Max Aguirre is one of the most famous cumbia entertainers in Peru. He has worked in important groups such as Corazón Serrano and Las Claveles de la Cumbia. Since October 2022, the Piurano has been in charge of motivating the public that attends the concerts of Armonía 10, a group that will celebrate its 52nd anniversary this July 6 on the Plaza Norte esplanade.
In this interview with La República, Sechura says that his frustrated dream was to be a soccer player and that his beginnings as an entertainer were not the best. Everything changed when he began to have contact with the public, which managed to transform him on stage. Max Aguirre also remembers his time at Corazón Serrano and reveals the difference between cheering in a female group and an orchestra like Armonía 10.
—How does animation come into your life?
—Fortuitously. I wanted to be a soccer player because my whole family has been. One day they invited me to entertain on AM radio and I felt like it wasn’t my thing, I didn’t like being locked up (in a booth). Another day they invited me to cheer at an activity in the neighborhood and being in contact with the public, I said: “I like it.” From there, little by little, with the help of my father, I awakened something that I didn’t know because I always focused on being a footballer.
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—How do you keep your energy very high?
—I am the complete opposite of what I show myself on stage. I’m more introverted on a day-to-day basis. When I am on stage, and the fact of being in front of an audience and representing such an emblematic orchestra, makes me become the most energetic character. That’s my job: to make sure the audience has a pleasant time.
Max Aguirre remembers his time at Corazón Serrano
—Was Corazón Serrano a school for you in animation or did you already have a lot of previous experience?
—I did have experience, but Corazón Serrano was an important showcase because it was a different audience, it meant standing in front of many more people (…) in the other orchestras they were very conformist on the owners’ side. What he presented to them, they liked. In Corazón Serrano, no. I had the closeness of Edwin (Guerrero), the sound engineer, and other friends, who pushed me to improve day by day, more than anything on a verbal level, in the lexicon, and I liked that a lot; It allowed me to follow my line of what I am today.
—What is the difference between animating in Corazón Serrano and Armonía 10? Has your chip changed a little?
—It changes a lot because in Corazón Serrano—it’s not a secret to anyone—those who shine are the girls and the entertainer is a complement. If you do not have the wisdom to be able to integrate, you will go unnoticed. The public doesn’t look at any man, it looks at the girls because they are the center of attention. The idea was to try to be immersed inside the girls to be able to tell the audience: “Here I am, I am also part of.” As for the gentlemen, it is different.
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-Easier?
—Yes, it’s a little easier because they help a lot.
—I imagine that masculine language and chacota also help.
—Yes, apart from that, there are colleagues who have the spark and there are colleagues who help you gain confidence, that allows ease when working.
Max Aguirre happy to animate in Armonía 10
—Did you enter Armonía 10 by casting or by recommendation?
—I received the call from the coordinator on the recommendation of a colleague and then Javier Lozada called me. At first we did not reach an agreement, it was not until the third call that we were able to finalize and I was able to enter. It has been a pretty good decision that I am happy with.
—What is the hallmark of Armonía 10 that differentiates it from other groups?
-The style. It does not focus on a single line, but Armonía 10 sings for love, for heartbreak, for having a beer. At concerts there are people who are laughing and jumping in a song; In the next one that feeling blooms and does nothing but cry; and in the other he is tapping his feet. This mixture of so many rhythms makes Armonía 10 have a unique musical seal that, personally, no one else has.
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—What dream do you need to fulfill with Armonía 10?
—I have not thought about that, I am about preparing myself for the day to day and being prepared for the following challenges. Being in Armonía 10 is already a dream come true.
—What do you think of Ernesto Pimentel’s version of ‘Take to forget’?
—Ernesto is a friend of ours and the version is very nice. Ernesto is a tremendous talent, he is very versatile and has given it a very nice touch, just like Paul Flores, the ‘Russian’.
—Did you like the inclusion of sign language in the Armonía 10 show, at the Ministry of Culture?
—It was a magnificent contribution. We hope it is the beginning of inclusion, the beginning of something so beautiful. We all deserve to be treated equally and the fact that the Ministry of Culture had this detail of incorporating a person with sign language was plausible. We hope that other orchestras can take this into account and add it to their concerts.
Max Aguirre will be part of the 52 years of Armonía 10
—How do you experience the preview of the 52nd anniversary of Armonía 10?
—Happy, content, excited, proud and this is an impulse to continue improving day by day. I am happy to represent the most emblematic orchestra in cumbia.
—How do you plan to prepare for an eight-hour concert in Plaza Norte?
—As I have always managed in my professional life: with a lot of responsibility, with a lot of professionalism, with a lot of seriousness. The time will come when we focus fully (on this event) to receive the guidelines. Behind us, there are professionals who are trying to detail every little thing so that everything is perfect this July 6 and that people can leave this concert happy. There are still discounted tickets on Teleticket.