Roughly:
Exclusive Interview.
by Alejandro Kapacevich
Manzur is a truly talented musician (he plays string instruments, wind instruments, keyboards and percussion), but he is also an extraordinary, simple and humble human being. Always well-disposed and with excellent humor, he deservedly earned his place in Morrissey's band. But be careful, because his task is not limited to that of a multi-instrumentalist, but he also composes great songs. Listen to “Neal Cassady Drops Dead”, “Earth Is The Loneliest Planet” and “One Of Our Own” and you will understand that in each of these there is stylistic variety, color and a lot of Latin flavor. Of course, the latter is passionately in his blood. For South American fans it is a pride that a part of our culture is represented in the music of a unique and unrepeatable artist.
Morrissey needed to reinvent himself on his tenth studio album, and boy has he succeeded with more than satisfactory results. Undoubtedly, Mr. Gustavo Manzur played a fundamental role in this new sound, in this “Latin” stage of the most famous Mancunian in the world. And that is why, for me, it is a great pleasure to have spoken with him so that everyone knows a little more about his origins, his musical training and tastes, his work with Moz on tours and in WORLD PEACE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
Your parents are from Colombia but you were born in the United States and currently live there. This is true? Tell me a little about your South American roots.
That's how it is. My mom is from Quito, Ecuador and my dad is from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. I live in Austin, Texas with my family. My parents also live there, so those South American roots follow me wherever I go. It's a blessing honestly, because the Latin influence is very powerful when it comes to music. I grew up surrounded by her wherever I went. At home, in the car, even in the crib, because my parents knew the importance of music in my life and that of my sister. My parents are musicians at heart and despite their talents, they were never essentially dedicated to it. However, my sister and I grew up in that musical environment, especially Latin American folk music. My father is self-taught, since he taught himself to play the guitar and the piano. My mother also plays the guitar a little but her forte is singing. Incredibly, her biggest inspiration is Argentine music and her specialty, tangos and sambas.
I spent summers in Colombia and Ecuador learning the culture and getting to know my roots more and more, and I fell in love with everything that had to do with Latin culture. The music, the food, well everything…the Latin life, the energy, fascinated me. I grew up playing soccer and baseball and ended up playing football for four years. I inherited the athletic part as well as the musical part from my parents. So, rather, I was a super busy child with championships and recitals every weekend. All under a roof full of music, sports and Latin teachings combined with the academic part that was American. And since I grew up in the middle of both cultures, Latin and Anglo-Saxon, I absorbed the best of both.
When did your interest in being a musician begin and what was the first instrument you learned to play? On the other hand, what are your favorite artists and musical genres?
Music was something that was inside me since I was born. At the age of two, my sister and I began piano lessons under the direction of Emma Garmendia from Argentina, wife of Efrain Paesky, two great composers and pianists who held high-level positions. At the age of six I continued my piano studies for four more years, under the direction of a Russian teacher, Gerda Bregman.
Little by little I began to compose and my interest in other instruments, as well as my interest in more intricate compositions, grew. I grew up listening to vallenato, boleros, rock (indie, hard-rock, metal, punk, etc.), tangos and sambas, they are some of my favorite musical genres. But I don't stop there. I also love hip hop and R&B.
Having been exposed to all kinds of music helped me open my mind and understand that all types of music - with their different styles and sounds - are, in some way, a kind of art. Personally, artists like Carlos Vives, Soda Stereo, Echo And the Bunnymen, Chopin, A Tribe Called Quest and Otis Redding, just to name a few, are the ones you would find on my iPod. But one of the most talented and interesting groups - and still one of my favorites - is Buena Vista Social Club.
Continuing with my musical adventures, I tried my hand at instruments such as flamenco guitar, electric guitar, accordion, trumpet, bass, various synthesizers, all types of percussion, and other instruments that caught my attention. Being a perfectionist, I began to study diligently until I conquered them. But that doesn't mean there isn't more to learn. And with that mentality I have always moved forward because you can never think you are the best. There will always be someone who will surpass you in this world. The secret is - although, suddenly, you will never know it - always think that it exists. This way you will never stop improving what God has given you.
You joined Morrissey's band from the “SWORDS TOUR” at the end of 2009. How did you get contacted and who did? Prior to that moment, were you a fan of Moz's work both in The Smiths and as a solo artist?
As a live event producer, I'm always working with people who have something to do with all aspects of the industry. In my case, I worked with Lloyd Tripp, the guitar tech for fifteen years who recently retired. When he wasn't on tour with Moz, I would hire him to help me with my productions. One day, there was a piano where we were working and I sat down and started playing. Lloyd stopped doing what he was doing; he looked at me with all his attention and said “You are really good ya know?” I thanked him and the next time we met he asked me if he possibly wanted to be Morrissey's keyboard player. I died laughing but he didn't. With his stoic face, he asked me again ending with a “…seriously”. Of course I knew Morrissey and I loved his music, I had all the CDs of The Smiths and several of his solo. But wait...a moment. I had to talk to my wife who had just had our first daughter, Kaia Helena. I was about to accept the offer but my parental instincts changed my decision. I couldn't abandon my daughter and my wife…not yet even if it was for Morrissey. Not even Jesus Christ himself could have persuaded me at that time. Well, that was for the YEARS OF REFUSAL tour, but Moz surprised me, sought me out again for the second time and offered me the spot for the “SWORDS TOUR”. I accepted it. And here I continue with Master Moz. I couldn't abandon my daughter and my wife…not yet even if it was for Morrissey. Not even Jesus Christ himself could have persuaded me at that time. Well, that was for the YEARS OF REFUSAL tour, but Moz surprised me, sought me out again for the second time and offered me the spot for the “SWORDS TOUR”. I accepted it. And here I continue with the master Moz. I couldn't abandon my daughter and my wife…not yet even if it was for Morrissey. Not even Jesus Christ himself could have persuaded me at that time. Well, that was for the YEARS OF REFUSAL tour, but Moz surprised me, sought me out again for the second time and offered me the spot for the “SWORDS TOUR”. I accepted it. And here I continue with the master Moz.
