Who was the first to call him ‘Chico’ Pérez?
I’m the youngest of five brothers, that’s what they called me at home. The years passed, the nickname stayed and in the artistic field it works.
A family of musicians?
We lived it as something natural, but not as a game, which is what is usually said, but learning, from an early age, the responsibility of doing art well, with care and respect.
The first album, ‘Gruserias’, is a statement of intentions.
We had already performed many songs and the need arose to record them. Since then I have continued to train. I’m not the same, I have more experience in jazz, film music… the important thing is to have achieved a recognizable style. How nice when they say that “sounds like Chico!”
I had a pending account in Andorra.
The story is curious, in 2022 we were supposed to perform in the auditorium of the Lauredià Cultural Center, but a fire affected the building and we did the concert in the church. We agreed that the day it reopened we would return!
And here we have it.
Looking forward to meeting the ONCA musicians! I will do a tour through the whole discography, there will be many different styles.
How are the synergies with Jordi Cuenca, the director?
We met in the musical of The Lion King, he is my right hand, the connection between orchestra, band and myself!
An anecdote that unites them?
Many!, but when we were working on The Lion King the US director would come every month and sit next to me. I didn’t understand any English and all I said to him was: “OK.” One day Jordi said to me: “You don’t know how well you like the director.” Of course, he didn’t put any obstacles in his way, he said yes to everything!
He says we listen with what we know.
I’m often asked what I do, flamenco, jazz… but it’s because if you’re into a style you look for elements you recognize. I encourage you to leave labels and think only that you will come to a piano concert that will not be in use, where I want to break barriers to thrill. To achieve this it is important to listen without limits and with an open heart.
Is that what your compositions are looking for?
Music should be for everyone, you can’t have to study to enjoy a record, and what I aim for is to tell stories that move.
Where did you learn more, in academia or outside?
It would be romantic to say that the street, but it is the balance. Without technique you cannot transmit and at the same time art is alive, born from sharing.
