Andrea Motis, Jazz singer & trumpeter

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

Joan Chamorro has been my first and probably most important motivator. He introduced me into the professional music world at an early age and together with my parents he has accompanied me through it for many years. I was 14 when I recorded my first album and because it was interesting for the press and programmers, I found myself with a lot of concerts and interviews. At that time I was meant to be deciding what to study next and whether to go to university, but I chose to keep going professionally as a musician.

I have to mention my quintet as they’re just the best and always encourage me to be better and to believe in myself.

Also, the Barcelona Jazz Festival believed in me from the beginning and has brought many great performance opportunities such as performing with Quincy Jones or Yo-Yo Ma.

Last but not least, my partner Christoph Mallinger is my biggest motivator and he gives me courage and great ideas too!

What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

Putting together a new band for a new project “Loopholes” after about 14 years of playing with the same quintet has recently been a huge emotional challenge for many reasons: music, friendship, and leadership… it also coincided with having a baby so it’s been an era of change. Now I feel I’m settling down from that, it took a while but the risks were worth it because I can see both these things have opened up my view of music and I now have fresh ideas.

I don’t think I need to expose why maternity is a challenge in one’s music career, it transforms you, but it can also be considered as an inspiration for life.

Of which performances/recordings are you most proud?

I must admit I’m the most proud of the productions I dreamed of and brought to life with just a little team. Even though I have participated with really big names and projects, the proudest and most excited I have been is when I did my first production at the GREC theatre in Barcelona and the many other projects that followed.

And I’m proud now to be working on another new and very different project that I’ve been thinking of for years already: Temblor. A trio with violinist Christoph Mallinger and percussionist Zé Luis Nascimento which is mostly original music of mine.

Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?

Typically, I think I perform bossa-nova and swing music best. This is what I have done the most and what people like the most I think! Right now I’m not doing much of it in my projects, I’m pushing forward but any chance I have to sing or play some of it, it honestly feels so good.

What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?

This is a question I love! I tend to think of myself as an energy channel (or at least something like this) and I noticed that the audience can feel when I’m at peace, even when I’m in love or if I’m inspired. So because of this and also being a mother, I’ve understood that through taking the best care and loving myself, I can pass that on to other people.

I try to prioritise feeling as good as I can, in my case I love doing a little skincare routine because it makes me feel good and is a little time for myself. Other things like dressing as I like, being with the people I love the most, doing some sport, and eating well are very important, as is giving space to emotions. To me it’s all related to the performance – so I feel well and prepared when performing. Studying the music comes naturally as a part of this and study that comes from this feeling of being willing to deliver the best of yourself makes much more sense to me and gives me focus. I don’t want “to play like somebody else” or “to play to satisfy a particular person or group” etc.

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

Being happy about what you do. It means knowing you’re doing your best. And being brave to prioritize and say no to proposals that do not fit with you or don’t feel good.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring musicians?

Don’t have too many prejudices about music, embrace your and others’ rarities and work. Expressing yourself from love and your palette of emotions in performance will grow as you evolve.

What’s the one thing we’re not talking about in the music industry which you really feel we should be?

It is not fair. As life isn’t. But giving space to those creative and authentic projects instead of the ones that sell the most or that are just easier to listen to, I think it would make us all richer.

Andrea’s new ablbum Febrero is released on 9 February 2024