Mauricio Mesones: "Many Believe That My Name Is Bareto, I Do Not Deny That"

After an abrupt departure from Bareto in July 2019, Mauricio Mesones undertook the solo artist route. Who was the voice for 11 years of one of the most successful Peruvian bands in Peru now unfolds in the world of music with a new group of artists, who help him evolve as a composer.

In an interview with La República, Mauricio Mesones talks about his career after Bareto, the differences he feels between working with them and working alone. He also tells us what his show will be like this Thursday the 23rd for the Fiesta de San Juan and what we can expect from him in the future.

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Mauricio Mesones believes that he has had more freedom when composing songs after his time in Bareto.

“I’m cured”

It’s been almost three years since you left Bareto. What differences have you felt since you worked alone?

Now that I work alone I have more freedom. The group I work with now is a young, fun group, which I greatly admire and respect. I have the great opportunity to sing alongside the legendary Martín Choy, a great guitarist who set the tone for Peruvian music with Los Mojarras and Sarita Colonia. I think that writing together with him is reflected in the sound of the band.

How do you feel your music has changed in these three years?

I think that working on our own songs and being able to sit down and compose is a very important differential. The work we are doing as a group is bringing us very nice things: being able to play our own songs, listening to what is happening on soap operas. The public has responded excellently and that is a stage that I had not experienced. I still don’t think I have transcended, but it is a giant step for my career as a composer.

You left Bareto to make your own name, stand out on your own. However, to this day, they continue to remember you as the former member. Do you think you have already achieved your goal?

I don’t deny that, with Bareto I did very important things. Interestingly, many of the fans believe that my name is Bareto. That doesn’t bother me, but I try to explain that my name is Mauricio. I don’t have to feel uncomfortable about something I’ve done in my life. Moreover, it was a very relevant stage. To rant about these things would be a bit petty of me.

“With my friends partying”

You often mention that each concert in which you sing is different. What makes this Thursday’s event different?

It is important for people who work in tropical music. We all understand that the Fiesta de San Juan is very valuable. It will be at the Brisas del Titicaca Cultural Association, an emblematic institution of national culture and for Peruvian music in general. Here are all the musical cultures of the country. Being on this site is emotional for me.

The concert will be accompanied by dances and typical gastronomic dishes. In this case, we have prepared a special show. For the Fiesta de San Juan, we are going to give more emphasis to the songs of the Amazonian cumbia.

What melodies can we expect you to sing at the Fiesta de San Juan?

From the last album that we have released, there is a song that they ask us a lot. It’s called “El rapidito”, which was inspired by the sound of the jungle. We are also going to play the classic songs, like Juaneco and Los Mirlos.

This Thursday, June 21, Mauricio Masones will give a concert for the Fiesta de San Juan.

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“Oh, cousin Nando, I want to wake up”

What can we expect from Mauritius Mesons in the future?

Very interesting things are coming. Coincidentally, this Thursday the 24th the album we recorded at the National Stadium will be released. Also, at the end of the year a new album will be released, which is the continuation of another with its own songs released in 2021: “Viaje tropical”.

I think the group and I are having an orderly job. We are growing in several aspects: the musical, business and human part. My idea is not to move fast, it is to do it sustainably, always bringing the value of Peruvian tropical music. That, in turn, is the objective of this group: to value the tropical melody of the country.

Apart from the show for the Fiesta de San Juan, what will be your next concerts?

On the 25th I played in La Merced. On July 1 I am closing the first date of Selvámonos in Oxapampa. On the 9th I will be at the Alalaw Café and on July 17 I am one of the guests at Gian Marco’s concert for his 30th birthday.

“Viaje tropical 2”, the new album by Mauricio Mesones, will be released at the end of the year.