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local Monday 23 January 2023
Aymar Torres, a happy musician “because I do what I love”

ORANJESTAD – He is an joy, but in the Netherlands I
Aruban musician living in can play more music that is
the Netherlands, and when played here,” he says.
he gets on stage, he shows
the Latin blood inside him, Aruba has a lot of talent
delighting the audience in the cultural, creative
with catchy songs from dif- and artistic industry, but
ferent countries like Brazil, sometimes do not receive
Colombia, Venezuela and enough support from our
the Caribbean. own community. Aymar
commented: “People
In an interview with our re- need to take musicians
porter, Aymar says that he and artists in general seri-
chose Latin rhythms be- ously. Some of them are
cause in the Netherlands not doing this job as a hob-
there are not many artists by but they live from it. Also
performing the music from the government can help
the old days, like Bolero or see the musicians and art-
Trio Los Panchos. For this ists more like a real worker,
reason he decided to do a public servant, because
this, since he sings in differ- they are also important
ent languages like Spanish, for our tourism. It would
Portuguese, French and be good if we mix the art-
Italian. “This way people continued improving my- ists with tourism so that the
get more of the feeling that self.” tourists have more to en-
they are in the past and in joy.”
their country as well,” he Regarding the difference
says. between performing in the Aymar also points out that
Netherlands or Aruba, Tor- some people question the
In one word, he describes res explains that there is work of a musician. “There
himself as “happy, be- no differnce, since “I am are still people with the be-
cause I do what I love. I let always myself as an art- lief that music is a hobby,
people live their lives and I ist. It doesn’t matter what but if you give people a
don’t live with envy.” country you go, you stay chance to see it more like a
yourself and with the show job, more people in Aruba
He has been living in the you created, if you change will improve in music, there
Netherlands for 16 years something it’s going to feel will be better musicians
already, and he dedicates weird. What I do change that can perform abroad
his time to his six-month old is my repertoire [when I’m and living in Aruba. This is
baby, his partner who will in Aruba], because I know true for all artists, like paint-
soon become his wife, his that many in Aruba do ers, artisans, fashion design-
music lessons three times a know the songs. Like when ers, among others.”
week, and his shows. I play Juan Luis Guerra,
Manuel is their first child. He there are other artists who Aymar also says that he
says that together with his also play Juan Luis Guerra, is a fan of many artists, lo-
partner they are learning a so I try playing a different cal and international, and
lot from him. Torres himself is song than what you al- here he announced that
“attending father school”, ready hear in Aruba.” is different, more difficult music already. “If I play he wants to collaborate
and every day he makes compared to the Dutch, songs other than what with beloved Aruban sing-
sure to dedicate a lot of But the audience in Aruba because they know the they are used to, they en- er, Edjean Semeleer. He is
time to his child and play- planning and is busy with
ing music for him, since the something to sing with him.
first years are very impor- “But since I had my son, I
tant for a child’s develop- took a pause from writing
ment. and composing songs. This
year I will start again with
Torres mentions that since my own songs.”
he was very young he de-
cided to sing. He was a fan Finalizing, he leaves as a
of Shakira and liked watch- message for people to sup-
ing television, there was a port the youth in music and
show on a Venezuelan TV art of any category. “Push
channel called “Club de those who do want to go
los Tigritos”, which was very into music, help them and
famous among children stop seeing music as just a
and teenagers in the 90s for hobby,” he says.
the series of Salserin. “I grew For more information, you
up with all those artists and I can find Aymar on social
wanted to become a sing- media as “Aymar Music.”
er like them. Then I learned Images are courtesy of Ay-
singing when I was 16, and mar himself.q
took it more seriously and