Diandra Interviews Ana Tijoux: The Unexpected Music Warrior
When you think of Ana Tijoux, you think of strength; someone so in tune with her vulnerability that it no longer becomes a weapon used against her. Instead, it becomes their sword of compassion; one they use to fight for those in need. Tijoux’s sword of compassion has always been music, but my respect for her comes with her realization that being good means nothing if you are not bold. This woman has a warrior’s spirit.
Diandra: You are completely unafraid to get into what you believe politically and morally. Yet, do you agree with those that believe that a person’s politics do not represent their morals?
Ana: Go to study! What is wrong with you? (She laughs at her abrupt response) There is two ways to live this life: you want to be blind or you want to see. Yet, to “see” comes with a price, especially now when you look at the sadness of this world. Yet, you have chosen to be empathetic to life, itself. In 2018, we have the separation of families and this consideration of building walls: both morally and literally. So, I really think that it is a matter of being empathetic, and, to put an adjective, yes, that makes me very political. I am an emotional person, and to be emotional is to be political. Politics are relationships.
Ana Tijoux – Somos Sur (Feat. Shadia Mansour)
Diandra: Yet, there are those that truly argue and believe that their morality is separate from their politics. As if what policy you choose, does not speak upon whether or not you are empathetic?
Ana: I think that is because we live in a system that wants us to believe that. Like, people go, “Let’s talk about everything, except politics.” Are you living in the same country as I am! You don’t pay taxes! How you pay your bills, your healthcare, or your education is politics; that concerns you, how you get a good life, and raise your kids.
Diandra: You have been now cast as this political artist. Do you ever feel pressured to have a message or always have a social commentary in your songs?
Ana: No, because even the abstract has a message. Miles Davis doesn’t have words to his music, and he is super political. Classical music can be political. I think we should switch this idea that words are the only thing that is political. I think that is how media wants you to think about things so that you do not have an opinion. Yet, you do not need to know about something to feel something for it.
Diandra: So compassion?
Ana: Yes, compassion. As simple as that!
Diandra: Do you think there is more compassion now in the world? Because we may be in the darkest of times, but so many are protesting and rising against such darkness.
Ana: I don’t know (she says pondering the question) I can’t answer because I really don’t know. (she nods her head genuinely)
Diandra: Well, how about this. You speak so much about what is happening to humanity, especially tragedies.Do you think we are naturally evil or good?
Ana Tijoux – Antipatriarca
Ana: I do not think the problem is humanity because humanity is beautiful. I think the problem is power. Humanity loves power, and when we have power we do not want to leave it. We produce our power with other persons, and you do not need to be president to have power. I can be a small, business owner, have you working with me, and have you feel like I have power over you. So I do not know why we are like that. We are so weird. (We laugh) We waste so much time trying to step on the other, and it happens in every place.
Diandra: Yet, I think you do think humanity is good because you would not spend so much of your time and talent telling us to be better?
Ana: But at the same time I don’t know. I’m sorry.
Diandra: No, “I don’t know” is, probably, the best response.
Ana: But now I am thinking about it, and I really do not know. (she says pondering again as if to figure out the answer)
Diandra: That is perfectly fine. Yet, people really do turn to you as an artist that speaks to humanity, and is trying to revive its goodness. So how do you deal with such hefty pressures or doubts?
Ana: Oh, I doubt, and I have got so many anxieties. I live with all those diseases because everything is done to make you an anxious person. And there is so much noise everywhere. Like, look, let’s stop talking and listen.
We both became silent, and, I kid you not, the room sounded like a bunch of radios going off with white noise. Conversations were loud, but yet I could not speak on what was being said. Mind you! I had been in that room all day: interviewing artists for LAMC. Yet, even I had not had a moment of silence or observation for what was going on around me. In some ways, Ana was right. I was so busy participating in the event that I had not taken the time to actually see how it was running, which is what she attests happens in the greater scheme of things. As an artist that sings to self-analysis, I am unsurprised that she caused me to have some self-reflection.
Ana continues: Noise! There is noise everywhere, and that is not natural. How can you have a voice with so much noise? All this noise is done to make you lose your vision of what you are doing.
Diandra: Yet, you have a voice? You are seen as a strong person.
Ana: Yeah, but, sometimes, I have to shut up my own voice because that is normal. I am super weak a lot of times. Sometimes, I need to cry. Yet, the honesty of that is what keeps me human.
Diandra: Final question. As a Hip Hop artist, which is considered such a revolutionary genre, do you think music is a revolution or a healer of people?
Ana: I do not think music will change the world, but music can change me, and that is a step. In some ways, music makes us witnesses of the world. I would love to think that music will change the world, but I think it cannot be just music. It has to be a continuation of things with music like education, love, and communities.
Note: Ana gave me a thumbs up and said I was one of her best interviews to which I proceeded to die, and had my ghost transcribe this interview (lol!). I’ll admit; I love Ana Tijoux. Her music may get political, but it is also incredibly rhythmic. You can dance to her soundscapes without feeling guilty over lyrics that promote the over-sexualization of women, monetary excess, or dark drug usage. She has realized a good bounce can be the foundation of an impactful message. For More Information On Ana Tijoux Click Here.
