Coca adds music to the mix

By Leah Williamson

February 2012

See this article as it appears in the magazine

SINGER, songwriter, musician, fashion designer, salsa teacher – there seems no end to Coca Tenorio's talents!

Next month, Inverness-based Coca will be performing at the city's Ironworks in a much anticipated return to the stage.

Coca's first album, Todo Transito (Everything in Movement), written in her first language Spanish and recorded in her home country, Ecuador, received much acclaim when it was released in 2009. It was followed up by a Scottish tour, including a performance at the Belladrum Festival last year, and her fans have been keen to hear more of her Latin rhythms and sultry tones – the perfect antidote to shake off those winter blues!

"Latin music comes naturally to me," Coca told Highland Life.

"I love Latin music, I love all music. I listen to everything – jazz, blues, everything. But Latin music has so much variety, there are so many different rhythms, not just salsa but merengue, rumba, samba. There's such a mix of rhythms and each of the Latin countries has a different one.

"There are lots of really talented, new musicians coming out of South America all the time and that's what I'm competing with!"

Coca has been living in the Highlands with her family for over a decade.

An experienced clothes designer and salsa teacher in Ecuador, Coca continued where she left off and brought some Latino spirit to Inverness in 1999 launching her own clothing business and offering salsa lessons which became a huge hit.

But music has always been in the background and it is only recently that she has allowed it to take centre stage.

Although a self-taught musician, Coca decided to improve her technique and take guitar lessons. It was her music teacher and guitarist, Alan Bolger, who encouraged her to record her music.

In 2009, Coca recorded Todo Transito in a tiny studio in Quito, Ecuador, packed full of hugely talented Latin musicians playing traditional South American instruments, the sounds that Coca grew up with.

"I really enjoyed making the album.

"They were all really talented session musicians crammed into this tiny studio with these really big instruments, it was so funny.

"We don't have the facilities in Ecuador that people have in the UK but it felt really good to record the album there.

"Although I've been living in Scotland for years and I love it, I'm 100 per cent Latin. It's where my heart is and it's where the music I listened to as a child comes from. Part of me always goes back there."

The past year has been a hugely emotional one for Coca.

In the middle of her Scottish tour she received a phone call from her family in Quito telling her that her mother had passed away. Coca was due to perform that night in Aberdeen and she decided to go ahead with the gig.

The next day Coca flew out to Ecuador for the funeral and to celebrate her mum's life.

"In Ecuador we believe that the people who are with you when you die are your true friends. Well, there were 300 at my mum's funeral. There was lots of singing and people came from faraway places to say goodbye to her. Mum was a nurse and in the early years, there weren't many doctors, so my mum really helped our community. She delivered lots of children over the years! People were so grateful to her and wanted to say goodbye."

Coca admits that she was something of a rebel growing up, much to her mum's concern, but she feels that her own strength and determination in life came from her mother.

"Mum had a tough life and I didn't make it any easier for her but I know now she was only ever trying to do the right thing for me.

"She was always saying she wished she could have done this or gone there and growing up hearing that made me determined to go to the places and do the things I've always wanted to."

Now more than ever for Coca, writing music and songs helps her cope with traumas in her life.

"Music is my healing process. I sing and write when I'm happy or when I'm sad. I think it goes back to my heritage. My father can be quite melancholic and I can be like that too – especially if it's a dreich day!

"I've been writing more about my childhood, about mum, living, dying. I seem to write more when I'm sad or melancholic. The dark stuff is easier to write about.

"Ideas just come to me. I never plan anything. I get up in the morning and start strumming my guitar and words or melodies come to me. I'm inspired by everything – words or a line I hear, noises, smells – anything. My music is about my life, what I'm going through, my everyday life experiences. My daughters are also a very good inspiration. English is not my first language so they help me. They have a great way with words."

Although Coca produced her first album and went on tour later in life she is no stranger to performing in front of an audience.

Music was very much part of the fabric of everyday life in Ecuador with impromptu sing-a-longs at school, family or community gatherings as well as organised music events.

The music is always there, always in the background. Latin music has been the soundtrack to Coca's life and may explain why she doesn't suffer from nerves or stage fright.

"Somebody once said that you only get nervous when you don't know what you're doing. When I get on stage and the music starts I just get lost in it. Everything makes sense when I'm on stage.

"I sing all the time. I don't even realise it. When I'm out shopping with the kids they'll say 'mum, you're singing again, shut up!' But I can't help it. I can't kill creation."

Music in all its forms fascinates Coca and last year she decided to try something new by joining the Inverness Choral Society and learning to play the piano.

"That's my new challenge, my special time for me! I've learned so much from the choral society in the few months I've been there. I love it. It's a great place to go if you love to sing and I do.

"The choir makes fantastic sounds. Music is a natural thing that comes from every person. Everyone is an instrument."

Coca is hoping 2012 will be the year she can really develop her music.

The Ironworks gig next month will allow her to stretch her musical wings and showcase some of her new material as well as favourite tracks from Todo Transito.

"I did the first album for me. I thought it would end up in the back of the cupboard and someday my grandchildren would find it and ask who that woman on the cover was.

"But after I did it, it took off much better than I thought it would! I got some good reviews and people really enjoyed the tour.

"I really want to dedicate more time to music this year. I'd love to do another album and a tour that includes England and one day South America. I've got enough material it's just finding the time to do it all!

"I've been listening to my first album again and I love the simplicity of it. Some people think my music has a Scottish influence or sounds like pop and I think there is a subtle fusion.

"I'd love to work with local musicians, especially fiddlers, to bring a Scottish influence to my music and create a Latin-Scottish fusion. I've written some of my new songs in English as well as Spanish because I want to be able to communicate. Music is all about communicating."

Coca would be the first to admit that producing her first album at 39 was long overdue but most would agree it has been worth the wait.

"I love the creativity of music, I love making something new," added Coca. "I've been fighting it all my life but I know I was born to be a singer."

* Coca will be performing at the Ironworks, Inverness on Saturday, March 3. For more information visit 
www.cocatenorio.com

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