Introducing Singer -Songwriter Maf E Tulá
If you follow the music scene here in Antigua, you can’t have missed the unmistakably original singer songwriter Maf e Tulá. Originally from Costa Rica , Maf E Tulá has considered Antigua her home since visiting in 2007. Undoubtably amazingly talented she told me her story, her influences, and her future plans.
Maf derives from her name Maria Fernanda; From her music, Maf provides the invisible and abstract inspiration. From her alter-ego Tulá, comes the energy. As she says, Maf is shy whilst Tulá most definitely is not.
Self taught, she started playing drums in a band by the age of twelve later switching to the guitar when a friend left one by mistake in her house. The guitar she says “is the perfect companion to my music.” Her music is a mix of latin, Guatemalan and Mexican folk music as well as south American World music. Having said that Maf e Tulá says she has no particular style-“as the world shouldn’t have borders, nor should music!” Much of her song writing inspiration comes from nature and especially the silence of nature. “Music is not just about entertainment, it’s about going deeper- In search of the deeper emotions: The beauty and the ugly- Happiness and sadness”. She says that some of this introspection maybe due to her DNA- A mixture of Lebanese, Italian, Spanish and native Costa Rican!
Fell In Love With Antigua
She visited Antigua for the first time in 2007. It was the legendary musician Lenín Fernandez, of Axul Nahual who brought her a second time to play at a music festival in Guatemala. Since then, Antigua has been her home. As she says, “Antigua has energy like a port but without an ocean. It’s a place where you can be yourself and reinvent yourself.” She loves meeting and playing with many of the travelling musicians that spend time in Antigua and the interchange of ideas and culture. As he says, “In Antigua, you travel without moving.”
Having recorded four albums, two of which were live plus singles she has toured widely. Places toured include Central America, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Italy, Switzerland, France Germany, the Uk, and Spain.
Her musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Marley, the Chilean songwriter and singer Violetti Parra, as well as revolutionary protest music. Away from music she says she loves “people who do crazy stuff” and mentions the American aviation pioneer and author Amelia Earhart as an inspiration.
Maf E Tulá’s Other Projects
Besides making music, Maf E Tulá is excited by the by the artistic collective she has created called AKAÜA. With an emphasis on subjects as diverse as psychology, anthropology, music, visual arts, drama, production, project management, and research, their aim is to develop artistic projects with a social focus. It’s a highly interesting website with some great content.
But back to her music. With her portable recording studio Maf E Tulá have become a music producer as well as an artist. Antigua may well become too small for her. Catch her while you can!!!
Listen to Maf e Tulá on Spotify and Deezer.
Check the Qué Pasa calendar of events for her upcoming gigs in Antigua.
