By While La Dame Blanche was in town, we caught up with her and talked via a translator about her upbringing both musically and culturally, why she moved to Paris, and what artists she’s listening to while creating such a vibrant sound.
Your upbringing in Cuba obviously shaped your sound in a unique way, are there specific influences that you can point to from early on that contributed to the growth and development of your sound?
For sure. My biggest influences are my father Jesus Aguaje Ramos, my uncles Mario Mayito Rivera (ex Los Van Van) and Alfredo Rodriguez and my aunt Maria Helena Lazo, also Omara Portuondo…
Seemingly able to pick any place in the world to live and make music, what was it about Paris that made you move there?
I did not have the choice actually. Life led me to Paris. This was the opportunity I had to find my path.
Can you elaborate on the significance in the name “La Dame Blanche” and what potential weight that that carries?
La Dame Blanche is the spirit of the cross roads, an opera, a book, a spy network from the 1st world war, a delicious ice cream, a warrior. In my opinion, it has a lot of meanings.
On a tour this long, what do you do you ensure that you don’t lose sight of your long term goals and of your own sanity?
I stay focused and I always remind me that I am so lucky to have the opportunity of doing my job as an artist.
After this tour wraps up in July of this year, what are your plans as far as new music?
I am always on tour (I will play a lot in Europe during the summer, July and August, I will certainly come back to
What artists are you listening to and really getting into right now and why?
I listen a lot to Anderson Paak, I love his groove. I listen to Eminem for his flow and technique and I love to listen to Alexander Abreu for the pleasure of dancing.
