Anaju: “I have taken a very different path and one that goes beyond my beginnings”

Anaju was one of the great revelations of the musical talent shows in Spain after his participation in the 2020 edition of ‘Triumph operation‘. His professionalism and good taste when it came to exposing himself to the jury and the public week after week made him win a place in the final (although not with victory) thanks to versions like ‘Nana del mediterráneo’ by María José Llergo .

After a pandemic and her first EP, ‘Mood’, Anaju has not stopped thinking and preparing her great musical change, which is also accompanied by a radical change in look: white hair and a clear declaration of intent, returns to demonstrate his professional identity. The one who admits having strong influences from Rosalía in everything she does was among the favorites to compete in Benidorm Fest 2023, but this did not happen. Why? She tells us herself Exclusive statements for Yasss.

What has happened to Anaju during all this time that she has not given us new music?

I was working. The last thing you heard from me was the ‘Juno’ song, at the beginning of 2021, and since then I started composing the new ones. In the summer I went on a retreat to shape it and, since then, I have worked on everything that is not written.

I moved away from the media focus to delve into the new.

In addition to the ten songs that make up your new album, what other lessons did you learn from that spiritual retreat in a hotel in Asturias?

It was a beautiful experience. I had never faced the challenge of composing, which is delving into very personal things, in this way.

Doing this retreat was an immersive experience because I withdrew from everything around me to focus more intensely on what I wanted to explore. It has been a nice way to give the songs a timelessness to the Anaju who writes them.

Why does spirituality inspire you so much?

It has always been very present in my life because I have grown up surrounded by it. More than a religious or Christian spirituality, which is what I say that I have been surrounded by, it is a spirituality that goes much further. It is about growing and evolving as a person, human being or artist. Find out where the path will go.

For example, I have deeply engraved in my memory those experiences in the car with my family in my childhood and every time we saw a ray of light between the clouds my father said “look, there is God!”. This is not about religion per se, but it is true that belief, spirituality and nature inspire me a lot and accompanies me.

It is not common for an artist to talk about religion and you do, does it generate responsibility?

It is something very personal. Each one finds spirituality and that thing so close to faith where he feels most comfortable and where he needs it.

Do you self-censor yourself? Is there a specific topic that you don’t want to talk about in your songs?

Obviously there are things that help to write more freely, topics that inspire more, but at no time have I censored myself and said “Anaju, don’t go there”. So far this has not been the case.

How do you define your new professional stage?

“Evolution”. I really think it’s a change up because knowing what I already know, without pretending that I already know everything, this record feels like a step forward.

You sing to bad luck in the cover letter of your new album. If you take stock, do you consider that the bad has predominated and not the good?

The good one, no doubt. I consider myself very lucky because I have met very good people, the projects have made me smile a lot and I have also learned. Obviously, I’ve had ups and downs, but I don’t think that’s bad luck.

What makes you lose sleep, Anaju?

My cat, who makes a lot of noise at night, and the war in Ukraine.

Despite lovingly and proudly remembering your time in ‘Operación Triunfo’, why do you consider it a necessity to break the cord with that stage? Does it generate so much prejudice?

I do not deny having been in ‘Operación Triunfo’ nor will I ever do so. Each artist has their beginning, but it is true that all artists have to work very hard to carve out the career that we consider and need. In my case, it is quite far from what was known to me in the program and it is normal that I want to turn the page.

I have taken a very different path that goes beyond my beginnings without forgetting them, but evolving.

We all took your participation in Benidorm Fest 2023 for granted, why didn’t it happen?

I wanted to be on my ball and focused on the new project. I am aware that you have to dedicate a lot of time and energy to the Benidorm Fest and I needed it to be focused on the launch of my new stage. At no time did I consider introducing myself.

Will it happen at some point?

I rule out absolutely nothing. When that opportunity is given, I will assess if I have enough energy to live that experience, which should not be easy.