Leire Martínez: "My colleagues at La Oreja de Van Gogh have been more generous than they have been with me and Amaia Montero."

BarcelonaLeire Martínez (Errenteria, 1979) has been the vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh for almost seventeen years and throughout her career she has had to deal with the long shadow of Amaia Montero, the first singer of the San Sebastián group. Six months after his departure from the band was announced with a statement that took everyone by surprise –including her–, Martínez begins a solo career. The cover letter is My number, a song that includes numerous barbs against his companions. One example will suffice: "I was never yours, find someone to replace me. You did it once, but you can't hide two faces and one name anymore."

In what state of mind did you sit down to write? My number?

— Well, emotionally, I still wasn't at my best. It was a challenge, and all challenges come with a certain amount of vertigo and insecurity. But above all, I was really excited; it was a case of "let's see if I can do it."

The song's lyrics mention self-doubt. Have you ever doubted yourself as an artist?

— Yes, I've doubted myself. When, fortunately, your career begins to add years and you're still active, there are moments of doubt, for many reasons. Perhaps not so much related to the question of whether you're worth it or not, because if you're where you are, it must be for a reason, but you do wonder how long you'll be able to dedicate yourself to this and how you'll do it, knowing you're no longer the hottest band.

In this new phase, you'll have the opportunity to send your own messages. When you were at La Oreja de Van Gogh, were you able to do this?

— Look, I've always been very in tune with and in agreement with the type of messages the group shared. It's true that now I'll do it in person and with my own stamp.

You've explained that leaving La Oreja de Van Gogh could be compared to a breakup. What stage of grief would you be in now?

— I've been in a different place for a while now, because that's how I am in life. It's not that I bury things and carry on as if nothing happened, but I don't like wasting time on things that can't be dealt with anymore. Sometimes things end, and that's it. You can bang your head against the wall, but that won't change the situation. I've learned to be somewhat practical and focus on what was important to me, which was healing and moving forward. Obviously, I needed time to decide what that moving forward would look like. For me, the noise was long gone, but I understand that I'm promoting a song that talks about something very specific, and that, even though I'm no longer at that point, I must talk about it. I hope this doesn't drag on, because I'll start to sound repetitive.

Over time, what do you think will outweigh this breakup: gratitude or resentment?

— Each emotion must occupy its proper place, and each person will decide how much they want to give it. I believe the pain I've experienced can't make me forget or fail to recognize that over these seventeen years I've laughed a lot, had a great time, and there have been many incredible things.

You and Amaia Montero have always been compared. Do you think this comparison is based on sexist thinking?

— We live in a competitive society, and everything is framed from a win-lose perspective. There must always be sides, and we must take a stand. Of course, I think Amaia and I have been constantly compared, and my colleagues have been more generous. Why are they men and women? I think so, in a way. But I also believe that the evil of that society isn't just machismo: it's intransigence, violence, and ignorance. We give too much power to pain and hatred, to feelings that only generate destruction.

Have you learned anything positive from this whole process?

— Many things. The things that happen to us in life should be part of our learning process, and this doesn't happen magically. You have to actively do it yourself. I've learned a lot about how I handle things and from people's reading of the whole situation with very little information. It's nice to see that there are things people no longer take for granted.

What things?

— With the information available, which was very limited because it was just a statement, people have questioned whether I had been treated well or not, whether I had been valued or not, or if it was a cold farewell. These are things that weren't written in the statement, but people have understood them. This speaks volumes about the society we live in: there's an evolution, and not everything is acceptable anymore.

My number It sounds like an empowering song. Has this breakup with La Oreja de Van Gogh empowered you?

— What happened with the group isn't the only thing that shapes my way of being, because my life is much more than La Oreja de Van Gogh. It's true that the experience with the group has perhaps made my personal process of finding my place evident. What is clear is that if you are not a woman, no one will give you your place.

Have you ever felt invisible?

— No, I always understood what it meant to be part of a group, and I accepted it. Beyond the group, we live in a diverse society, and failing to understand that diversity must be respected makes coexistence impossible.

What will Leire Martínez be like as a soloist?

— People who've already seen me on stage won't be surprised. Those who are discovering me now might be. There will be new songs, and as long as people like them, things will continue. I do think that the fact that I'm not under the umbrella of the group and that I'm the only one who's doing it now makes people who'd never noticed me before now take notice. Being part of a group has something to do with this; their own names become blurred. And I think that's fine. With the disappearance of the group framework, whether chosen or not, there are people who rediscover you.

It is the first time that you will have a solo career because you entered La Oreja de Van Gogh after competing in X FactorHow do you remember that stage?

— It's been nineteen years already! I'd tell Leire at that time to relax, not to take everything so seriously, to learn to de-dramatize. I: if you have more or less money, if you do what you love, or if you're with someone who loves you more or less. I've learned to appreciate that even if things are going well for you now, maybe tomorrow this will be over and people will forget you.

Does this scare you?

— I live with it. I'm not afraid of this ending, because it wouldn't mean the end of my life. I'll keep singing, even if it's for fewer people or in smaller venues. In the end, it's not about doing things only if they're top-flight. My grandfather was a garbage collector and he was super happy doing his job, which he did very well. So, what? Obviously, I feel lucky and I enjoy it, but I keep in mind that fashions and trends are what they are, and that I'm my age, and that I'm a woman. There are many factors that go into a career.