It was 4years ago that I left my position as a hairstylist in a high end salon in Las Vegas Nv. in the U.S. I quit the job where I made very good money for my age. The reason was because when I reached this position I thought I wanted, I realized it wasn't what I wanted at all.
My dream had always been traveling for music emersed as an artist and the plan as hairstylist was so that my energy would not be waisted on a job I hated as it touched aspects of art. While I attempted to work this life style, my passions suffered. In the end this job took all my time and energy spending serving others . This might of been good enough expectations for others for a secure successful life, having a good position and good money, but I had other aspirations. All my time and creativity waisted on what I felt like was only making money to survive in this crazy city.
I did not write or compose songs or even had time to practice music and sing Anymore. I didn't understand why I felt blocked but I knew there was more I wanted from my life than this money security thing. I reflected at what my life looked like and it seemed I was living in a house paying rent in a city that had no authentic culture...
roots, or not inspired by this commercial plastic modern society.. I yearned for something alive in culture ,magic ,ancient, music with a mysterious history. It was a place where I didnt feel passionate fire and couldn't get my own out.
So .... I left ,first traveled in USA then To central america working as free spirit but soon ide end up circling Europe and making a home in Andalusia ,Spain.
My dream had always been traveling for music emersed as an artist and the plan as hairstylist was so that my energy would not be waisted on a job I hated as it touched aspects of art. While I attempted to work this life style, my passions suffered. In the end this job took all my time and energy spending serving others . This might of been good enough expectations for others for a secure successful life, having a good position and good money, but I had other aspirations. All my time and creativity waisted on what I felt like was only making money to survive in this crazy city.
I did not write or compose songs or even had time to practice music and sing Anymore. I didn't understand why I felt blocked but I knew there was more I wanted from my life than this money security thing. I reflected at what my life looked like and it seemed I was living in a house paying rent in a city that had no authentic culture...
roots, or not inspired by this commercial plastic modern society.. I yearned for something alive in culture ,magic ,ancient, music with a mysterious history. It was a place where I didnt feel passionate fire and couldn't get my own out.
So .... I left ,first traveled in USA then To central america working as free spirit but soon ide end up circling Europe and making a home in Andalusia ,Spain.
Flamenco called me all my life as my mexican mother and her sisters fantasized about Spain because my grandmother born in mexico was daughter of a Basko immigrant s (which I found out later about Basca culture from her last name) Abuela Iraxeta.
At this time I was searching for a music with spirit, passion and fire that I could connect with emotionally and out of everything I listened to Flamenco touched me deep. As I researched more flamenco and investigated I was intrigued by its history... band by the dictatorship, sang by the gypsies /Gitanos influenced by Arabs and the indegenous of Mexuco who copied the Spaniards instruments during colonial times.
At this time I was searching for a music with spirit, passion and fire that I could connect with emotionally and out of everything I listened to Flamenco touched me deep. As I researched more flamenco and investigated I was intrigued by its history... band by the dictatorship, sang by the gypsies /Gitanos influenced by Arabs and the indegenous of Mexuco who copied the Spaniards instruments during colonial times.
It was said the arab slaves who built the Alhambra palace thousand years ago invented flamenco to pass through the suffering and oppressed times.It roared melancholy and beauty and so much technique, the greatest of guitarist, singers, clappers with castanuelas and avanicos and dancers .I remember my heart pulse raising and tears running down my eyes sometimes listening as I could feel the ache in there voices and feel so emotion by the guitars, even just by the hand claps. It was this time I decided I will go to spain! I had already trained my voice and worked with bands from reggae, ska, blues, cumbia and experimented with mariachi but I needed to enter in this world Of flamenco.
" One day soon I will go to Spain and study the world of flamenco"I promised myself. I will enter at least one foot in the door of the duendes , the musical magical energy behind what this culture is.
Today I have been studying for about 6years on and off , the initial to flamenco dance with an amazing teacher who is a full Flamenca and mother of two with 15years under her belt.
" One day soon I will go to Spain and study the world of flamenco"I promised myself. I will enter at least one foot in the door of the duendes , the musical magical energy behind what this culture is.
Today I have been studying for about 6years on and off , the initial to flamenco dance with an amazing teacher who is a full Flamenca and mother of two with 15years under her belt.
When I arrived to Granada called by the caves after Barcelona and a circle around other european countries, It gave me a home almost too easy, as if It was waiting for me.
Granada is famous for the thousand year old caves were the arab slaves supposedly lived while they built this Alhambra palace. where Christopher Columbus left from to conquer latin America. Its funny but I have to mention the caves as they go hand in hand with the inventors of the music and culture of Flamenco the Arab slaves and the unwanted Gitanos (gypsies) still very present there today. There is mysticism behind the caves as well as Old mysterious musical energy from the past musicians that stopped through and lived in these same caves. Its natural under earth rock figures today covered by white cement to sustain them.
