Ana Torroja: “One of the things I like most people to say is that I always surprise”

Ana Torroja Fungairiño's voice has been present in the music world for decades. Anyone would agree that his vocal talent is unmistakable, his voice is sweet and full of feeling, as soon as he enters the ear, he caresses him and it is easy to get carried away by the stories of his songs, he narrates them perfectly from his singing, with his own particularity, with his own label, with his lullaby, calmly, but also with force interpretive.

The singer from Madrid was born 62 years ago, on December 28, 1959. If we talk about his parents, they have nothing to do with music; José Antonio Torroja (father) worked as a civil engineer, for his part, María del Carmen Fungairiño (mother) studied nursing, but did not develop her career in practice. Without leaving out his paternal grandfather with the title of marquis.

Ana Torroja, on the other hand, directed her life towards art, music, singing and composition. She was just 22 years old when she began to carry on her shoulders the title of being the vocalist of Mecano. The group, also made up of José María and Nacho Cano (brothers), began to sound everywhere in 1981; success and popularity would be two of the most accurate words that could describe the Spanish trio.

However, beyond her songs, her recording works, her positive reception among the public, Ana Torroja began to feel run over by something that resembles or compares to agoraphobia, which is defined as a phobia of open spaces. In an interview with Infoabe Colombia, the artist recalls:

“It was a certain moment in my career and it was the highest and most successful moment for Mecano. I am a person, even if it may not seem so, very shy and I am also a very reserved person with my other part, with my other half, with Ana just. So, being so exposed made me feel very vulnerable and that vulnerability became almost, almost agoraphobia, it didn't really become agoraphobia, but I say it like this to explain a little what I felt, it scared me, I didn't want to go outside because it couldn't be me, because people immediately screamed, they went crazy, they wanted to touch you , they wanted to hug you, they wanted to hear from you, I felt like... how to explain it... like some kind of freak, and I didn't like that feeling.”

Bringing that memory into her mind seems to still revolutionize her inside, she stays thoughtful for a few seconds to try to find the most propitious words that help her explain the unpleasant feeling she had at that time.

Even to try to find calm again, she decided to look for a place in another country where she could find herself and adapt to her reality. He left for the United States.

“... What I did was go to a place where no one or practically no one knew me. I went to live in New York for two years and there I found myself again. The feeling I had was that I had abandoned myself because this profession is very dedicated, then I had given so much that I no longer existed as a person, then as an artist, but not as a person. I left to recover myself.”

And it is that Mecano left iconic songs to sound and resonate with the passage of time. When naming the group, there are several songs that come to mind at the same time, for example, 'Son of the Moon', which is practically a mystical tale; but Mecano was versatile and among his discography there are also songs for broken hearts: 'It is so hard for me to forget you' is one of them.

By asking Ana Torroja to define each of these two songs in one word, she accepts the challenge: “'Son of the Moon' I would say it's... drama, right? and 'It's so hard for me to forget you', tenderness”.

Until 1992, Mecano remained active as a group, and then resumed in 1998. However, their return was almost like a blink: they were only together for about a year in this second part of their story; but as is often the case with each band that breaks up, the question of whether they would return is raised over and over again both in the media, as well as among fans and/or social media users, today's world.

Regarding Mecano, that final point that closed its story more than twenty years ago, was definitive. At least, that's how Torroja feels.

“For me that's it... there was a time when there was some kind of attempt, but it's really complicated, there were three of us and each one followed their trajectory, so it was very difficult to agree and every time the... I don't know... I don't know how to say it, it's deflated, like the illusion has been diluted, everyone goes their way, I keep singing those songs, many of them, and for me it has never ceased to exist. I know it's not the same for the fans, which would be incredible, but I already say no, it's just that I don't see it, it won't happen... I'm sorry for those who want it,” says the singer for Infobae Colombia.

The most emotional moment in her career as a singer is due to a particular song: 'Woman against woman'.

“As a result of one of the most emblematic songs with Mecano, which is 'Woman vs. Woman', I was able to learn wonderful stories, because that song gave wings to all those people who had it complicated, who had a hard time coming to light with their sexual condition, but all the people who have told me things about their lives in that sense have always been very positive and that this song has helped them to get ahead and feel proud of themselves and to enjoy and live life with their heads held high, that fills me with pride because I think that we are also here artists, creators in general and people who have a weight on the public... I think our end in life is to be able help people in any way, or at least that's how I feel it should be. Music is already a great therapy and medicine for the soul.”

The story of the song — which came out on the market in 1988 — has as its protagonists two women who are a couple on the sly.

After Mecano, Ana Torroja continued to sing 'Woman against Mujer' and other songs of the group, but also those she has developed in her solo career. Faced with the reunion of his musical work, it is impossible for him to mention a single song that he considers to be the best in his repertoire, although he realizes that not being able to make such a selection is a good thing.

“There is not one, that is how lucky I am, that there is not just one song, there are many emblematic songs that have crossed borders, generations, that are alive today, just like when they were created, some more than thirty years old and that is something that doesn't always happen with all artists... I used to talk about 'Woman against woman' because I think it is a song with incredible weight that still has a lot of value today to continue singing it, when it was created it was very brave to create it, but still today because each country is going at a different pace, although there is much achieved, we still have to defend diversity in love”.

His solo career also highlights the variety of songs he appreciates, but he dares to mention 'Contratiempo' (1997) with special importance. “It was like the song that timidly made me present myself as Ana Torroja soloist and it has survived time very well and that every time I sing it is alive like yesterday.”

Surprisingly, that is the best compliment anyone could make about the music of the Spanish artist, at least, that is how she most enjoys having her work described.

“I think that one of the things I like most people to say is that I always surprise... I always try to do different things, to give different worlds on my albums, I don't have a specific line, I have many, maybe in Mecano it was the most continuous line because they were two composers and they had their styles, but when I started my solo career I am really doing what I feel at every moment, every moment of life is one and different and I have done many different things. Not having a line and trying to surprise has a risk, because sometimes it works out well and sometimes it doesn't work out so well, but I always say it: I'm 100% convinced that everything I've done, every album that's come out, every song had to come out at that moment, I wouldn't change anything or regret anything. The best thing you can tell me is that I always surprise because I try.”

With Mecano, Torroja released several albums: 'Where is the Fairyland? ' (1983), 'Between heaven and ground' (1986) and 'Sunday rest' (1988), are some of them. However, as a soloist, the singer also has an important discography, highlighting, for example, the works 'Puntos cardinales' (1997) and 'Frágil' (2003).

In addition, Ana Torroja has not only given her audience the interpretation of songs in Spanish, but also in other languages such as French. Without leaving out his multiple collaborative songs, Who doesn't remember 'It hurts love' with Aleks Syntek? , a pop classic in spanish would be the best phrase to describe this musical gathering.

Leaving a legacy is not an easy thing and the artist, who throughout the interview remains kind, smiling and sweet, says she doesn't like the titles very much, but dares to say a few words about how she would like to be remembered.

“... As someone who has enjoyed life in general and within the life of his profession, music; as someone who has felt everything he has done 100% from his heart and as someone who still feels like a child and still wants to play and is still excited to continue doing what he continues to do, which is music.”

Next May 12 is the date selected for Ana Torroja to develop her musical presentation in Bogotá, at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo.

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