Ana Mena: “I have broken too many stones to believe I am a star” | Culture | EUROtoday

Date very first thing within the morning on the busiest cafe within the unique Madrid urbanization of La Moraleja, the place he has breakfast many days and the place nobody is stunned to be desk to desk with a pop movie star with two million followers on Instagram and tens of millions of views on Spotify and YouTube. She is accompanied by three collaborators who discreetly go away throughout the interview, however who escort her and mark the photographer throughout the photograph session, which appears to concern them greater than the discuss. Small in stature, with splendid blonde hair and the glowing pores and skin of her 28 years and her aesthetic care, Ana Mena neither overwhelms nor makes herself look small to anybody and, I believe, to nothing. He makes eye contact, calls the journalist, who could possibly be his mom, by her first identify and appears genuinely within the dialog. No hint of the pretensions and dengues of different music and display screen stars. There are loads of tables.

He is 28 years previous, however what number of lives does he carry?

The fact is that many. Everything comes from a bonus and that’s that, from a really younger age, I used to be very clear about what my ardour in life was: singing and performing. And that is what I’ve been doing since, on the age of eight, I received the competition I see, I see. Knowing what you wish to do is lucky, as a result of it clarifies your path, however it has been lengthy, arduous and tough. And I’ve been fortunate to at all times have the unconditional assist of my household.

Other younger folks, at 28, reside with their mother and father and the wage doesn’t even give them sufficient to hire a room. Do you speak about it with your pals?

Most of my pals will not be associated to this world, it’s a dialog that comes up typically they usually needn’t clarify it to me. I’ve been working since I used to be a baby, throughout my adolescence I studied remotely and, to work, my father or mom traveled with me. At 21, I got here to Madrid and shared a home for 2 years with my pal Luis, a dancer in my present, who has been my nice assist. I’ve lived in Seseña (Toledo), in Navalcarnero… I do know what the outskirts are like: I completed filming on a Friday and drove to Malaga and returned on Sunday night time as a result of I wanted to see my folks. We are a really household apretáwhat we are saying in Malaga. My mother and father and my brother, who’s now turning 22, have made a terrific effort to make me what I wished to be.

You will need to have finished one thing.

Being very, very cussed, very heavy, having a variety of confidence in what I do and being satisfied that that is my factor. Or you’re keen on this and also you adore it very a lot, as a result of the trail is tough, arduous and lonely. You see many injustices, many closed doorways to which you need to take the detour of the century to seek out the important thing. But I’ve beloved dwelling it, as a result of I’ve realized lots, and I proceed to be taught, it has given me a variety of peace, and it makes me glad in regards to the good issues that occur to me as a result of I do know what it’s wish to be down, I do know completely nicely the place I come from. Now I reside right here, and I’m very comfy, however I may be wherever, as a result of I’ve already been.

In truth, triumphed on an enormous degree in Italy earlier than in Spain. Was that making a advantage of necessity?

Well, issues weren’t going nicely for me right here, and I went to Italy, with out figuring out Italian. I used to be fortunate to have the ability to collaborate with different artists, like Rocco Hunt, and to have my songs preferred. Nobody has ever given me something.

Have you at all times written your songs?

At first, starting, no. They helped me. In truth, I’ve visited all of the phases in Spain, and in Italy, doing coversvariations of others, as a result of I did not have a repertoire to fill an hour. At the start, my songs had been nonetheless made 80% by others and 20% by me. But now, lastly, I can say that they’re all my concepts. I’ve a small group of individuals I write with, however I’m the proprietor of my mission. It has been very tough for me to have them belief my instinct, my tastes and my choices.

Since when do trade bigwigs belief you? I think about that since their numbers have began to matter.

It has been gradual. It has taken me years of coping with some and others, however at this second I determine how I wish to gown, what and the way I wish to say it. They are my tales, my songs, in my very own handwriting, and that makes me very glad. But if. The numbers are on the desk and I’ve seen how some folks’s views of me have modified. I’m very severe at working. Rather a lot. Especially in terms of making choices. People assume that possibly this job is nearly getting on stage, doing interviews and taking lovely images, and no. Being an artist is, above all, making choices. About what you wish to do, what you do not, day-after-day, day-after-day.

He is a star who fills giant auditoriums and has two million followers on Instagram. She will probably be used to flattery.

I hate him with all my would possibly. Because, moreover, possibly it should not be, however I’m a really distrustful individual, I defend myself lots. I’m a lady from my home, regular, who sings and acts. I’ve chopped a variety of stone, I’ve used a variety of decide and shovel to imagine I’m a star. I believe I’m very sincere. I’m identical to you, and like anybody else. I adapt to all the pieces and I like all the pieces.

This summer season she introduced that she was exhausted and he retired to relaxation. She is just not the primary artist to take action. Is the tempo of your job so infernal?

