Julieta Venegas is on the phone inside a car on the outskirts of Madrid.
She speaks fast, sounds excited and has a lot of things to say. The Mexican singer and songwriter has just finished a tour around Spain and is still enjoying the success of her fourth and most popular album, “Limón y Sal.”
With a guitar and an accordion in hand, and a fresh, bittersweet style, she has captivated audiences around the world and put several Grammy awards under her belt.
Best of all? She is playing in New York tomorrow night, and she is giddy about it. “I am very nervous. B.B. King is a very big place, isn’t it? I’ve heard the space there is for 1,000 people. That is big,” she says. Her concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill - which can indeed accommodate that many - will kick off Venegas’ tour around the United States, hitting cities like Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, San Antonio and Houston.
“What I like about New York is that Latino people there are from everywhere. If I go to California or Texas I will see many Mexicans in my concerts, but in New York there isn’t just one nationality,” the singer says. This will be her fourth concert in the Big Apple, and, unfortunately, also a quick visit of only three days. Distancing herself from the image of the typical, hip-moving, hot Latina singer, Venegas has convinced many with her colorful, vintage style and her eclectic music, with songs that always tell stories.
So, what’s next? “Well, I think I might go back to acoustic piano, like many years ago. It will be like going back to my first love,” she says, laughing. “However, we’ll see. Right now I am very busy with the tours. I really don’t know what will be next. I like to make songs and discover where they take me.
Claudia Torrens / NY Daily News
