The first time I walked onto the stage I was 6 years old. My guitar was as big as me and I still remember the deep emotion I felt standing in front of the stage lights and receiving the extraordinary energy that emanated from the public. The excitement I felt that day sealed my fate with the guitar; it was the beginning of my passionate journey with music – full of joys, tears, challenges, hopes and light – to finally discover my essence, in your essence and my voice. It has been – and still is – a journey of the explorer.

America has been my home for the past 14 years and my new recording – 'Americano - The Soul of the Spanish Guitar' – is my personal tribute to the Americas: these magnificent continents that I love and that have brought together the expression of so many musical identities from each country's indigenous roots and cultures. So much exuberant richness!

In this journey, I nostalgically immerse myself in an era when the dimension of time was different, where people would take their time to look into each other’s eyes and where they would feel the distances they travelled. Let us pause for a moment to wander through yesterday’s nightfall hearing the rich rhythms of American folkloric music, with the fragrances of post-impressionist Paris in the thirties, absorbing the atmosphere of blues and jazz, dancing to the bluegrass, celebrating John Williams and his influence on the history of cinema – all the different cultural roots that I hope to bring together through the world’s most popular instrument: the guitar.

Spanish guitar belongs to the Americas as much as to Spain. Despite being so deeply associated with my country and its culture, it has become the most versatile instrument in the world, expressing the cultural and musical identities of many different regions.

The guitar is the instrument of the people. It is the most democratic instrument in existence and I yearn to unite the Americas through its instrument and its music. 'Americano' is my personal expression of gratitude to all the people in these awesome continents – places that have given me so much in my own musical journey. It is a trip without frontiers to the depth of our emotions. Welcome aboard.