Ojala (Band) - Latino USA Episode 428

Ojala is a Spanish word that, I was surprised to learn, has its roots in the Arabic word inshallah, which means God-grant or God-willing.

And Ojala is also the name of a unique duo that combines both Spanish and Middle Eastern influences.

With us today to talk about this rare mix of language and music are Javier Palacios and Kamran Hooshmand, who perform together as the group Ojala.

Welcome to both of you. So whose idea was it? Was it you, Kamran, who growing up in Iran just really wanted to spill your guts singing Latin American love songs?

Or was it you, Javier, who just really wanted to push and test the limits of Mexican traditional music?

I think it's a little bit of both.

That's right. That's right. Both of us have stories to tell about how we become connected to the other person's culture.

Mine goes back to, yes, you're right, from childhood in Iran and the exposure that I had to records that came from Latin America to Iran.

And later on, of course, coming to Texas, I got exposed to Andean and Latin American music. And that was the beginnings of my contact with Javier's culture.

And what about for you, Javier?

For me, when I arrived in Houston in '78, I used to go to a club named the Acropolis. And I started getting to see Greek bands, Turkish bands, and all sorts of different foreign music. And I got really fascinated by it.

When I moved into Austin, the first band that I got to see that had a Middle Eastern music was 1001 Nights, which is the band that Kamran had in those days.

Basically, we kept tracking each other's bands and admiring each other's music. But later on, we got to meet each other and the idea came to the surface.

You know, I have to tell you, when I got the picture, I looked at it and I was like, OK, I'm going to guess who's who. And I totally guessed wrong. [laughter] I thought--I thought that Javier was the Iranian and that Kamran was the Mexican. See, that's the idea. [laughter]

So let's talk about the music. I'm wondering when you do a song like Cucurrucucú Paloma, which is so Mexican.

I know.

What's the response that you get, Javier, when it's your version? People say, oh, my God, imposible. Or do they say this is extraordinary?

I think it has been a very positive response. The adaptation was so incredibly good. It was very magical in the studio. We were just trying to do this song different ways.

And finally, the way it came, it was just like one take and it was just magical.

[Singing] Cucurrucucú Paloma. Cucurrucucú no llores.

[Music] What I found interesting was how, for example, in the song Corazon Loco, you've got the very Arabic intonation and yet the singing is in Spanish.

That's right. And what you will find interesting is that that song actually originally was a Persian love song that Javier translated the lyrics into Spanish. [Music]

So I want to know what dreams do you have of pushing this even further? I mean, are you thinking of Arabic salsa or mariachi with Arab lyrics? [laguhter]

Gracias a ti.

That sounds pretty cool.

Take us to the next level.

Right. Actually, Kamran had somebody talking about it. Why don't we go into something like salsa?

Well, I guess I would be taking it to the next level. Yeah.

That would be one level. We're actually making it a dance, much more of a dance music. Of course, we don't know where it's going to go. We did this because we really loved to do it. But where it goes, it's God willing.

Ojala. [Laughter]

Ojala.

Well, thank you so much for stopping by to visit us at Latino USA.

We're talking to Kamran Hooshmand and Javier Palacios, who formed the duo Ojala, which is also the name of their first release.

You can find more information on their web page, Ojalamusic.com.

Muchas gracias and khodāhāfez.

Gracias.

Khodāhāfez.