Gemma Recoder: "No longer being an object of desire has given me a lot of peace."

Gemma Recoder –director of Canet Rock and the production company Sun Music, which organizes large charity concerts– has just been chosen by the magazine Forbes as one of the 100 most influential Catalans. Canet Rock is next Saturday: 25,000 people will watch the sunrise with a lineup of artists singing in Catalan such as Mushka, The Tyets, Julieta, Els Catarres, and Figa Flawas. Gemma Recoder had a previous life, where she was the one who went on stage to sing or recorded hundreds of songs for commercials. In April, she married Fede Sardà, her partner of thirty years. The secret: never go shopping together at the supermarket.

How did you react when they told you, last month, that the magazine Forbes Had I chosen you as one of the 100 most influential Catalans?

— With a bit of imposter syndrome. Wow, there are so many powerful women in this country who aren't on the list, but I'm so grateful to share space with some incredible women.

What would you say you are influential in?

— In the world of major concert production, especially because there are few women doing it.

Not only do you direct Canet Rock, but you've also organized major concerts: the Llibertat concert at Camp Nou; "Our Songs Against AIDS"; "Our House Is Their House"...

— One of the things that was really powerful was when, during the pandemic, we gave a concert with Love of Lesbian at the Palau Sant Jordi. We joined several festivals: Sónar, Primavera Sound, Cruïlla, Vida, The Project, and Canet Rock. There was a lot of testosterone, and I was the only woman. They're all fantastic people, with whom I have a splendid relationship, but I called them one by one to get together and do that concert, which made news around the world. In the middle of the pandemic, 5,000 people together. In this, I can say that the only merit was being a woman and not having that testosterone thing that many fantastic men have, which sometimes prevents them from getting together to do things.

If you had been a man, would your merits have been recognized earlier?

— If I had been a man, I wouldn't have been able to put them together. But there's no need to recognize merit. Recognition is seeing that what you're doing turns out well.

Let's see if we can clear something up: When was the last time you logged into Wikipedia to edit your profile?

— Never. I haven't even gone in to change or add anything.

It turns out that Gemma Recoder, born in 1975, comes to mind.

— They told me that, and I love it. I won't tell you how old I am, but I'm not going to change it. It's not true, I was born... earlier. If it says that, great.

But, of course, then all suspicions are directed towards thinking that you are the one who put it there.

— I swear I don't. In fact, when we're now married to my lifelong partner, The Vanguard It said that Fede Sardà was 74 years old and I was 50. I told him: "Fede, we won't correct it; if they want to put it in, let them put it in."

When was the last time you said your age in public?

— Well, I don't know, but I'm not going to say it. I live in a world of young people. My profession is a lot of young people. Age is something they impose on you, and then there's ageism. The other day I was crossing a traffic light and someone on a motorcycle shouted at me: "Premenopausal!" No, not premenopausal, completely menopausal. It's an insult, you know. It kind of pushes you away.

On the other hand, I heard a speech from you in which you said that you were grateful to be invisible.

— A lot. Of the women of my generation, whoever tells you they haven't suffered harassment at work or harassment on public transport... I'd like to find one. All of us I know have suffered it. We'd normalized it. When I was very young, I suffered a lot from being hired for jobs with an ulterior motive. I'd even made music for a commercial, went to present it, and that guy just wanted us to go eat and I don't know what else. And you couldn't tell him, "Fuck off, asshole," because you had to keep your job. This still happens, but when I was young, it was all over us. Rushing at you on the subway, if there's a Serrat song on [the subway],What a treat] who says: "When they snatch you up on the subway at eight thirty." Then, it's appreciated when you stop being an object of desire—because a young woman with breasts and all that is an object of desire—and you become a person who can be interesting in what you do, regardless of whether you're desirable or not. And this has given me a lot of peace. You begin to have value as a person, beyond being an object of desire.

When was the last time you went on stage to sing?

— Very recently for a friend who presented a book, with Manu Guix and Elena Gadel. But at a concert he went to Our songs against AIDS [the year 2012], in which I sang the Crazy for you, with Pep Sala, at the Palau Sant Jordi. And I never like being on the other side again.

Are you still saddened by the fact that you weren't more successful as a singer?

