that began on the bass guitar. Starting a song in this way was something new to this album for me - in previous releases I would usually begin on guitar, keys or ronroco. It definitely meant the arrangement process felt fresh for me, and ultimately led to different kinds of songs. It's a song with far fewer acoustic instruments than I normally use.


Question: What inspired Samara?

Blanco White: It's inspired above all by Somali music from the 70s and 80s, an era of music that I discovered only in the last couple of years. It's since become an obsession, and is unlike anything I had heard before. The rhythms and the focus on groove from that era made me want to push myself to be more rhythmically ambitious in my own songs. Check out bands like Dur-Dur Band and 4 Mars.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Blanco White: The beauty of this job is that it is full of contrast. At the end of a tour I'm definitely excited to go back into the studio, but similarly after a long period of recording, I get up for touring again. I think my favourite part of the job will always be writing though. That's when I feel most inspired and creatively fulfilled. In those moments, what's going on in your head or imagination is more important than the more technical requirements of recording or performing music.

Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Blanco White: The song that I've always enjoyed playing live from the very start is called The Lily. It's one of my oldest songs and for some reason I've never got bored of performing it. I think it's the Andean style rhythm that's kept me interested in it. I also have the joy of playing alongside some very special musicians in my band, and they never stop evolving the songs, finding new ways to surprise me.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Blanco White: I'd love my old charango teacher who taught me in Sucre, Bolivia to make it to a show one day.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Blanco White: The thing I love most about songwriting is that you get the chance to build worlds in the music and the lyrics too. Although there may sometimes be everyday inspiration behind the songs, normally I'm more interested in exploring sounds and atmospheres that feel otherworldly or surreal in some some way. Thinking through memories is often more relevant to me during the writing process, compared with how I'm feeling or what I'm experiencing in the present. Memories are mysterious in themselves because they are imperfect reconstructions of reality, and so often feel surreal or strange. It's feelings and emotions like those that I'm trying to communicate in the music.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Blanco White: For me music has always been something I've associated with feelings of awe and transcendence. I began writing music as a teenager to explore those things, and because I felt overwhelmed by the beauty in the world around us. I hope listeners are able to share in some of those emotions through the music. They are the emotions that make it a joy to be alive.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?
Blanco White: Malena Zavala, Westerman, Rosalia, Tinariwen, Mdou Moctar. All amazing artists, exploring very different sound worlds.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry? I fell in love with writing music as a teenager. That's what's driven me more than anything. I wanted to spend my time being creative because that's what gives me meaning and helps me make sense of the world.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Blanco White: Tinariwen. What they do really resonates with me. There's a lot of emotion in their songs, and I find it fascinating how the desert plays such an important role in inspiring their music.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Blanco White: Balancing music and my non-working life has been hard at times. I think people who start their own businesses probably experience something similar, because it can become very all-consuming and you end up never taking any time away from it. Feeling burnt out definitely kills the joy of doing music, so managing that has been the biggest challenge.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Blanco White: When I'm not touring, I spend most of my life on my own which is always quite an abrupt change when you stop sharing a van everyday with your band! That sense of space from being alone, knowing you're not disturbing anyone is how I like to write. I normally try and write in Southern Spain, or in the Black Mountains in Wales where my Dad is from. I normally work til late at night, and when the deadlines loom, increased coffee and cigarette consumption gets me through.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?
Blanco White: There are many beautiful moments that you experience doing music, sometimes shared and sometimes alone. The excitement of an initial idea when writing is always special, but I think my happiest memories are probably on stage with my wonderful band. It's really amazing to meet people after shows too who've come to watch. I always appreciate those conversations a lot, and they make me feel proud and lucky to be doing what I'm doing.


Question: What's next, for you?

Blanco White: I had hoped to do some travelling this summer in Europe, but it seems like that is more and more unlikely with everything that's happening at the moment with Corona virus. I will hunker down in Wales and write if quarantine lingers on, and once it stops I'll be really hoping to get back on the road touring. Been hard to watch so many friends have their tours cancelled - thinking about everyone who's been badly affected by what's going on…


Question: Can you share your socials?

Blanco White: www.facebook.com/blancowhitemusic/
@blancowhitemusic
@BlancoWhiteBand
YouTube 


Interview by Brooke Hunter