Carmen Doorá: «The copla is super important in our identity»

The singer from Murcia is preparing the release of her next album, of which she has already released two previews. She is accompanied in the production by her partner, Ángel Dorao, who composes with her.

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Carmen Doorá and Ángel Dorao. Photo: José Montes

Carmen Doorá presents 'Animal', a single from her upcoming album

After releasing the careful single Animal, with its corresponding and no less care video, Carmen Doora continues with the project of his new album, scheduled for this spring, and with which he intends to make a definitive place for himself in the scene flamenco current. At the moment, he is about to present the second preview, The gift, and is aware that his voice and personal style have not gone unnoticed by the public or the media.

Born in Murcia, the artist admits to having gone “round and round” until arriving in Utrera, where she currently resides. She adopted her stage name in homage to a cow that her grandfather, an amateur singer, looked after, but her artistic path has been winding. “I studied Philosophy in Granada, then I spent four years in Paris on a scholarship at the Sorbonne, and that's where I started singing more seriously as a hobby and got into the circuit. Then I did a higher degree of cante in Barcelona, and I was there for eleven years, until with the pandemic I came to Seville, I managed to get the jobcante at the Antonio Ruiz Soler Conservatory and here I am still.”

He did manage to finish his Philosophy studies, by the way. “It was the best stage of my life, I had very good teachers,” he says. “In the past it was not common for an artist to have university studies, now we are in the opposite stage. There are more and more educated people and I think it is important to know where the things we sing come from, because the flamenco “You never stop learning.” In the master’s degree she is currently studying, she is researching the presence of women in anthologies, from the one by Hispavox in 1958 to that of Carmen Linares.

«With a contemporary spirit, we are in line with other artists such as Israel Fernández, who is the great reference of this moment, capable of bringing the flamenco a lot of people, or the latest album by Niña Pastori, which is amazing. Without wanting to imitate anyone, we look at them"

“I had never thought of doing this, but it all came together,” he continues. “I started working with one person and another, and Before I knew it, it was taking up all my time. It's a pleasure to dedicate yourself to something so beautiful., imagine what it was like in that bohemian life in Paris, although it is also very demanding, it gives many headaches."

After the good reception of a cover album like organicCarmen has been touring with her partner, the musician and producer, since 2022 Angel Dorao, to this new work with a different concept, own creations and sounds that approach electronics without ceasing to sound flamenco. "Apart from the studio that Ángel has in Jerez with work carrasco (Navajita Plateá), we have a studio at home. The lyrics and compositions are mine, while he contributes some and takes care of the musical production. We are there 24 hours a day, there are no schedules for recording.”

Carmen Doorá from Murcia. Photo: José Montes — The singer from Murcia, Carmen Doorá. Photo: José Montes

The line to follow is that of the simple Animal, “with a contemporary spirit, in line with other artists such as Israel Fernández, who is the great reference of this moment, capable of bringing the flamenco a lot of people, or the latest album by Niña Pastori, which is amazing. Without wanting to imitate anyone, we look at them," he adds.

On the other hand, the copla dimension of Carmen Doorá's work does not entail any stylistic conflict, quite the opposite: it enriches and gives character and substance to the final result. "I am not one to set boundaries, and copla is extremely important in our identity. In the flamenco, the copla is present not only in the melody, but also in the way it has of living the daily life, the day to day of Andalusia. And it is implicit in my way of singing. In fact, i wrote Animal , the two-step, although with the production it has become a little diluted".

"I'm not one to set boundaries, and the copla is super important in our identity. In the flamenco, the copla is present not only in the melody, but also in the way it has of living the everyday, the day to day of Andalusia. And it is implicit in my way of singing.

As for the lyrics, she says, “I don’t have anything special in mind. I’m very interested in nature, and in my public face I’ve always tried to advocate for sustainable living, and that is also reflected in my work. And everyday things like love, family, universal themes.”

And the electronic element? “Most people in the flamenco We have accepted it as part of the times we live in. You may like it more or less, it may be better or worse done, but we do it with effort, taste and respect."

“For me, it’s part of my sound,” he concludes. “I haven’t had a very typical career, I don’t come from a flamenco family. My experience has been living music in many ways, listening to everything. In Paris I recorded with people from the Congo, Tunisia or Argentina, without any stereotypes. I consider myself a singer, I know all the cantes, but I have also sung pop and I do not consider myself any less of a singer for that.”

One last curiosity. What remains of your Murcian roots? “We Murcians live with a tranquility and innocence, a way of being in the world that defines me quite a bit, my way of singing and the lyrics I write.”