Near Africa – Monadelisa

MONADELISA, NEAR AFRICA

‘Near Africa’ is the second solo CD released by Monadelisa, following her highly acclaimed album ‘Gomera, Sol de mi Vida’
Surprisingly different, yet distinctively Monadelisa, she found her very personal style and vocal expression.

Her wide vocal spectrum shows a great tonal diversity which she uses with skill while always sounding effortlessly natural.
She composes all the music being on her own, and then records it lovingly with attention to detail first in her own studio.

With the new material she sets off to Switzerland to ‘Studio B’, a professional recording studio in Frauenfeld.

The CD ‘Near Africa’ shows a great deal of variety and can be enjoyed never becoming tiresome.

7 songs are in her own language, 2 are in English – all with smooth, flowing, soaring instrumental parts.
The final track is a composition for guitar, a gentle lullaby dedicated to her late mother Elisa

The title ‘Near Africa’ does not indicate the musical style of the CD,
but relates to the geographic location of the Canary Islands
where the Swiss musician has been living for more than ten years

The first song she wrote for this collection is ‘Calima’ (track 4 on the CD).
Calima is the local name for a hot, dry wind from the Sahara
which occasionally brings great heat and dust to the Canaries.

The following short poem of hers shows the thoughts and emotions that gave rise to this song.
Thoughts which engage all of us every now and again, even if we’re not living ‘Near Africa’ like Monadelisa.

CALIMA

Hot wind blowing from Africa,
the sky yellowish, hazy
the sea a murky broth
My skin is parched, eyes burn, the mouth sticks
I open the tap and wash
would I feel hunger, I’d eat
Calima, hot wind, poor visibility
I never had to go hungry,
never had to flee
I grew up well protected in a secure country
Calima, hot wind, poor visibility
Thoughts falter, though here water always runs