Tanicha Lopez
Please present yourself. What do you do? Where are you from? Where are you now?
Warm greetings. My name is Tanicha Lopez and I compose, sing, produce, and improvise music. I am a product of the Caribbean, daughter of the archipelago of Puerto Rico, and
right now I am in the mountains of Guaynabo, PR, where I reside.
Allow me to start with the facts: I am a fan. I'm not the only one, either. Your vocal capacity seems to not have any boundaries. Within a performance of just a song or two, anyone with a seasoned ear will identify a handful of genre influences layered in your delivery; bolero, neo-soul, reggae, and gospel all coalesce flawlessly, giving presence to a standout, well-rounded performer. With all of these sounds vying for your creative attention, how did you find your voice?
I found my voice embracing my inner child; Playing. Longing to know how I know feel extreme happiness. The arts (drawing, dancing and acting) were excellent spaces to explore as well. Yet the true school to search for my voice and its versatility was improvisation - teaching me to play with different types of registers,personalities, and cultures. The love of language also helped me understand the importance of diversity in voice and music. Listening to artists like Esperanza Spalding, Celia Cruz, Natalia Lafourcade, Yoko Kanno… each one through music taught me to embrace my humanity, to be transparent with my emotions ... using my voice as a weapon and shield.
Ok, more facts, and a disclaimer (as this question is not based on my personal opinion nor my ‘rules’): Puerto Rico has no shortage of exceptional musical talent. However, ‘quality’ is the ‘golden apple’ that only grows for a select few. That’s possibly a universal law. But on the island, it’s widely recognized that you are a talent to behold. There’s no question of you having access to the ‘golden apple’ – your voice is as sweet as fruit, as strong as the root. This sweetness has attracted many Puerto Rican artists to you, all lining up for collaborations. Artists like composer/trombonist William Cepeda, saxophonist Jonathan Suazo, and even multi-Grammy winning rapper/vocalist Residente have all sought you out for your golden voice. One would think that with your ability to tap into various influences & sounds, collaborations would be easier for you…but are they easy? If not, what difficulties do you come across with these types of collaborations?
Well ... I’ll be honest with you. I understand that collaborations within the technical aspects and execution have been fairly easy to carry out. There is honesty, respect, familiarity and discipline in sessions. They end up being incredible learning experiences and they add to my artistic reputation, as I always give my best. I feel that my talent, my efforts, and my years of experience - even being a freelance artist and working allon my own – they have helped me have a healthy outreach with other artists. I love being an instrument for the ideas of other artists - so I estimate that the volume of collaborations will increase. Some difficulty that I can mention is how there is not always a sense of urgency with the remuneration issue. I have come across collaborations where they give details of the entire creative process but not the compensation. And it is quite an uncomfortable situation to be in. I do my best to be humble and be a creative leader with business mentality ... finding the balance can be quite challenging at times.
You are a current member of one of the best reggae bands coming from the Caribbean, Cultura Profética. This is an ideal match, as the band’s worldwide fan base already knows that the group is more than just a ‘reggae band’. Cultura’s tours are sacred gatherings for thousands of Boricuas across the globe. When you are touring with the group, what are your favorite moments onstage and offstage?
I like that title - “sacred gatherings” - since that is how each of the concerts feels.
And I am a witness to how it not only moves thousands of Puerto Ricans, but also thousands of Latin Americans around the world. My favorite moments on the stage are several: It is when I hear every sound on my monitors with exemplary clarity. Seeing the density of audience also elevates me a lot. It validates how powerful music is. How much it teaches us how to be brave and never lose your honesty. I love to dance a lot on the stage riser. (Laughs) Off the stage: I love companionship. The boys have known each other for a long time and this encourages them to share many jokes, stories and experiences shared between them throughout their career. This teaches me a lot. There is a lot of laughter at all times because of how much fun they have and how naughty they are. It feels like a family. I love to travel and I am blessed to be able to witness the beauty of each country, each city, its relief, its people.
Your musical career has led you to dabble in the film and television industry. In 2015, you performed as a singer on the Amazon television series Mad Dogs; and in 2019, appeared as yourself in the annual Christmas production produced by Banco Popular. But more recently (in April 2021), you once again performed in an episode of the Tranquilo Quieto Sessions, a series of musical presentations that highlights the brightest independent artists in Puerto Rico. The performance was filmed at the Indigenous Ceremonial Center of Caguana, in Utuado. (For those who aren’t familiar with this significance, the location is considered the most important archaeological indigenous site in Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest in the Caribbean). Harnessing the energy of this site, alone with effects and Loopstation, you performed a set that left virtual viewers breathless. What did this event mean for you, singing while standing on holy ground? Do you feel any nervousness knowing that the cameras are rolling while you are in your musical and spiritual moment?
Hahaha, not at all. No nerves whatsoever. I felt a sense of pure joy at being able to expose my original content with such an amazing cast. With Tranquilo Quieto, the vision and dedication to making more independent artists visible brings me great relief, restoring my hope for the future of the Puerto Rican music scene. (Regarding that session) I had never stepped on that ancestral land yet. Knowing that it's part of my story…the glow of when I felt how the sun caressed my skin - it gave me even more energy while singing. I don't do many presentations with my loopstation (for the lack of understanding I have with the pedal), but while singing barefoot in Caguana, I felt at home. As if I had been there before. And in the end, I didn’t want to stop singing.
What's next for Tanicha? Is a full-length album in the works?
What's next for Tanicha is a lot of work, actually. I have been doing everything possible to deliver my original music and it is finally in its final stages. This year, I will be
releasing my first single called “Protesta a La Propuesta” - a nostalgic, emotional song
and quite progressive with a strong frequency in R&B and jazz. The great producer William Russell accompanied me in the creation process and I am extremely proud of the result. I hope it can be a song that resonates with the non-Latin audience as well as the Latin one.
Finally, what advice would you give to a young person from the diaspora who wants to do what you do?
Great question.
Young artful person reading these words: I invite you to allow yourself to explore music as a child, that you play with it, that you do not swim in the sea of extreme demand for a long time. Part of making music- or any kind of art- is to know ourselves as human beings, and accept our light, as well as our shadows. Launch yourself to be part of the artistic community. Get informed. Support. Join various collaborations so that you have a good musical vocabulary and know how to interact with other musicians. The key is to believe in yourself, to believe in the talent of your colleagues, and value your story. Honor your roots, honor your lineage. We all have something that contributes. Voy a ti.