DIALOGUE WITH ANDREA MOTIS

It is an honor to present our next interview with Andrea Motis , an internationally renowned jazz trumpeter, saxophonist, and singer. Her talent and passion have resonated on stages around the world, and we are thrilled to have an artist like her among our fans. As ardent admirers of her work, we look forward to sharing her perspective and experiences with all of you. Enjoy this conversation!

Your passion for music began at an early age. What memories do you have of your first encounters with jazz?

I have always been very interested in music. From a young age, I used to memorize and sing songs that moved me. Jazz, with its enveloping and mysterious notes, came into my life through my father. He was a great admirer of many jazz musicians, but he had a special affection for the double bass player Charles Mingus. From a young age, he would always play records by him, or by Joe Pass or Louis Armstrong, to my sister and me. Those moments have stayed with me.

At 27 years old, you've already released an album on the same label as some legendary artists like John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington. That must be a bit scary! But I imagine it's also comforting to know that your music connects with people, right?

It was really amazing to be approached to make a record on Impulse!, a label with such legendary artists in its catalogue. Even though it's been a few years since that exciting project, I honestly feel that, for better or worse, my later albums are better. I truly believe that! My passion is to continue to push myself to the limit, seeking to improve with each new album.

You recently became a mother again. How do you balance motherhood with your music career and how does this experience influence your music?

It's hard to explain! This time, with the birth of my second son, Waldi, I didn't have the chance to take maternity leave. I was working on the soundtrack for a David Trueba film. Although it was a wonderful experience, it coincided with the birth, so it was absolutely crazy! Fortunately, these months I have a bit more breathing room. I'm immersed in the release of the album 'Febrero', but I don't have any concerts or trips, which involve a lot of logistics when you have children. Postpartum is an introspective stage, in which you don't feel 100% physically, and everything becomes a bit more difficult. I strive to give my best at each concert, preparing myself mentally and physically, and at these times, if you're not well, it shows. That's why I've been relieved to know that I don't have any performances scheduled, which allows me to focus on work and also rest.

Motherhood, without a doubt, has a profound impact on a person. I know it may sound cliché, and I prefer not to fall into cliché motivational messages, because I am aware of the social pressure surrounding motherhood. I respect and support those who decide not to have children; loving and taking care of yourself is equally valuable. All these learnings shape you and are reflected in your artistic work.

However, motherhood has definitely transformed me. I am more forward-thinking, more organized, and I value simplicity more. I take advantage of the opportunities it gives me, like those seemingly empty moments during breastfeeding, which are actually valuable spaces to reflect and create.

We've read about the importance you place on creating a community. Could you share an experience where you felt that this community supported and encouraged you on your artistic journey?

I have always been surrounded by family. My father was my manager until he retired in 2020. Then, my teacher was the person who guided my progress in professional life; he formed a group with which we have played together for more than 10 years. I call these members 'lovely uncles' (a nickname given to us by a fan in Japan) because they have been part of my family.

Today, I have a new manager and a new band, but I'm still looking to create a community that feels as supported as I did in the past. Despite these changes, my partner, Christoph Mallinger, remains a key player in my career. He's the producer of my latest album and will also be involved in the next one. I think I naturally tend to combine family and friendship with the professional.

Your latest album, Loopholes, is very different and I would even dare to say that it is your most personal. What inspired you to create this album?

The inspiration behind “Loopholes” comes from the influence of my partner, who has been more in tune with contemporary music, while I focused on traditional jazz with acoustic formats. We had the collaboration of Stephan Kondert and his Big Band, specialized in hip-hop, which resulted in a truly innovative project. All this happened just after the birth of my first child. I let myself be guided a lot by them, and together we were shaping this choral project between the three of us, with arrangements and compositions in which we all participated equally. It has been a truly special and endearing experience.

Music often takes us through various emotions and moments in life. Is there a particular song that has a very special meaning for you?

For me, the song 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street' has been a constant companion over the years. It's the melody that marked my start with the alto sax at the age of 11, representing a great challenge overcome. For me, there's a whole story of overcoming behind this song. It was also the piece that connected Christoph and me, so for me it's a love song too.

Although there are many songs and many moments in life, just this coming month, we released “Febrero,” an album full of classics, some of which evoke memories of my grandparents. The songs are memories that transcend musical preferences and connect you with loved ones and moments from childhood. The album also includes “The Girl from Ipanema,” a song that has left its mark on me, as I performed it with Quincy Jones at a festival. For me, they are all precious memories.