She was scandalous, gorgeous, incredibly talented, obsessed with perfection and admired by everyone who ever met her. She was also a long time mistress of The Viceroy, bore him three children, remaining the same in spirit and cheating on him with every occasion until by a chain of accidents she lost her beauty, fortune and her only son and became a different woman. I first came across her name many years ago in Jacque Offenbach's opera "La Perichole", but neither the main character nor the music made any impression on me. Then I read "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder. The book wasn't exactly about 'The Perichole', more about the people who touched her life in one way or the other, but this time the character seemed quite fascinating and so familiar that I didn't know what to make of it. I began writing songs about her and songs about me pretending to be her and eventually I was so into the role I couldn't tell myself apart from this woman.
I realise of course, The Perichole from the book was just a fictional character. The real actress behind it could've been completely different and the connection I felt might've been attributed only to Wilder's vivid imagination. But I've been through so much just by playing the part - she is as real to me as any other woman from the past, memories of whom are always open for interpretation.
So, I've adopted the name Perichole (not The Perichole) and recorded the album, trying to be sincere in my music. I think she would've appreciated the effort. For a long time after her loses Camila, wrapped in her pride and despair, was incapable of communicating any feelings. My 'Theory' on how she would've done it is just a theory, but being Perichole I gave it my best shot.For press reviews check out my
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