"Blues eases the pain, makes us cry and thus helps us to let go of the hurt and rise again."

Victoria Moralez: Fusion transformation

Victoria was born in Södertälje, Sweden to Uruguayan parents. She grew up in various regions of Sweden and composed her first song on guitar at the age of 8.Victoria settled in Stockholm in her early 20's by which time her songwriting had become a serious pursuit and she began to test her sound and production ideas with various musicians.

Her main instruments are guitar and piano but, for Victoria, all instruments represent a new universe to explore. Collaborations have played a big part in the search for her own musical language. To grow and share experiences with other people has allowed her to feel free from genres and overcome fear and obstacles that every artist will find on their path. This method has served her well and is something she looks forward to continuing..

Interview by Michael Limnios

Victoria, when was your first desire to become involved in the music & who were your first idols?
When I was about six years old I started writing songs but I didn't decide to actually perform with my music until I was around eighteen. My first idols where Louis Armstrong, Gregory Isaacs, Paul Simon, Depeche Mode and Bruce Springsteen. 

What was the first gig you ever went to & what were the first songs you learned?
The first gig I went to was with a band from South Africa. Wow, did that open up my mind to how a guitar can be played. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the band but I'll never forget the feeling. The first songs I learned were my own. And because of that I wrote my own music, it took a while before I learned any others'. "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix was the first song I learned that wasn't my own,  it probably didn't sound to good but I had a lot of fun. 

How do you describe your music philosophy? How do you characterize your sound?
Music is people connecting. We are all, both musicians and listeners, part of a tradition. With music one individual's personal experiences can be added to this pool and shared over time, generations, cultures and so on.  Because of this it is important to free yourself from expectations from others and yourself and not compromise your own expression. Just release it into the world and then move on. My sound is in constant transformation because that is life and life is what I'm trying to reflect with my sound.

How/where do you get inspiration for your songs & who were your mentors in songwriting?
Inspiration is all around me. I would say the tricky thing is to find the time to write all the songs being born from  all the things that I find inspiring.    I grew up in a surrounding devoid of people engaged in music. So I had to find my own paths. Radio was very important here and of course record stores. 

From whom have you have learned the most secrets about music? 

There is no one mentor or person I learned from, instead I gathered wisdom from all around and searched for the words, sounds, harmonies and voices that spoke to the core of who I am. I think this is why I allow my sound to morph so easily, depending on what I wish to express. Music should never be a secret. Knowledge should be shared.

What does music mean to you & what does offer you?
Music offers me a place to rest, release and redefine. Within my musical center I can find peace from all the trouble but also take needed time for reflection. Music means surviving everyday life. 

Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst?
I don't think in terms of best or worst. Oftentimes what seemed to be a really horrible phase turned out to be exactly what I needed. 

What do you learn about yourself from music and songwriting?  New things every day. I am, as most other people, a complex and very simple person. Duality. My songwriting teaches me to embrace and accept my lesser impressive sides, so that I can become a more soft and open person.

Alive or dead, who is the one person that you’d like to meet face to face if they were alive, and talk to over jam?

Alice Coltrane

Which is the most interesting period in your life and why?
Right now; because that is the period I am living in. 

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD artist, how do you want to be remembered?
My childhood was a mess. I chose to rise above most of the problems and distortions that mess caused and created. I think that has made me a good artist. To overcome fear is not just a cliché.  I want to be remembered as someone who cared and someone who ever so slightly challenged our ideas of what music production should sound like.

Do you think that your art comes from the heart, the brain or the soul?

Most definitely all three of them. The heart drawing the map, the brain reading it and the soul making sure the destination wasn't just vanity.

Some music styles can be fads but the blues is always with us.  Why do think that is?  
Because blues allows us to express sorrow and failure. Feelings every single one of us have but are often told to hide. Locking sorrow up inside makes us hard and tense. Blues eases the pain, makes us cry and thus helps us to let go of the hurt and rise again.  

What do you think is the main characteristic of you personality that made you an artist?
Staying playful and being forever into playing dress-up helps. Seriously though, I guess being very social, expressive and sensitive at the same time as balanced, patient and an experimental loner is what made me an artist.

The "Translucent", how did this project come about, what characterize this album?

"Translucent" was all about; less is more. I wanted to see what happened if I wrote music in a transcendental state of mind. Stripped the music down. Moved one step closer to simplicity. Turned down the volume of the interfering noise from outside, and listened to what the voice left inside sounded like; and then put that into music. 

Do you remember anything funny or interesting from the recording hours?

When a neighbour to the studio came down. Bulting on the door and we all went - oh oh we are playing too loud. But all she wanted was to ask when the album was done so she could buy it.  

Who are your favorite artists, both old and new, what was the last record you bought?
I sometimes refer to Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders as my home base. It really doesn't matter how spun out I am, they're music will always center me. Otis Rush, has made me cry many times and I think he was a truly amazing singer and guitar player. Prince absolutely takes my breath away on so many levels that words are not enough but most importantly because he never stops surprising and challenge me. The last album was; Sorger Était Allé Dehors, Comme Aprés Un Triomphe by the group Folding and The Point

How you would spend a day in Uruguay
I would look for my mother, swim in the sea, go listen to some tango players and drink Yerba mate. 

What is the current state of the live music scene in Sweden where you live?
It is growing and slowly opening up to more diversity. I think the swedish crowd is hungering for more new things than the venue owners and booking agencies are aware of. 

Are there any memories of all GREAT musicians you meet which you’d like to share with us?
Oh, there are so many but that is hard to express is writing. I presume that big part of your life is somehow connected with blues.

Do you have any hobbies, which do not have anything to do with music?  
Photography  

Victoria Moralez's Official website