Many were handed down by other Gitanos staying with in families turned into vacation homes to rent out, fixed into beautiful homes. The other caves, about 20years ago were recently reoccupied after being buried for a long time... many Anarchist decided to dig them up, fix and live in them again. I passed lots of my time through the caves all which had the best views of all Granada on the top of Sacro monte known for its beautiful green hills and the Sierra Nevada view. Sacro monte means sacred mountain and some of the caves were creations of art hand made with time and sweat. So much was breath taking, just a walk away I could be in nature and get lost in it.
Its funny to me that I also once lived in Nevada near a Sierra Nevada in Las vegas, at that time I didn't know anything about caves in Granada. I talk about the caves because I believe they had much to do with the magic of this place and the energy that once was created there, a vortex into the past. I first paid for a beautiful cave house 150e a month cheap enough for me to survive working my crafts and music on the streets, But since it was so small the old town were everyone else worked selling crafts it was a challenge and difficult. I wanted to work music anyway but so many many other talented musicians came to Granada to learn and work as well.
The game of street performance and selling crafts here was no joke if you wanted to make it here you had to raise the level or at least show great heart. I had luck and kept connecting with musicians and occasionally selling. My Sacro monte cave was a touristic spectacle so I took advantage and sold outside my door.. I read tarot and cut hair as well. There was a high population of young single spiritual dancing women and this helped me much connect with a strong feminine energy that became a sister hood and healing for me.
Granada is famous for the thousand year old caves were the arab slaves supposedly lived while they built this Alhambra palace. where Christopher Columbus left from to conquer latin America. Its funny but I have to mention the caves as they go hand in hand with the inventors of the music and culture of Flamenco the Arab slaves and the unwanted Gitanos (gypsies) still very present there today. There is mysticism behind the caves as well as Old mysterious musical energy from the past musicians that stopped through and lived in these same caves. Its natural under earth rock figures today covered by white cement to sustain them.
Many were handed down by other Gitanos staying with in families turned into vacation homes to rent out, fixed into beautiful homes. The other caves, about 20years ago were recently reoccupied after being buried for a long time... many Anarchist decided to dig them up, fix and live in them again. I passed lots of my time through the caves all which had the best views of all Granada on the top of Sacro monte known for its beautiful green hills and the Sierra Nevada view. Sacro monte means sacred mountain and some of the caves were creations of art hand made with time and sweat. So much was breath taking, just a walk away I could be in nature and get lost in it.
Its funny to me that I also once lived in Nevada near a Sierra Nevada in Las vegas, at that time I didn't know anything about caves in Granada. I talk about the caves because I believe they had much to do with the magic of this place and the energy that once was created there, a vortex into the past. I first paid for a beautiful cave house 150e a month cheap enough for me to survive working my crafts and music on the streets, But since it was so small the old town were everyone else worked selling crafts it was a challenge and difficult. I wanted to work music anyway but so many many other talented musicians came to Granada to learn and work as well.
The game of street performance and selling crafts here was no joke if you wanted to make it here you had to raise the level or at least show great heart. I had luck and kept connecting with musicians and occasionally selling. My Sacro monte cave was a touristic spectacle so I took advantage and sold outside my door.. I read tarot and cut hair as well. There was a high population of young single spiritual dancing women and this helped me much connect with a strong feminine energy that became a sister hood and healing for me.
I saw that the dance alone was a dedication of many years, I decided to live here for a while to at least learn as much as I could ...so my other plans went out the door of traveling else, Granada is were I wanted to be for now. In spring of 2014 there were many great people passing through from musicians to artisans(artist) all the street performers jugglers etc. basically all met each other in the old town inside of a city. When I started working with a bolero musician I was acknowledged for my singing and we practiced songs from my childhood I already knew ...bolero is traditional cuban music like "besame mucho" and some mariachi traditional themes and colombian cumbias ... He was a great experienced street musician from Guatemala actually and his familiarity made me feel at home... Anyway I was respected and pushed as well to sing more and to believe in myself, people wanted song lessons from me when they learned I trained my vocals once. I was asked to sing for arabic tribal women's project but practicing music and flamenco dances well as my money making ways left me almost no time for more compromises. I was being celebrated and challenged and almost everyday there was a jam an opportunity to practice dance, sing and so much music.
