Doors to other countries

Interview with Raquel Kurpershoek

“Bienaventurada means ‘blessed’ and carries a double connotation. On the one hand, it refers to a deep sense of gratitude that I now experience in my music, about life and the people around me. On the other hand, it is directly inspired by the poetry of Mexican poet Amado Nervo, who writes lovingly and hopefully about saying goodbye to his dying wife. His words make one realise that in every end, there is also room for tenderness and a new beginning.

“We wanted to make that same layering palpable on stage. During the showcase in Praia, Bienaventurada took centre stage: our aim was to share this new repertoire, reach a wider audience and hopefully open doors to other countries. And we succeeded!”

No stress in Praia

“I chose to apply for a showcase at the Atlantic Music Expo because it was the perfect opportunity to present my new work to an international audience of programmers and music journalists. Besides the international participants, there were also many local, traditional musicians in Praia, which made for a wonderful mix of cultures and styles. The atmosphere there was magical. The motto there is ‘No stress‘, and you can feel it in everything: peace, space, warmth. We were welcomed with open arms and lovingly guided. It felt like a warm bath.

“They immediately started clapping along
and singing along to the choruses.”

“Our showcase took place on the first day, in the middle of an intimate courtyard of the Palácio da Cultura, under the bright Atlantic sun. The balconies overlooked the stage and formed an intimate, romantic backdrop that suited our music well. The audience consisted of programmers and other professionals from all over the world, and their reactions were amazing! They immediately started clapping along and singing along to the choruses.”

International connections, new opportunities

“We participated in an intensive two-hour speed dating session, where we engaged in one-on-one discussions with programmers and music journalists. A number of valuable connections emerged from that. Programmers from Senegal, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, and Canada showed interest in booking me, and we have since signed up for another showcase in Rabat, Morocco, the Visa for Music Festival.

“We also attended other showcases and parts of the Kriol Jazz Festival, which took place simultaneously in Praia. We made great connections with other musicians and danced to their music. Of course, we also literally tasted atmosphere in the streets of Praia; we enjoyed the local cuisine. For example, we ate cachupa, a traditional Cape Verdean stew of corn, beans, cassava; a hearty meal loved by all. And we ate a lot of fruit, still really different from Albert Heijn fruit… What a bomb of energy and flavour!”

Thanks for the great support

“On my Instagram, I shared a short aftermovie of our showcase at AME. This journey I made with pianist Miguel Legaza and Danny Rombout, and the opportunities that presented themselves during the festival, would not have been possible without the support of Buma Cultuur. It is so valuable that the Netherlands has an organisation that really listens to musicians. Who not only help with resources, but also with personal advice. As an independent artist, I sometimes feel overwhelmed – that’s when these kinds of warm, committed contacts make all the difference.”

Website: raquelkurpershoek.com