Interview: Catching up with Barcelona based blues-rocker Raul del Moral

Let’s face it; there are a lot of pretenders when it comes to really rocking the blues. One stream through Raul del Moral‘s new album with The Blues Trimmers, When We Humbly Play the Blues, and you’ll walk away with no doubt in your mind that he’s the real deal.

Based out of Barcelona, the bandleader blends the unique elements of his personal experience and funnels it through the prisms of classic, American blues structures. To learn a little bit more about Raul del Moral, we sent over some questions to go along with a stream of When We Humbly Play the Blues.

Check it all out below and be sure to keep with more from Raul del Moral here.

Hi, Raul del Moral! Congrats on When We Humbly Play the Blues. Can you tell us a little more on who you are and how you put together your band?

Thank you! Well, I guess I am a professional musician from Barcelona (Spain) and although sometimes it is very rough, I play music for my living. The band members Tito Bonacera on bass, Caspar St. Charles and Fernando Tejero on keyboards are best friends and amazing musicians. It took a while to put them together because they play with everybody in town, but it was worth the time.

How did you first get into the blues?

Stevie Ray Vaughan, he was the reason why I started to be interested in American blues. I also think all the modern guitar playing comes from there. Pentatonic scale, used in the blues, is the most common music scale ever, so I guess blues has been influencing me from differents angles.

What’s your songwriting process like?

I make music for TV, movies and other artists as well as for myself. With the passing of the years, I have been using different techniques but I can say “When we humbly play the blues” comes from within. I was suffering (good thing to play the blues) and the songs just came out from inside of me, or then were sent to me from somewhere else.

What are some of the larger themes at play on the record?

“Thank you” is a song dedicated to my mum and to my dad who passed away when I was 17. Just saying thank you for all the things they influenced me with. The hook says: “…I don’t know what would’ve become of me if it wasn’t for you…”

There are a lot of really great solos and jams on the record. What is it like when you get into a room with The Blues Trimmers?

I am serious. These guys can play the hell out the blues! It is a unique experience that I must say, doesn’t happen to me that often. I wish you could come to Barcelona to see us perform…I promise, it won’t be a waste of time.

If you could collaborate with any three living artists right now, who would they be

That is an amazing question! Derek Trucks or Tedesky/Trucks band, Mayer Hawthorn and Dream Theater. Not sure about the last band, they are very skilled.

Any new bands/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn us onto?

Check out artists from my city, people who I play with; Llibert Fortuny, Lessus and Judit Neddermann.

Any upcoming shows or releases we should know about?

Yes! About two or three weeks ago I recorded a live album called “Raul Del Moral & The Blues Trimmers – Live at Campari Milano”, a very known venue in Barcelona. It is coming out in the next days. I would like to share a song with you guys!