Soon I had a team with some of the other street musicians, an italian flamenco guitarist, two classical guitarist, and Argentinian musician and since they were much better at there instruments than me I learned and played percussion and was there singer. They truly helped me experiment with my voice and practice rhythm, which was an honor and in the caves of course of san Miguel alto, the occupied caves mostly with no water no electricity and by candle light but with this mystical presence. I must say in some jams With Agua ardiente I experienced fe nominal esoteric experiences, like visions of a Flamenca and her dress and her pain performing with her energy passing through my body in my trance. Flamenca voice and lyrics had come out of my mouth dropping the jaws of my musician friends with no memory of my own about what had come out of my own mouth," This is what the duende is" they said . I have not became a professional Flamenco because it takes years and serious dedication and practice everyday to make your feet into an instrument, but there is an energy and an experience that got transmitted through living there and watching other flamencas dance, listening to them as you pass by there caves... "punta tacon punta tacon punta tacon.....123-456-78910-123.... With the labyrinth of the old town of Albayzin hearing guitarist and singers practice and there music echoing through the small streets. Echoes of the drums from the top of the hill by the African Byfal community( rastafari, muslim culture) some who were great amazing spiritual sharing intelligent people, I must mention! From the echoes of the great Flamenco shows coming from the Alhambra palace , with the great view of the cave...I think we had the best seats! I was applauded by hundreds of people once after singing in the plaza were many greats passed through like the late flamenco musician "Paco de Lucia" who passed away in cancun and was brought over to Spain when I first arrived there, my little brother Jay, guitarist and flamenco fan introduced me to him back when I dreamt about Spain.
After July I left to Portugal to work festivals but knowing I wasn't quite finished with this place I came back in November for more and this time I was dedicating myself to guitar theory, oriental dance and flamenco...I did it like a samurai ! I was given a cave high up in Sacro monte to care for still close to old town and with lovely wooden floors clean but with no water... I had to carry it up from the fountain and there was no electricity also but I liked the hard work and the Candle light is so romantic inside the caves at night, oh and the beautiful forest and birds singing to me in the mornings. I later lived with a wonderful older women next to the Byfals and there drums and spiritual gatherings. Her name was Irit the Israeli anarchist fighting for humanity... Or I should say the humanitarian living like an anarchist...super women who gave me a home from lonely December till March . I woke up mornings with Irit calling my name "Enjoly you can make it to your class lets make a smoothie" , running from the top of these caves through the labyrinth into the plaza were I could hear the tapping of the heels begin. Every time I left Carmen de Miguels classes I felt a purpose, I felt proud of myself and powerful. She had this strong female presence and energy with attitude of strong women... A single mother and always fantastically dressed to kill with a body 20years younger than her age. I wanted an important teacher to connect and help me realize the energy of these music. Of course it was hard to wake up early 4times a week . It was a challenge to get there and to practice what we learned. I now was used to practicing my guitar, singing clapping and tapping everyday with the musicians and self motivation.
Finally I received the pleasure of living in a secluded and most beautiful cave in Val Paraiso because of a handsome flamenco guitarist who allowed me to experiment and connect with his playing and my voice. The cave was behind Sacro monte hill hidden like a fairytale( vall paraiso is the nicest views of the caves) ... I felt like a real little witch. It was enchanting with a little road and stone staircases and beautiful windows through out (many caves had no windows and some were truly holes in the earth) It had been a great home always making me feel like I lived in an older time. In May I started to feel that feeling I get when there is a pushing energy to move . After all I just wanted the influence I never imagined I would even take more than one week of flamenco let alone 8months... I am Grateful to have taken advantage of the inexpensive life and classes I completely drowned in arts. Other music worlds are calling me now and since I am clan destined staying way over my allowed time in Europe, I decided its time to move on but I know this will always be a home for me. Its not the first time I accomplish something I said I would do, however this experience I will never forget. I didn't just step inside the door I experienced hundreds of performances learned of the history and felt my spine shiver from the amazing singers who sang till there throats bled or the guitarist who played till there fingers bled . I Hung out in gypsies barrios listening to 10year old gypsies play like masters and fell asleep to the echoes of guitars and african drums. I walked nights through the walk ways listening to singers practice through there antique windows. Getting lost through the hand placed stones in front of a carmen( a ancient old hacienda style house) with the history of what famous poet once lived and died there... Rich in culture and passion for sure!
My friend later saw me after a year of not seeing him from the first time I arrived to Granada and he said to me "Enjoly you have become a full flamenca..an hechicera (witch) bruja " (must remind you about the spanish inquisition how withes were burned here by the catholic church). The attitude of a warrior women who defeated the victimhood by following her dreams and dancing and living with her heart and this special spirit, dreaming and singing with fire passion ....that is a Flamenca! Granada helped me become a better dancer, singer/musician I got out the fire and passion inside me I was looking for and here I became a strong fierce real Woman....A Flamenca for Life!
Thank you for reading
Enjoly Mar
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