— Not at all. I had a great time making music at home, but when I went on stage, I was nervous and insecure. However, with the work I do now, I'm very confident. Something you gain with age: confidence. And having a good time. In Canet Rock, I stand in a corner of the stage and watch the people sing and the communion with the artists... what a wonderful job!

Now there's the last week before Canet Rock begins. What's making you suffer?

— Everything, absolutely everything. I'm a huge security freak. There are a lot of people—25,000 of us—and I want everything to be very safe. I want everyone to have a good time in a very healthy way, with incredible joy, and that's why these people should return home having had a fantastic experience, safe and sound.

It's twelve hours of music, from six in the evening to six in the morning. How should I imagine you when Figa Flawas, the last band, plays?

— Very happy, with adrenaline pumping, and together with the team. It's a magical moment. We collected the testimonial with the aim of promoting the music made in our country, and I think, so far, we've done quite well. This will be our eleventh edition.

Let's change the subject. In one of your recent Instagram posts, I saw that you married Fede Sardà, after thirty years together. May I ask why?

— Well, look, we decided we were getting married. We went to the notary, with my sisters as witnesses, then we went out to eat, and at night we were receiving congratulations from people who thought we were celebrating, and Fede and I were in our pajamas having dinner at home. We've been living together, loving each other, for thirty years, and now it would be very strange if something happened.

Besides, Fede had only been leaving the management of Luz de Gas for a few months. I thought of you when I read the news, of how Fede would adjust to his new life, after going to bed at five in the morning every day.

— Well, look, the success of our relationship is that each of us has done what we've always wanted and that we've seen each other very little. Fede and I never go shopping together or do the things couples usually do. We live our lives a lot.

Never go shopping together...

— Never in my life. Nor many other things. When his sister Rosa Maria [Sardà] had a play opening at the theater, I went, but Fede didn't. You know him, don't make him sit still for two hours. He continues with his myriad hobbies and is very happy.

And are you going to sleep at five in the morning?

— No, no. He goes to bed at 12 and gets up at 10. Like a gentleman. That's how he is.great.

When was the last time you went to Luz de Gas, after Fede left?

— I went to a benefit concert and it did a lot for me. It was our house and Fede, when he left the office, also did a lot for it. But look, Fede and I would tell you that we are enjoymentsWe like to live life every day. Life hits you hard. You make plans, and life makes its own. In my case, it dealt me a huge blow, and that taught me to enjoy it more.

What happened?

— My son got sick. He has a psychiatric illness, severe schizophrenia. I've already cried a lot, or embrace the good things in life, of which there are many, love him dearly, take care of him dearly, and be here with you now, do the Canet Rock, go out, see the sun shine... If you don't have a mental illness, like depression, being happy is also choosing to be happy. I'm afraid of almost everything. I'd say I'm happy. I wake up every day excited and I have the best job in the world.

When was the last time, if it was ever, that you thought concerts were no longer your thing?

— I'll die performing concerts. If I can, if my health allows, maybe not as actively as I am now, but I really like it. And it's not fair for me to say it, but we've learned a lot and we know a lot. I don't feel like retiring, not at all.

I said this because there are increasingly younger artists and groups, in case you had found that a distance had been created with you.

— It hasn't happened to me. If it does one day, I'll dedicate myself, I don't know...

Going with Fede to shop at the supermarket.

— No, I will never do this, impossible.

If you can, you would like to die without...

— [Cuts me off] ...going to the supermarket with Fede, ha ha!

You've recorded hundreds of songs for commercials. Of all the ones you've recorded, which would you say is the most memorable one that some ARA readers might still have in their heads?

— Man, I'd say quite a few. [Starts singing]For my baby, Nestlé Jars". EITHER "Foie Gras La Piara, better than bread". EITHER "We want nougat, nougat, nougat, but make sure it's AntiuXixona."I did a girl's voice and a boy's voice too. I did a lot of them.

The last two questions are the same for everyone. A song you've been listening to lately.

— I listen to music all the time, every day of the year. I'd like to tell you about one that's playing at Canet Rock. Julen composed a song based on phrases given to him by the other artists participating in the festival. He used this to create a song called Until the sun risesIt's already on the platforms and it will obviously be played at Canet Rock.

The last words of the interview are yours.

— Well, thank you so much for this interview. It's a privilege I don't know if I deserve, but I'm very grateful for it.

Let's see if you also have imposter syndrome as an interviewee.

— Oh, exactly, ha ha!