Carlos Sadness is the new guest of REVELACIÓN O TIMO, the JENESAISPOP PODCAST. On the occasion of the release of his album 'Magical Realism', which includes songs called 'Happy Happy' or 'Personita Buena', we debate whether happiness is as highly regarded by critics as tragedy, or whether it leaves as much of an impression on the public. . With its moments of tension or shocks, the podcast leaves many interesting moments for reflection.
The first happens when the artist tells us about the influence that traveling through Latin America has had on him. From a first stage more influenced by Vampire Weekend, Phoenix or Interpol, he has gone on to soak up Latin culture: “There is a big cultural difference in how happiness or joy is treated. Latin Americans see us (Spanish people) as sadder or angry. They tell us “you seem to be speaking angry” and that has a subtext.”
Furthermore, he reflects: «A sad or dramatic song is linked to emotion. Music has that point that channels emotions. A happy song is not linked to something so exciting, but rather to a hedonistic or celebratory event. A reggaeton song is happy, but it has no emotion behind it: it is empty of emotion. And people often seek to be moved by music, not just to be entertained or dance. That's why many successful songs are linked to something exciting, which is what attracts us most to music. I personify it in the song 'Happy, happy' because I wanted to talk not about total happiness but about little things that I had to hold onto to try to reach it.
In turn, Carlos Sadness is critical of the modern world: “Happiness has never been modern. Being modern, cool… This is a millennial modernism that is already out of date. But at some point moderns saw… why don't models smile? Because they want to convey being unattainable. Being modern, being serious was not smiling. This is in a lot of band speeches. The photo doing the “fuck you”, all these movements… It's already demodé. It's worn out. What difference does it make? Are you more interesting because you are serious?
«When I go on stage, I don't transform at all. “If I had to transform, I would have a bad time.”
Regarding whether being cynical or excessively scathing in X is also outdated, he responds: “Being cynical is also outdated. Twitter is a hive of people who already have some gray hair. Imposing seriousness is not something very natural. I want to be natural. Sometimes I read from other artists: “when I go on stage, I transform.” I don't transform at all. If I had to transform I would have a bad time. I am natural with what I do. If I feel like doing something funny, then I'll do it. If I feel like making a song about being happy, I'll make it. 'Happy happy' says: “it wasn't always like this, let me enjoy and brag about being happy.” Don't give me a 0.5 lower grade, like Sebas.”
Regarding what 'Magical Realism' means to him, it is like a refuge in which to escape from all that: «It is where I had to take refuge in this album. Not because of the Twitter comments to see who is the most eloquent. What an absurd fight this is, it is a sinvivir. Who's in on the latest joke? Who wears the Adidas Samba? It is a race towards the absurd. I don't want the people around me to be obsessed with being pretty and knowing the latest meme. Maybe I prefer him to tell me “let's go camping, pack a suitcase with 4 t-shirts.” Maybe I needed an album to be childish, to be nerdy, those things that I was losing about myself. The drawing on the album cover is me with some animals, with a kite. It is to find the person that I once was and am ceasing to be. Because I also fall into the social algorithm. I'm afraid to stop having my own opinion or having my own things even if they are cheesy. I don't want to come to that. There comes a point when people tell you “you make music that's a bit sappy” and I blushed. “I don't want to be ashamed of that and maybe there has come a point where I might even be ashamed.”
«Bad Bunny has broken rules and has a lot of personality, when nowadays it is very difficult to have personality»
Carlos Sadness defends the use of diminutives because it is common in Latin America, and he also defends Bad Bunny. “I find it very interesting. He has broken rules. He has made a voice work that is not attractive at first glance. He has educated the ears, with the permission of this expression, of many people: the guy says “uh” and you know it's him. You can imitate him using a phrase, he has a personality… when nowadays it is very difficult to have a personality, with so much variety. That is worth a lot today. Many groups are reusing formulas. And suddenly there is someone who breaks and creates a trend. For me he has generated a trend. I respect that you don't like it, but sometimes it's because you're closed to liking it. I also tell you something. I was very censorious of reggaeton. But there has come a time when I can no longer listen to a reggaeton song. From Bad Bunny yes. But other times it's the same thing all the time: “I'll take your panties off.” I know that saying this is a cliché and that this is said by people who make me angry when they say it. But at least I've gone through the stage of enjoying it. At least I have turned around.”
At other points in the interview he talks about how hard it is for artists for the album to survive for a while, when it is on the street, and after the advance singles; or he questions the supposed return of the 2000s. «I wanted to be grunge in the 2000s. Making a revival of what wasn't cool at the time seems a bit like that to me. But that's not working out either. If you ask me where music is going, not there!
