This post is also available in: Spanish
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez better known as “JUANES” is on his “Loco de Amor” Tour in such cities as New York and Washington, DC. Juanes is a well-known Columbian Latino singing sensation with such past hits as “A Dios Le Pido” and “La Camisa Negra”. In addition to his own hits, Juanes has been featured in the 2013 Grammy, where he paid a tribute to mega star Sir Elton John in a bilingual rendition of “Your Song”. He has won over 20 Latin Grammy’s and numerous other awards. Juanes, a known activist has established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines. In 2005, he was named by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. Juanes is married with three children.
The Latino Connection Magazine wanted to connect with Juanes for our readers to get a sense of the man behind the music, but more importantly who is his favorite superhero. 😉
TLC: In regards to your upcoming ‘Loco de Amor’ tour what can we expect to see and hear?
JUANES: I love to play songs from all the albums, not only the one that I’m promoting. In the case of “Loco de Amor”, the show will be a party full of emotions that will go through all the albums in a very special way.
TLC: What is your personal favorite Juanes song and why?
JUANES: It’s difficult to choose one song because all of them are part of a whole, they all come from genuine feelings therefore they are equally important.
TLC: Which way do you find the most exciting to connect with your fans?
JUANES: The songs are the most sincere and powerful way, social media as well obviously but it is a different way of connecting.
TLC: Speaking of social media, Do you have a favorite?
JUANES: I like them all equally because they are all different from each other. I mean on Twitter I am more focused on saying something short and concrete while on Facebook the image plays a more important role, so they complement each other.
TLC: After having been in the U.S. For nearly 20 years, Do you find yourself assimilated in any ways to the American culture? Are there ‘American’ things yourself or your family/friends catch you doing?
JUANES: It is a country that I love so much and which has given me great opportunities, today I’m a father of three kids who were born here, and through them and my own experience I’ve been connecting more and more with the culture, language, history, etc.
TLC: You’ve said in the past that you have to be ‘ok’ with yourself to be good for your family and for your craft. What advice can you give to anyone not quite comfortable in their own skin, to say ‘this is how you become ok with yourself’. What are some practical tips you’ve learned in the journey called life that have worked for you?
JUANES: First of all we must realize that living always happy is not easy, it is not something that you could have all the time and in all places. We are here to learn and that means also having difficult times, I think to the extent that you accept who you are, where you come from and where you’re going, things could be way much better. For me this journey through life consists only in learning how to love, love yourself so you could love others.
TLC: After so many years in the business, traveling the world over numerous times, worked with countless celebrities, and other talented artists, how do you keep the passion of music alive and fresh?
JUANES: For me music is something natural since childhood, it is something that will never cease to move my heart even with the passing of time. It is my passion and that’s why it remains eternal.
TLC: What would you tell your 16 year old self?
JUANES: Don’t be afraid, follow your heart and it will show you the way.
TLC: If you weren’t doing what you do now what would you be doing professionally?
JUANES: I went to college and studied Industrial Design, probably I would be doing that.
TLC: What kind of music do you listen to? Which musicians do you admire?
JUANES: I always listen to the teachers to learn the most that I can, from T- Bone, Blind Lemon, Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, passing through Beck, Metallica, Beethoven, Bach, Joe Arroyo, Caetano Veloso, I love the music that makes me vibrate.
TLC: What’s a dream of yours that you have never accomplished that you would like to see come to fruition whether in career or personal life?
JUANES: I would like to see a socially more coherent world, fairer and more respectful. It frustrates me to see what happens daily on the news, the way we are slowly killing our planet and ourselves.
TLC: Finally, Batman or Superman? Who is YOUR winner?
JUANES: Batman is way much cooler but Superman can fly … So both.