Artist Vega bids farewell to her latest work, the album Ignis, this Friday at the La Riviera venue in Madrid. After more than two decades in the industry, the singer-songwriter reflects on her complex relationship with the music business, marked by battles and disappointments since her 2003 debut with India.
Vega recalls her beginnings, when after selling 200,000 copies of the single 'Quiero ser tú', imposed by Operación Triunfo, she rejected a project that did not convince her. Her insistence on working with Paco Trinidad paid off, achieving a gold and a platinum record with India, although she regrets that the master was lost in a selective fire at the Vale Music warehouses.
The artist criticizes the record label's refusal to re-release India, Circular, and Metamorfosis, albums she considers valuable and which are currently sold at high prices on the second-hand market. She describes Circular as a "dark chapter" due to producer impositions and the inclusion of unrelated tracks, and reveals that its re-release was a condition for continuing with Universal, motivated by the company's financial interests.
Despite the conflicts, albums like Metamorfosis, featuring songs such as 'Mejor mañana', were well-received by radio formulas and international tours, although Vega felt the 'anti-crisis' slogan did not align with her social conscience. Her contractual relationship with Universal ended when the label called her next project "shit," leading her to record it independently in Los Angeles with Sebastian Krys, eventually partnering with Sony.
The Latin Grammy nomination for La cuenta atrás allowed her to collaborate with Carla Morrison and expand her distribution in Mexico, where her concerts have been highly successful. The song 'Cracovia', eagerly awaited by her fans, has been recovered for her new album, though ultimately removed because it did not fit musically.
The creation of La Madriguera Records in 2013 to release Wolverines marked a turning point, freeing her from radio pressures and allowing her to achieve the best results of her career. The album featured collaborations with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Budiño, Raphael, and Carla Morrison.
Vega reiterates her firm stance: "I will never reconcile with it (the industry)." Although projects like La reina pez were "mistreated," the concert on October 5, 2019, in Madrid saved her and restored her faith. The work Mirlo blanco, written during the pandemic, caused her profound family and personal distress, leading her to cut the tour short and change her team after 17 years.
Currently, Vega feels "exhilarated" on stage, grateful to her new team for nurturing her self-esteem and, above all, to the audience who has supported her for 24 years. "If I have survived for 24 years, it has been thanks to the public," she states, acknowledging that her music channels sorrows and ignites joys.
With the new album already recorded and in the mixing process, Vega is cautious about the release date, needing time to "let it rest" and assess if "the industry" is in the right moment to receive it. "All the elements are in place for it to happen," she concludes, leaving open the possibility of presenting it soon.
