"I Do Not Regret Anything, I Am Very Proud of Who I Am Right Now"

Leire Martínez's separation from the rest of La Oreja de Van Gogh fulfilled a sort of prophecy that had accompanied her since the beginning in 2008, following Amaia Montero's departure. Now she presents her first solo single, 'Mi nombre', which makes very direct references to the breakup and portrays a strong image and settling of scores ("find someone else to replace me"), yet at the same time shows empathy and lack of resentment.

Indeed, indeed...

It's true that I never sought any kind of protagonism. Living in that second plane suits me well, so now it's all, as you say, I have to learn and consider how far and how to go about it, and I'm somewhat in the process. On the other hand, I've set out to enjoy everything that happens. Welcome everything that comes. Sometimes we have to validate ourselves and say: why not? And see what happens.

Look, it's true that with La Oreja that part of me wasn't seen. But I've always liked writing, and I've written a lot... for myself. So the challenge wasn't so much in that, but in musicalizing. That part generated a lot of anxiety for me, but I've been fortunate to have wonderful people with incredible talent who have helped me in that part. For me, it has been super gratifying, I've stepped out of that zone of insecurity I had, especially in the musical part, and I've learned that I'm also capable of making melodies, I've discovered a vast world in this regard. I'm enjoying it a lot.

I think there's not much difference between people and the media. We all form part of a society, with certain values, anchored in a very specific system where many behavioral traits still exist, like machismo and many others. Unfortunately, there's a systemic violence that has taken root in us, and that makes me very sad. I don't like it and I try not to share it, not to make it mine. From there, evidently, journalists, as part of the society they are, sometimes unfortunately approach it from those perspectives: the with me or against me, winning and losing, good and bad. I try to be coherent with myself and have always tried to do so. I understood, accepted, and respected the fact that when you're part of a group, what must prevail is the group's philosophy, not the individual one of each member. Since I'm no longer within that framework, evidently now I speak for myself. It's not that I wasn't free to do so before, I was just as free. But before, I had to speak on behalf of the group. And now I speak on behalf of Leire.

Yes, of course. It's because for me it's important to pay homage to each stage of life. I will never deny anything I've lived because everything makes me who I am today. And I'm very proud of who I am right now. For me, 'Mi nombre' has been a way to validate an emotion. It was hard for me to talk about other things if I didn't first validate what I was feeling. At that moment, of course, there was pain and of course, there was anger, and it seems that it's wrong to talk about these things, it seems that you always have to show yourself as correct and affable. Well, not me, I needed to give place to that emotion and I needed to validate it. And from there, this song was born. That said, just because I show this emotion doesn't mean there aren't others. Everything can coexist. That I don't agree with you or that I get angry with you doesn't mean I have to stop loving you. That's how I feel, and that's what I wanted to express.

You're right, and look, I've answered that in all those interviews, but... Look, the album isn't finished, I'd say we're at 85%. Most of the songs are in demo version, they still need to be recorded, produced, etc. And I still want to write one more song, something a bit more energetic, and I want a song in Basque. That's what I need to finish the album.

A strong change won't happen. I've never had prejudices, and besides, my way of consuming music is very random, very eclectic. I draw from many sources, and I've intended to make my music in that same way. It will continue to be a pop album, but pop is very broad. It will sound current, there will be songs that are more rock, some with an electronic touch if you like, and others will be more intimate, more singer-songwriter type. There will be a bit of everything, but within a fairly recognizable framework.

Do you know what happens? Things aren't black or white. The fact that this is a business doesn't mean it has stopped having artistic sense or artistic will. The business, fortunately, allows people like me to dedicate ourselves to this and continue telling stories where there are emotions, where there are reflections, where there are very interesting things. Therefore, I think it's possible to coexist in a way that there is business and still emotion.

Wow, what respect... Look, on a professional and vital experience level, I would love it. But it seems super risky to me, it generates a lot of respect, and I think the people who go are super brave. I don't know if Melody will win, hopefully, many factors influence, but I think she's one of the best representatives Spain could have had. I'm very clear about that.

Sometimes from the inside, perspectives are lost. Look, I've been in the group for 17 years, and it was hard for me to understand that indeed there are people who were born and have listened a lot to La Oreja during my stage. I mean, with the importance Amaia had within La Oreja, it's true that even I had taken away my own merit, right? That sometimes happens from the inside, that your own reality gets distorted, and you're not fully aware of what's happening. And it's true that when this ends, suddenly that reaction from people has been incredible for me, and I didn't expect it, I really tell you. And in that sense, I'm very grateful, I appreciate seeing that not everything is lost, that people are capable of seeing beyond clickbait. There's not a single but. You said you missed something, that there was something you didn't perceive in my answers, I think that mostly comes from the fact that I don't consider myself a victim of anything.

[Laughs] I've read many wonderful tweets that have made me laugh a lot. What I love are the conspiracy theories, trying to analyze the why of each gesture. The latest one I've found is: "What does the letter 'Ñ' on the jacket Leire was wearing mean?" I swear. I find it very amusing, I find it all very amusing, but in reality... everything is much simpler. Sometimes a jacket is just a jacket that I liked, and I wore it.