Speaking of shows, Morrissey said that South America 2012 was the best tour of his life. What memories do you have of those wonderful and passionate concerts in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Colombia? Any particular anecdote you want to share?
Vina Del Mar, Chile! What a wonderful concert. The people, the sea, the energy and that whole atmosphere. It was a great honor to be able to share the stage with other incredible artists from all over South America and the entire world.
Argentina! My dear Argentina. Mendoza, Rosario, Córdoba, Buenos Aires. Every concert was a pleasure. The friends I met and the energy they brought to each of the shows was something unique. We didn't want to stop playing. I tell everyone and will continue to say that Argentina is - easily - one of the best places in the world! Spot.
Peru: Jockey Club of Lima. The screams. The passion. So loyal. The only city where we played “Sheila Take a Bow” by The Smiths and everyone went crazy.
Brazil was a completely different energy. Since they speak Portuguese there, it was difficult for me to feel the full message. However, they were all smiles, hugs, kisses and gifts. Pure energy and vibes enriched with love and respect. They treated us like kings from the beginning of the Brazilian circuit.
Something funny happened in Sao Paulo that I will remember forever. But first I want to preface why Moz asks me to speak every night at the end of our concerts. Since I speak Spanish, at the first concert of the 2011 Mexican tour, in Monterrey, Morrissey casually asked me if he wanted to say something, anything, into his microphone before the encore. I just said something like he told them he'll be back... and here he is! And there I asked them to shout for Morrissey; I remember that the screams of the 8,000 people in the audience almost made our hair peel off. Moz never expected that and looked at me with scared eyes. He was left with his mouth open. Well, from then on, and in every Spanish-speaking country he automatically hands me the microphone to agitate people in his name.
Well, then in Sao Paulo, before the encore, the assistant comes running to tell me that Morrissey wanted to talk to me. I ran to his dressing room, entered, and he began to dictate a list of things that he wanted me to say to his Brazilian fans. I am a person who is willing to help with anything, but this time I stood frozen, with a scared face. He noticed my face, stopped talking and asked me, “What, what's wrong?” I responded, “I can't!” He looked at me and said, “What do you mean you can't?” I explained, “M, they speak Portuguese here…”. He immediately threw his hands in the air and said “Oh dammit… that's RIGHT!!!”.
To vindicate myself, I learned two phrases in Portuguese and at the next concert in Brazil I managed to scream again.
Let me tell you that WORLD PEACE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS is a wonderful album: full of nuances, experimentation and especially, with a "Latin" air in all its corners. Was it Morrissey's idea to go in that direction or did it just happen naturally?
Thanks Al. It was amazing to be able to build something like this album. Together with the band and Morrissey as captain, there was nothing that could sink this ship.
The Latin sound wasn't necessarily Morrissey's idea. The Latin vibe naturally came to the surface once the producer and the rest of the band saw what I could contribute. That gave the songs more ideas and direction, especially since Morrissey loved the Latin sound. So, approved by the boss, we continued in that direction. From then on, he let us do what we do as musicians and WPINOYB grew with Latin touches throughout. Moving on, the album took a more international direction. Several songs ended up with much more Latin flavor than on the demos. We added more bongos and congas, castanets, Mexican trumpets, accordion, flamenco guitar, Latin rhythms, organ montunos and various other things that let the WPINOYB sound blossom.
Now that you are an official Morrissey composer, having written the music for 3 songs on the new album... How does it feel to have been able to work with one of the best singers and lyricists in the world? Did you send him more demos of your songs to be recorded in the future?
It is an honor. I know it's a typical and boring answer but what other words are there honestly? For someone like Morrissey to accept you as a friend, musician, composer and now family - as he explains in his Autobiography - is the greatest and one of the greatest successes one can achieve in this life. There are still moments when I think, “What would it be like if I had decided to take another path?” and there are moments when it still seems unreal to me. But those moments pass, and every day I wake up grateful because I am breathing and because I have a family that supports me in everything I do; and above all, because I have such an incredible boss who shares his life with me and gives me such wonderful opportunities. I will keep going because there is a point when everything will change and you never know when that point will come. So I will continue without complaints and grateful.
Morrissey is always receiving my latest compositions. Let's see if he uses them, because you never know until the last moment.
Morrissey spoke very well about you in his Autobiography, and it shows that there is an excellent relationship with all the members of the band. What can you tell me about the "normal" and everyday Morrissey?
YEAH. We are Family. We make music together, we party together, we get into trouble together, and we look out for each other like brothers.
Morrissey is a genius. Every email I receive is a poem. I stay reading five or six times until I stop laughing or until I can decipher them.
He has an excellent sense of humor, he's so funny. The things he says spontaneously make you laugh to the point of tears.
This interview was originally published in TYPICAL MOZ e-zine #2, September 2014:
Ole'!
