CARLOS GRILO
Carlos Grilo is a flamenco musician and a teacher of flamenco clapping – called palmas, which literally means the “palms” one claps to mark the beats during a flamenco performance. He performs with many different artists and he especially enjoys playing guitar. He grew up and lives in Jerez, Spain, the capital city of flamenco.
INTERVIEW – february 2018
How did you start playing flamenco music?
I learned about flamenco through my family. My father loved this art so I grew up listening all the time to flamenco music. My older brother became a bailaor (a flamenco dancer) so at home we would always talk about flamenco. So I didn’t really make this choice: when you grow up surrounded by an art form, it naturally attracts you. That is our strength here in Jerez: some families are “flamenco families”.
I didn’t really have to learn the techniques, because I grew up with it, so when I started playing the music I already had it. Of course no one gets to master anything alone, you have to practice and learn. But for me it was easier.
Is it difficult to live from this art?
Yes, it is. Today, flamenco music isn’t as instinctive as it used to be. Before, you didn’t have to prepare in advance and decide about each performance’s details. You would perform some tangos, some bulerias (specific styles), and that would be enough to play along with a cantaor (a flamenco singer). But nowadays we have to perform more with bailaores and for this we have to prepare much more. You have to know how to play any palo (melody), and you have to know what transition the bailaor is expecting… You just have to come prepared. So you have to study and practice a lot. It’s not as easy as it used to be.
Do you only play traditional flamenco?
I like traditional flamenco the most. Today, flamenco is evolving a lot, and especially what’s about the guitar and the dance. But the basis always remains traditional. Of course when someone calls me for a gig, I’m going to play the rhythm according to the other performers, I’m not the one who decides. But what I prefer is the traditional way of playing.
How do you envision the future of flamenco?
Some people like the new flamenco, but I feel they’re not so many. Not so many people dedicate their time to studying and researching everything they can about flamenco. Most people quickly learn some things about flamenco, and as this music is evolving a lot, they go from there and they start singing or dancing in a new way. But that’s all they can do. They mix the flamenco style a bit with their own style, from where they come from. But they don’t have the actual bases, which is most important. If you master the basis and you know where you come from, well, you can do whatever you feel like.
Many people start by playing in the modern way. That’s why they don’t know the basis. I think it’s great if musicians play modern styles, but the first thing you have to learn is the basis. If you don’t know it, then your modern playing isn’t worth anything. That’s how some people think they know how to play a modern solea (a style from gypsy origins) for example, but actually they don’t know how to play the traditional solea. I believe anyone does what they want, whether they want to go modern or stay traditional, as long as they master the basis.
Flamenco is so big, I don’t think it is going to die, ever. It may be changing, evolving in ways I don’t encourage, but I believe it is impossible that this music ever disappears. Flamenco has already gone global! In any place now, someone can perform it. Whether there are more or less flamenco musicians, I don’t believe this music’s future can be bad.
What is flamenco music to you?
To me, it is an essential experience of Andalusia, because it expresses the artist’s feelings. When someone plays flamenco, depending on the melody they play, you know if they suffer or if they’re happy. Flamenco emerges from the suffering and happiness in families and people’s experiences and knowledge. Knowing how to express yourself is very important. Some people don’t know how to tell others what’s wrong, and their problem becomes worse. By expressing your feelings through music, singing and dance, you get the feelings out, and you don’t have to express them in another form that would be more harmful.
Do you have message for the world?
I am still quite young, and I started playing when I was very young, but I can tell people: whether you learned about music through your family or elsewhere, whether it is flamenco or any other music style, if you want to play, you have to dedicate your time to studying, listening and making efforts. And more importantly, enjoy what you do! If you work and at the end you don’t enjoy yourself, it’s not so interesting!
I always say, if you appreciate this music, and if in addition you have the opportunity to practice it, well, what better can happen to you!