Helsinki hires flamenco singer Cinta Hermo Martín

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By Terhi Hautamäki
     
      Songwriter Cinta Hermo Martín, who is now resident in Helsinki, mailed a pile of material of herself to the journalist before the interview, including her essay entitled Minä ja suomen kieli (”Me and the Finnish Language”).
      ”Oh no, it’s awful”, she comments modestly, even though she sent the text on her own initiative.
      The Spanish-born singer wants to declare the deep affection she feels for Finland. Her love flared up more than 20 years ago, when she ended up collaborating with the Finnish ethno band Piirpauke.
      Hermo met musician Sakari Kukko in Spain. Since then Cinta Hermo and Piirpauke have visited about 20 countries and recorded a total of seven albums together.
      ”While living in Finland and presenting Finnish folk music, I have simultaneously learned to respect my own culture more than previously”, notes Cinta Hermo.
     
The origins of her own culture are in the South Spanish flamenco tradition. Cinta Hermo notes that she is ”very, very Andalusian”. To her it means sentimentalism and a deep love for music.
      Throughout her entire Piirpauke career, Cinta Hermo has been dreaming of a solo album of her own, which she has finally managed to complete this year.
      El Canto de la Sirena (”The Singing of the Mermaid”) contains flamenco, which draws sounds from many kinds of musical sources.
      ”I respect the traditions of flamenco, but I have worked a lot with people from various cultures and I wish to be open to all kinds of musical influences”, the singer says.
      Among the songs included in the record is her interpretation of the song Kahden maan kansalainen (”A Citizen of Two countries”) by Jaakko Löytty, one of the most significant Finnish gospel musicians.
      Cinta Hermo wrote her own lyrics for the song, but maintained the original idea of a gospel number. She says that the song depicts her own feelings very well.
     
”Silence, light, and space are all important in my music, which is dedicated to the nature and peace of our planet. These are the same elements as I appreciate in Finland”, notes Hermo.
      After getting married to jazz drummer Markku Ounaskari eight years ago, Cinta Hermo moved to Helsinki permanently. The couple have a son called Pablo, who is now 6 years old.
      ”Some years ago, I started jogging around the Töölönlahti Bay, which is a beautiful piece of nature in the centre of the Finnish capital. At that point, I finally fell in love with Helsinki”, Cinta Hermo recalls.
      According to her, a large number of people have taken an active interest in flamenco in Finland.
      ”I did not have much to do with them until I started compiling my solo album. At that point I contacted those Finns who have taken up flamenco, of whom many live in Helsinki and Tampere. Finns are really enthusiastic about Spain”, the singer reports.
      In the near future, Hermo is to perform together with Paco Fernández Vargas, who is one of the top flamenco guitarists in Spain.
      ”We will have a concert in Spain, and we will try to organise a performance in Finland as well. He has played with the very best: Camarón, Nina Pastori, and so on”, Cinta Hermo says delightedly.
     
Hermo’s most recent project is cooperation with Stadin juhlaorkesteri (”the Gala Band of the City”). The City of Helsinki has hired the artist to sing pieces from her new album.
      Hermo has performed together with Stadin juhlaorkesteri at a number of events in the capital. In the coming weeks, people will have further chances to listen to them at many Christmas parties, as well as at the 50th anniversary of the District of Töölö Society.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 6.11.2008


Links:
  City of Helsinki Cultural Office
  Cinta Hermo Martín on MySpace

Helsingin Sanomat