Virginia Maestro (Labuat) interview, courtesy of www.labuat.es (www.virginiamaestro.es):

Date 29/09/2008: context: It was realised two months after she won Operción Triunfo (a kind of Star Academy programm in Spain) and she was finishing the live tour of that show.

She hadn't communicated the project of Labuat yet. She communicated that fact at 05/12/2008.

Video - First part link:

Transcript:

Q1: The end of the “Operación Triunfo” tour will be the high point of your participation in the show. What will be Virginia Maestro like from that point?

A1: Just Virginia Maestro, the same one. But I’ll be concentrated on a different project, not “Operación Triunfo”, but my first album. You’ll see me working a lot on the CD and very excited about it. It’s been my dream since I was a child.  

Q2: Do you think “Operación Triunfo” could typecast you?

A2: I don’t think it could, at least in a negative way. No, that’s not my view at all. I didn’t expect to win the contest, and it’s wonderful. I never thought it could happen to me. I entered the show and attended the castings with the aim I’ve always had: a career in the music business. I was lucky and I won, so my view is not negative at all, because this chance is my big chance.

Q3: Thanks to the media after your participation in the show, some of your followers have discovered artists like Eva Cassidy o Katie Melua. Which other artists have had an influence on you?

A3: As well as Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua, artists like The Beatles left a mark on me during my childhood. They encouraged me to start playing guitar, even when I was a very little girl, in a self-taught way. Otis Redding, Al Green, Eric Clapton… From that time on I started to listen to The Beatles and I got interested in music in English. I love the sixties. Well, just like the decades that preceded them.

Q4: You’re a performer, but you’re also a composer, though that side of your artistic profile was incomprehensibly ignored by the media. What are your songs about?

A4: My songs are about the things I feel, things I’ve lived, thoughts, moments… I try to tell all this using stories, sometimes through fiction. Sometimes maybe just to give them a dramatic character. But they definitely talk about me.

Q5: When will we listen to your own songs?

A5: Well, I hope you can listen to them soon.

Q6: We have read that you’d like to make a solid album. Do you think that, considering the crisis in the music business, is it possible that genres like jazz, blues or soul burst in Spain?  

A6: Well, about genre… I know music business it’s pretty hard right now, but doesn’t mean that I won’t try. I know my style is not exactly mainstream music in Spain, but all in all, you have to bet on what you believe. And I believe in these genres. I like jazz, blues and soul, and I will bet on something I like and I feel comfortable and identified with. One of my principles has always been to remain faithful to myself, and I apply that to everything, to all the sides of life. That’s very important to me; it’s almost the most important thing about music. I have to remain faithful to my style, to what I like.

Q7: You have managed to join together many followers. Many of them never had watched “Operación Triunfo” or are judgmental about the format and the mainstream orientation of the show. They consider that, as well of your artistic qualities, you’re like fresh air because of your music taste, what makes you the antithesis of an “Operación Triunfo” artist. What do you think about this? 

A7: Well, I don’t consider myself an “Operación Triunfo” artist or the opposite thing. I mean… In many ways, “Operación Triunfo” is a big chance. I had some wonderful experiences in there. And in time, I will find the positive things in the negative experiences, I guess. It’s a chance; it’s a springboard to a music career. Besides, you get to learn lots of things there, I attest it. Anyway, I’m very happy to know that people started to watch the show because of my personal style. That makes me feel good about myself, and the support of my fans makes me very happy. But I don’t consider myself an “Operación Triunfo” artist or the opposite thing. I’m just Virginia Maestro, both inside and outside the show. The show is over, and the tour will be over soon, a phase ends and another one starts. I’ll be recording my album soon, that’s something I’ve been waiting for a long time. We’re working on it. Anyway, I’ve got nothing else to say.

Q8: Some of your followers are worried that exploitation of the media phenomenon could take priority over quality in your first album. There’s also the problem of the lack of time to produce and publish the record. Rumours aside, what can you tell them? It will possible a 100% Virginia Maestro album?

A8: About my album I can only say that we’re working on it. We’re choosing the songs, but I want to do that calmly, there’s no hurry at all. We won’t record it in 15 days. We’re going to do it very carefully; it will be true to my style, a record adapted to me. I can assure it will be a 100% Virginia album. I’m going to stand up for every song; I will put my heart on them. I won’t sing a song that I don’t identify with. You know that, and you have my word. 

Q9: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

A9: Well, I see myself singing, wherever, in a better way, more experienced. I see myself making some music, being a better singer, a better composer, you know. Making music wherever.

Video - Second part link:

Transcript:

Q10:  How would you describe your character and personality?

A10: My character and personality… I don’t know, I would describe it as… I’ve always considered myself a very positive person, because I always try to find the good side of everything, even in the bad things. Bad things always have a good side, and you can take an advantage of it. I consider myself a cheerful person, and I’m also persevering. I’ve been fighting for my music career for years. Well, “fighting” is just a manner of speaking. But I have persevered with my dream. I never ruled it out just because it’s hard. I’ve never needed anyone’s approval either. I’m a very stubborn person and I’ve been very sure about this since I was a child. So, my definition should be “very persevering with music”, persistent.

Anyway, and not speaking about music, I’m a very affectionate person; I become fond of people very easily.  

Q11: Which book would you recommend?

A11: Maybe Paulo Coelho’s books. “The Alchemist” is a nice book, easy to read.

Q12: An album?

A12: An album… “Rubber Soul” by the Beatles.

Q13: A song?

A13: I can’t choose just one, there are many songs very special to me. Right now it comes to my mind songs by The Beatles, Ray Charles, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy… I can’t choose one, I’m sorry.

Q14: A film?

A14: Right now I recommend “Across the Universe”, because I saw it again the other day. If you want to laugh “The Money Pit “is a good one. The first time I saw it, my belly ached from laughing. “Grease”, that film was with me through all my childhood, I’ve seen it like 80 times.

Q15: An artist?

A15: Eva Cassidy, undoubtedly, she’s been a huge influence these last months.

Q16: One of your concerts?

A16: A concert… A concert… It’s hard to choose just one. I remember the one at Mairena [a Spanish village], and also our first one. Also the first time I performed in front of an audience while in the show. There have been lots of concerts and jam sessions that I enjoyed and moved me.

Q17: Would you rather play in a small club or in a big stadium?

A17: Let’s see… Each one of them has its charm. In a big stadium there’s the euphoria and the excitement, you can feel the people’s state of mind in the air. It’s very impressing and exciting. But it lacks the intimacy of a small club. There’s a moment for each one. I can’t choose one, I like both.  

Q18: Which virtue do you admire most in a person?

A18: Goodness and honesty.

Q19: What do you dislike the most?

A19: Lies and injustice.

Q20: Which fault do you tolerate the most?

A20:  I don’t know, I guess that any unwilling mistake, but that’s relative. As I see it, everyone can make a mistake, and everybody deserves a second chance. I mean, I make mistakes, so I’d better not judge anyone. We’re all human.

Virginia speaks:

Thank you very much for everything, I love you so much. I would love to talk to each one of you, I know someday I will be able to do it one by one. I will dedicate more time, you deserve it. By the moment, I dedicate everything I do to you. Don’t think that I don’t keep you in my mind, because I carry you with me wherever I go, to the places I go, to the concerts. Anyway, best wishes to you. Enjoy your moment, and music all the time!