David Villodres I Málaga, (EFE).- “A song has to move me to record it,” says singer Jairo Zavala, artistically known as Depedro, who acknowledges not having any “protocol” when composing songs and that is why he takes it “calmly.”
In an interview with EFE, Zavala (Madrid, 1973) explains that what interests him most about music is telling “what is close”, something with which people can feel identified, although he admits not doing it “on purpose”, and that “it is not necessary to resort to grandiose ideas to tell great stories”.
“Music doesn’t make sense if I can’t share it,” adds the artist.
For Zavala, music is constant daily feedback: “Many artists have influenced me throughout my life and still do.”
He also acknowledges that, although he didn’t realize it at first, the fact that his father is Peruvian and his mother grew up in Africa has also influenced his musical evolution.
A live musician
Their latest album, “Antes de que anocheca”, was released from a live concert that the group gave in Madrid: “We found it very exciting because of the number of people who had gone, we recorded it and, afterwards, we realized that it was worth releasing it”.
He adds, however, that although they tried to reflect what the music sounds like live on the record, “you never get close because it’s impossible to capture the physical atmosphere of the stage and the people on a recording.”
And it is that Zavala is, above all, a live musician, a singer who does not have thought about what to play until 10 minutes before going on stage: “I like that each concert is different and unique. It is a way of understanding music as if it were alive, for the public to be attentive and curious”.
Depedro’s vocalist vehemently affirms that he is not going to change his musical style “for nothing”, that it would be “ridiculous and absurd” to introduce other types of rhythms into his songs and that he is not going to wear “any suit” because he makes “organic music, with real instruments”.
“If you listen to my lyrics, you realize that I am an optimistic person, I like to see the glass half full,” says the singer, who also acknowledges that, although his way of seeing the world sometimes sneaks into his compositions, he does not believe that there is telling people what they have to think about music.
The artist does not explain why his music has so many followers: “I don’t know why people choose to buy a ticket and come see me, but like all musicians, nobody knows the key to success.”
The impact of the pandemic
Next Friday, July 21, Depedro will perform at the Brisa Festival in Malaga. A city that he remembers very fondly and that he hopes will receive him “as he always has.” He admits that he “really wants” to get on the stage of the La Malagueta bullring.
The Madrid-born artist, who has also performed in Latin American countries, acknowledges that the reception and energy on both sides of the Atlantic is very “similar” and that this is one of the reasons why his project is “so traveling”.
Now, Zavala is immersed in the recording of a new album, although he still cannot give a release date.
Depedro has collaborated with artists of the stature of Luz Casal, with whom he sings “I keep dreaming of you”, or Izal, with “Nubes de papel”, both with millions of views on different music platforms.
“The music industry is not as big as it seems. We all know each other and I haven’t been playing for two days, ”she explains.
“Máquina de piedro”, Depedro’s latest studio album, was still released under the restrictions on shows due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he points out that for this reason he has a feeling of “a bit of resentment”, because he could not have “the push of the public”.
Even so, he is happy because he was able to do several concerts some time later and the public connected a lot “emotionally” with the songs. EFE