Where did the name of the group come from? How did you choose it?
Óscar Ferrer: The name of the group came up one night while having drinks with some friends at the house of one of them on the beach. It was only recently since Barry White passed away and we were also very hooked on a Mina Mazzini song called “Brava”. Then, Aarön, said: “How cool would a band called Barry Brava be cool”. Later, we decided to give Barry a V for making a joke and teasing a bit and that's how the group name was created. In other words, the project began with the roof, since it was the name that encouraged us to embark on the adventure of forming the group.
You yourselves put on social networks several years ago that the way for Spain to win Eurovision again would be for you to go yourself to represent the country. So did you plan to send a song to the Benidorm Fest to could be chosen to represent Spain for a long time?
Aarön Sáez: We started the house from the roof in everything. We started by saying that we wanted to go to Eurovision 8 years ago and we started to say that the only ones who could win Eurovision were us, but, we have made many turns until today. We have always said it because we have always wanted to try the Eurovision experience. The festival has a lot to do with the music that we like, European, Italian, French, 80s and 90s music, etc. We have always found it to be a really cool place to go and we really like fun and show stuff and Eurovision always has been.
This year Eurovision is being held in Italy and you are trying to represent Spain with the song Raffaella, also making reference to an Italian artist who died relatively recently. Since she is from that country, is this the right year for you to represent Spain at the festival in Turin?
Vicente Illescas: In general, a lot of things had happen that made us really easy for make the song. It was also speculated that Italian public television was going to offer Raffaella Carrá to be the presenter of the festival this year in Italy. Somehow it would be very nice if Raffaella were at the 2022 festival, although he surely will be there because being in Italy they will surely make some kind of wink. But, what better wink to her than our song?
Do you have any referent leading singer or band that has been through Eurovision?
Aarön: I always say that two of my favorite artists were at Eurovision, which are: Sébastien Tellier (France, 2008) and Franco Battiato (Italy, 1984, along with Alice) and well, ABBA (Sweden, 1974) who also went through the festival. But coincidentally to me as a musical education that Tellier and Battiato have been is as important than if my parents had been.
Was "Raffaella" your only option for the Benidorm Fest or had you composed more songs?
Óscar: “Raffaella” was our only and first option. We were having another drink by the sea with friends having a good time and when we thought of making a song for the Benidorm Fest, we thought of doing something that would represent us, but also represent Spain and all those things that we like. “Raffaella” unites all those things that we like in the song and it was great for us knowing that this year it was going to be celebrated in Italy and Raffaella having recently passed away, we thought it was the most beautiful way to do the tribute that she deserved.
How do you plan to do the staging at the Benidorm Fest? Will there be blonde wigs in honor of Raffaella Carrá?
Vicente: They have already told us about the wigs several times, but we don't know, at least there may be some hair dye or something, but we can't reveal much, since it's a secret. In addition, we are now working together with RTVE and together with our team to help us with the scenographic and visuals and we are already having meetings and at the moment it seems that it is going to be something very good.
If you end up winning the Benidorm Fest, what kind of show would you like to do in Turin at Eurovision?
Aarön: I don't know what the Eurovision staging could be like, but if they let us fly we will do everything we can, since this process is like asking the "Reyes Magos" for something, that is, you ask for something and they tell you: you can do up to here or this can not be done.
Óscar: We are working a lot on the staging of the Benidorm Fest, but we haven't thought about how we would take it to Eurovision. I imagine it would be something similar, but if we had to break with everything and do something totally different, the challenge is multiplied by a thousand. We are very aware of what needs to be done now for the Benidorm Fest and we will see what happens in Eurovision. We are very clear that we have all our desire and our illusion set to get to go to Turin.
How do you think you could make a difference and could be remembered at Eurovision over time?
Aarön: Remembering us is easy, in the end we carry the fully image of a character and a concept that is Raffaella that everyone in Europe knows and everyone knows what it means, so we have it very easy for people to know what we are talking about and what feeling we are transmitting even not understanding Spanish. So for that part, we already have it earned.
And aren't you afraid of being told that where some Spaniards are going to take an Italian figure to represent Spain in Italy, no matter how much Raffaella Carrá has been very successful in Spain?
Óscar: We are not afraid, since our song is very Spanish and has a lot to do with our Spanish melodic song references such as Rafael, the Dúo Dinámico, Julio Iglesias, etc. and for us those singers of melodic songs have always been a reference and in this song by “Raffaella” they are more present than ever. You have to scratch a bit to see what is behind each song and in this song, by cadence, by lyrics and by the type of song it is, there is even more Spanish than that of Raffaella herself. "Raffaella" puts the star on that tree of influences that we have always found essential in Spanish songs.
"Raffaella" puts the star on that tree of influences that we have always found essential in Spanish songs.
In case you are not chosen to go to Eurovision, what are your future projects?
Vicente: Although it is true that at the moment we are 100% focused on the Benidorm Fest, it is also true that Varry Brava has his career and in 2022 we will have many concerts and apart from a project in parallel with Miss Caffeina. Regarding releasing an album, we do not rule it out, since it has always been said that Varry Brava always releases albums in an even year and in 2022 being even, it may be that it is time to release an album, but we still do not know.
And if one of the other 13 songs from the Benidorm Fest had to go to Eurovision, which one would you send? What is your favorite to win or even the one that could do a better role in Turin?
Óscar: As they are all so different, the 13 seem very good to us and we think that anyone could represent us quite well. It is not a rally or to look good, but we think that the selection that has been made has been excellent and we think that it has been a good reference on what is happening in current Spanish music. And any of the other 13 is going to represent a part of Spanish music that happens in festivals and concert halls, so any of them would be a very good representation in May.
You can enjoy the full video interview here:
PHOTO: MARCA
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