Yes. And it occurs that this rhythm additionally wants a relaxation to settle and feed. A fallow. Let’s say that I’ve been fallow, as I do with my backyard, in order that later it will probably bloom. I wish to be understood: I have not been messing round, I’ve been working, composing, spending time within the studio. But by fallow I imply I’ve been on tour for the final 10 years. At 18 I threw myself into the world and have not stopped working. I’ve finished live shows in all of the locations you’ll be able to think about, I do know all of them. Sometimes, singing in the course of a bottle and with folks turning their backs to me. But I stored singing. I come from all that, and all that’s now in my work.

He was speaking about loneliness. Many younger folks of their era confess really feel alone. Have you felt it?

Much, very a lot. My social life throughout these 10 years has been little or no. I labored, slept and went to see my household. Of course I had fun, however I’m not a lady who goes out partying lots. I really like, generally, making songs for a membership, however I do not love a membership. And after the live performance, you are left alone.

And the legend of intercourse, medicine, rock and roll?

There is all the pieces, in fact. But additionally it is true that increasingly individuals are giving up consuming and like to stand up early and do sports activities. You can have a superb time in some ways, being a bit extra mature and extra conscious of the hazards. In these final ten years, I’ve been single for a very long time and nothing occurs [ella misma contó que su primera experiencia sexual fue a los 24 años]and the folks I’ve met have been folks from my surroundings.

Including your accomplice, Oscar Casaswhom he met on the filming of idolsthe movie that will probably be launched quickly. Is it tough for the pandemic era to seek out love casually, on the road?

Note that I believe it is not a lot as a result of folks exit to bars much less and fewer, however as a result of it is more and more tough to get together with somebody as a result of all of us have this shit in our arms all day lengthy. [coge el móvil]. This is most cancers, that is horrible. Human beings are like that, we at all times assume that we’re going to discover one thing higher, we have now social networks within the palm of our hand with a catalog of good our bodies and faces, we expect that we all know the lives of others and so it is extremely tough for somebody to look and, in the event that they do seem, an actual bond arises. An individual who respects you, admires you, helps you. That does not often occur. That’s what’s uncommon. And I’m very glad that it occurred to me.

But you employ your social networks and publish fantastic images. Isn’t that collaborating with the mirage?

Of course, I’m the primary one who likes it scrollear and have enjoyable and do tiktoks and be there. I present what I would like from my life. It is a steadiness between the duty that one feels, and in addition the pleasure of feeling free. I draw, as soon as once more, on my instinct, however I additionally take heed to others and ask for recommendation.

There are those that understand it as a musical product. Have you ever felt like one?

Yes, it has frightened me sooner or later and I believe I’ve been breaking down that stigma a bit. my tour Bellodrama It was a bit my explicit blow to the desk. I believe there isn’t a age for music. Young folks additionally recognize the classics of the seventies, which I really like, however I additionally love a terrific disco tune, and I proceed to marvel on the copla, which is why I began this, listening to Marifé de Triana at house. I sing flamenco day-after-day. I like having the ability to have that crossoverthat hybrid. I’ve finished all the pieces and the rings have not fallen off.

Are you afraid that, now, you may be checked out with a magnifying glass as an actress in idols? Will you learn the critiques?

What do I do, misinform you and inform you no? Of course I’m going to learn them. It looks as if I’m moving into films now, however I’ve been an actress since I used to be 11 years previous. I perceive that individuals take a look at me with curiosity, however I’m not a novice.

Lola IndigoAmaya, Valeria Castro… There are many excellent singers in her era. How is the competitors going?

I adore it. The extra we’re, the extra the wheel feeds again. What we should always do is unite with one another and launch songs collectively. It occurs in different nations and I do not know why it does not in Spain.

Maybe due to an ego drawback.

I do not know, I’ve tried it a number of instances and I belief that it may be finished. Maybe it is about discovering the best tune. That can be a blow to the desk.

THE MENA AND THE BARGAIN

Since she was little, Ana Mena (Estepona, Málaga, 28 years previous) beloved the flamenco songs – Antonio Molina, Rocío Jurado, Marifé de Triana – that had been heard in her house, however not solely. Also the nice songs of the Italian singers -Mina, Sandro Giacobbi, Zuchero- that their mother and father preferred. She herself says that she remembers being a lady moved to tears or loopy with pleasure listening to them and eager to be like them, singers who, along with singing, carried out their songs. And he set about it. At the age of 8, his insistence satisfied his mom to enter the youngsters’s expertise present, I see, I seewhich he received, and, since then, he has not stopped pursuing his endeavor. Some of his biggest hits, equivalent to Madrid metropolis o mild music They are among the most listened to Spanish songs on platforms. Now, he co-stars within the movie idolstogether with Mario Casas, directed by Mat Whitecross.