HIGH TIMES INTERVIEW: MANU CHAO

Interview by Danny Danko

Photographs by Jason Gardner

Born in Spain and raised in France, Manu Chao originally distinguished himself as a member of the highly influential world-music band Mano Negra. As a solo artist, he’s one of the world’s best-selling performers, singing his incredible songs in more than five languages and leaving sold-out audiences ecstatic in his wake. His politically charged songs speak of poverty and injustice; a musical plea for peace set to an irresistible beat that blends punk rock, reggae, ska and latin rhythms into a unique sound that has yet to seduce mainstream American listeners. Chao just put the finishing touches on a new album, La Radiolina, his first international studio release since 2001’s wildly popular Próxima Estación: Esperanza. After a rare U.S. concert appearance outdoors in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, Chao sat down for a sangria, a spliff and an even rarer interview exclusively for the readership of HIGH TIMES.

The title of your album from 2001 translates as Next Stop: Hope. Do you still have hope in the face of all the world’s struggles?
The more the situation is difficult, the more you have to have hope. All humans must have hope. Sometimes in the First World, we have forgotten what is hope. In the Third World, they never forget, because every morning they need hope to feed their children.

Does your music have the power to make change?
I don’t know; it’s not for me to say. I do my music with all my heart and my soul. Music for me is my way to accept this world—to caramelize my rage into something positive. When you live in this fucking world, the first reaction is rage. This negative is no good. I want the people to decide.

What do you want people to know about your new album?
The new album is called La Radiolina. I’m very proud of it and all the musicians who play on it. We had a lot of fun making it and I hope the people enjoy hearing it. We make this music for the people.

Tell me about doing the music for Emir Kusturica’s new film about [soccer legend] Diego Maradona.
It’s only a small collaboration. My job is only to drink beers and sing my song about Diego. The film is a nice opportunity for me, because I make friends with Diego. He’s my friend and he’s an artist. He has good things and bad things, like everyone, but he was also a hero in my neighborhood, and you never forget that.

I wrote the song about him, and also about destiny. One month ago, we went to Buenos Aires, and I sing my little song to Diego. He was happy with it. I don’t know if Emir is going to put it in the movie, but for me it was a big honor to know Diego. He is a great guy!

What role does marijuana play in your creative process?
Marijuana is part of my inspiration. I don’t use marijuana every day, every time. Before I get onstage, I never smoke. In the studio, I smoke a lot. Onstage, I need another kind of mood—maybe I drink a little schnapps or something.

I use marijuana a lot in the studio when I’m cooling down. When I’m home, I smoke a lot—especially when I’m cooling with my friends. I also try to never smoke when I don’t have a pen with me, and a guitar. Without a pen and guitar, if I smoke I get nervous, because the ideas fly, fly, fly!

Marijuana is very important to my process when writing and working, but onstage, in front of people, I prefer a little alcohol. It gives me more … strength