My first memory was seeing the joy that my father got from playing the guitar, and me dancing while he was playing, and the happiness that I felt feeling the music.
My childhood began in Chorrillos, the fishing neighbourhood on the South West coast of Lima. My dad would play guitar and my mum would dance tango at parties in our house. At school they would tie me down because I was so restless and the cast me aside for being black. I would travel by tram getting to know the city. On Sundays I would dance in the squares, for applause and a few pennies. When my dad it, it left a great wound, but I became friends with my mother.
From my dad I inherited a passion for music and the desire to sing. From my mother, Carmen de la Colina, the love of dance and a talent for cooking!
The greatest artistic influence on me was Chabuca Granda. She gave me the understanding that an artist is who shows what they feel. I used to listen to The Beatles, Chuck Berry and Billie Holliday and in Spanish La Sonora Matancera and the voice of Ismael Rivera. But the biggest influences of all were my fat aunties who sang with their soul.
The biggest impact on me as a child was discovering racism. At primary school I wasn’t allowed to join ballet class, despite being an excellent dancer. And in secondary, they stopped me winning a music contest.
“Susana, you are a black girl and nobody is going to take any notice of you, so you have to study and study a lot, otherwise you will end up with nothing, and you have to be somebody.” This is what my first boss told me, and it’s the best piece of advice anyone gave me.
I think that I was born lucky because, when I was a girl people were always giving clothes to me, nice clothes so I always looked nice. And my whole life people have been giving me things, really beautiful things.
My greatest fear was dying from drowning from asthma. When I was younger I was also I scared of being alone to the point that it was intolerable, that’s why my brothers had to always look after me. Later I learnt to enjoy my own company, especially when I learned that alone I could do whatever I wanted!
My greatest pleasure is returning home to my house just south of Lima on the coast, in the country with my dogs, overlooking the sea. It’s a very tranquil place, with a lot of flowers and young people who expect a lot of me. I look at the sea from my window and it gives me a lot of peace.
The thing that most bothers me is the racism that exists oin Peru and in the world, and the general prejudiceagainst people whether ist their sexual orientation, colour of their skin, the way they talk
Music makes me feel optimistic, because it communicates so much, it connects people, and it allows people to overcome differences and the things that separate people in every day life. That’s why it makes me so happy when people get to know world that are different to their own.
I’ve learned to value of telling the truth
I would tell my younger self no matter what always pursue you dreams no matter what the cost.
A talent I’d most like to have Playing the piano
My favourite words Everything is possible, nothing impossible
A motto/quote I aspire to live by Never exchange the honesty of being oneself for power and fame
Traits I most dislike in others...mediocrity and stupidity. I know that not everyone knows better, and ignorance is rife, but want I find difficult to accept is the stubbornness with which people tolerate the intolerable.
I believe in humanity
Susana Baca performs at the Jazz Café on Friday 21 April. Tickets at comono.co.uk
