Meet Niño Rubén | flamenco bassoonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Niño Rubén and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rubén, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure for me to explain my work and join this interview. Fundamentally, I believe that success is achieved through work, intelligence and cunning. But, above all, I believe that success is being true to oneself. By that way, you won’t fool yourself and you won’t fool your audience either. I think it’s essential when we talk about art, business and personal branding. In the same way, I think that is one of the factors behind my success has been doing things when I’m completely sure that I want them that way.
For example, one of the reasons I’m known for is because of how I’ve introduced the bassoon in flamenco. One day, I met a flamenco guitarist. We started playing some Andalusian melodies that I knew. I’d studied a bit of flamenco musical theory, but it never crossed my mind that I could create a flamenco bassoon. And much less than this was going to be successful. An idea arose from that chance, but I presented this innovation and developed my artistic project only when I was sure that it was exactly what I wanted to do. As in my case, success can bring you a lot of prosperity and happiness. But you can only be happy if you do something that you’re passionate about. If not, success will eventually kill you.

Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
From the moment, I made my first solo appearance, at the age of thirteen, I knew that I wanted to do that in the future. The influence of the community made me abandon that dream and pursue playing in a professional orchestra, an alternative that I liked much less. What would I be thinking! Hardly anyone can make a living playing the bassoon as a soloist. In 2017, I published the results of my research on the flamenco bassoon, in a work published by the specialized publisher TrevCo Music Publishing. At that time, I left all the orchestras to pursue the dream I’d as a child, without knowing the subsequent success it’d have. I took a chance. Because thanks to my flamenco bassoon I can live being a soloist. Today, I can say that nothing is impossible. At the end of 2019, I presented the first short film where this innovation could be heard. In this audiovisual, which is available on YouTube, you can see the moments with which I presented the flamenco bassoon. That is to say, I was presenting my instrument in flamenco in a completely unprecedented way, without publishing a single video, for three years. It’s a nice documentary not because everything sounds perfect, but because you appreciate that illusion, that uncertainty… different sensations than those that can be appreciated now in a show of mine. Of course, not everything has been an easy road. During the early years, many times I’ve thought about giving up because it’s a lot of effort and very little gain. That’s when you have to think about the good things that have come up for you while developing your project. Those memories are where you have to get the strength to not give up and move on.
In addition, one of the keys of my project is that it influences into the community and society. Thanks to this fusion, many people who didn’t know this musical instrument are doing it thanks to flamenco, and vice versa. This has caused the attention of many festivals, getting this instrument to be given space in places where it’d never been heard, and even less so as a soloist. I’m proud to say that many people have discovered the bassoon thanks to me, even many people have started playing it because they loved it when they heard me. That’s something precious.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A few weeks ago, I was asked in an interview where it would be a dream for me to perform a concert. It was a little before doing an open-air concert in the capital of my region, in Cordoba capital (south of Spain). Do you know what I replied to them? Effectively. It was where I was going to perform. A magical place in the city next to a tower, called Calahorra, under the Roman Bridge. A space that has, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful views of the city. For example, among other monuments you can see the Mosque-Cathedral. For me, few regions like Andalusia can have that magic and so much history. In flamenco itself, which developed in Andalusia, you can hear the influence of Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East. Many times we become obsessed with looking outside, without having stopped to see the the beauty of our streets.
It’s not because I’m from there, but one of the provinces of Andalusia that I most like is Cordoba. He would take him for a walk through the streets of the capital, its small alleys and large squares. I would also take him to the southern part of the province, from where I am. That area is called Subbética and is characterized by having white houses, with flowers on the facades and many monuments to visit. I really like my town, Doña Mencía, and other nearby like Zuheros, Lucena or Priego de Cordoba. Of course, I would take him to eat the typical dishes, although there are many to choose from, and to see a flamenco show. It is something unmissable. Although being honest, all Andalusia is wonderful.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In principle, I’d not highlight any person in particular. I’ve learned many things by researching and experimenting, but many others by attending master classes with teachers, putting myself to the test… I always try to get the best out of myself. I’m used to looking for life alone. To be my own compass. I think that’s why so I’ve been able to find my vocation and have been able to open my mind to see beyond. Because I’ve never had a continuous tutor to guide me. No one has ever given anything for me. All the opposite. There’ve been many who have tried to trample me throughout all my life.
For a couple of years, I’ve been training in dramatic art, in order to apply emotion, as actors understand it, to musical performance. This year, I combine my work with my studies at the Central School of Cinema in Madrid. I’m always figuring out how to keep squeezing myself and get the best out of myself. Nonetheless, I’ll always be grateful to my audience, the people who show me their love every day. It’s the energy that every person needs to move forward with enthusiasm. I’d yell to all of them.

Website: ninoruben.es

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ninorubenmusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ninorubenmusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ninorubenmusic

Youtube: www.youtube.com/ninoruben

Image Credits
Toni Blanco (1) : Toni Blanco Toni Blanco (2) : Toni Blanco Toni Blanco (3) : Toni Blanco Elena de la Cuesta (1) : Elena de la Cuesta Elena de la Cuesta (2) : Elena de la Cuesta Elena de la Cuesta (3) : Elena de la Cuesta Elena de la Cuesta (4) : Elena de la Cuesta Elena de la Cuesta (5) : Elena de la Cuesta