Text and interview: Natalie Yeo

Calling all the way from Madrid, Spain, Lourdes Hernández, better known as Russian Red, took a few moments to chat with MTV Asia prior to her arrival in Singapore for MTV Sessions on September 30, 2012. Read on to find out more about Lourdes and get a glimpse of what is to come at MTV Sessions!

The last time Singapore saw Russian Red was at the 2012 Mosaic Music Festival in March. What was that experience like for you and how excited are you to be coming back?

I am super excited to be coming back. I completely love Singapore and that festival was amazing – All of the people who hosted us for those few days and everything. It was amazing. I had the best memories and I’m looking forward to coming back!

We have been touring around Europe and Asia since then and we’ve been working on a new album. It will be coming out next year!

What would you say is Russian Red’s most distinctive feature that draws people in?

I think we’ve been busy developing for three or four months for live shows that combines the tenderness of my songs through the electric sounds that can be really energetic and different from the album. If you actually listened to the album and liked it and if you come to the show, you’d be surprised because (live shows) are more energetic and much more electric! More like rock, in a way. [Laughs]

You played the Kazoo in one of the music videos for “Fuerteventura”. Do you intend to bring that extra unique touch to your music on set MTV Sessions too?

Oh yeah! [Laughs] Actually, I have different periods where I use the Kazoo and when I don’t use it. I’m in a period where I’m not using it? But I am using a different instrument which is really nice and it’s called Steel Drum. I might be using that instead.

Do your instruments add to the folk in your music?

I think any instrument can really work. If you know how to use it and how to tweak it into your songs, any instrument will be fine. I think instruments are ways of expression where you have different tones and colors and I think it’s really interesting to try out new things and feelings.

Did you ever imagine that you’d ever break into the Asian market?

Never. That’s really something that nobody expects. When you do music, you just write music and tell your stories and think of nothing else. Whenever anything comes, it just feels like magic.

What are your hopes for the rest of 2012?

I want to be completely happy with how things have evolved in the live shows. Ever since the album was released, I have been touring in different formats. What I’m trying to achieve is to have an end of the tour where I am honestly happy with the show and the format I have chosen so that leads to a proper recording of the new album, and that I can be more self-confident in every sense.

Do you have any words for your fans here in Singapore?

I’m looking forward to playing in Singapore and hopefully see all the people that I saw the other time and I really wish to put on a good show for them so they can enjoy it because they really deserve it!