Hinojosa CD's emotions simple, honest
By Jim Beal Jr.
San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer
When Tish Hinojosa pens a song and calls it "Sign of Truth" you can bank on
the fact she will indeed tell the truth.
Hinojosa, 44, was born and reared in San Antonio. As a singing songwriter
who
has sung her songs around the world, the truth, whether it's in English or
Spanish, in a ballad or a two-step, with a twang, a strum or an accordion
punctuation, has long been her stock in trade.
This week, Hinojosa celebrates the release of a new album, the Rounder-label
"Sign of Truth," her 12th album and the first disc of new material in four
years.
Hinojosa and her musical crew, which includes Marvin Dykhuis (most stringed
instruments, percussion) and Chip Dolan (keyboards, accordion) will work the
Kerrville Folk Festival on June 2. Hinojosa will have a pair of CD release
parties in San Antonio on June 16, a short one at Borders in the Quarry at 5
p.m., a full-on gig at Niles Wine Bar at 9:30 p.m.
"What I did with this album is explore a little bit more of the pop
element,"
Hinojosa said in an interview from her Austin home. "I tried to make this
one
pretty straightforward."
Her last album of new material was the Warner Brothers release "Dreaming
From
the Labyrinth/Sonar del Labertino," a lush, lovely and complex piece of work
that was recorded in the chapel at Southwest School of Art & Craft.
"I wanted this album to have a simpler feel," Hinojosa said.
And it does. "Sign of Truth" is spare, almost bare-bones. Hinojosa's words,
and the words she co-wrote with Dolan on one cut, are way in front. The
music
wraps around the lyrics like a receiving blanket.
"A lot of these songs were written in the last three or four years," she
said. "Warner Brothers was wanting me to slick up and go even more pop.
These
songs didn't fit their criteria, but they fit mine. Rounder has been open. I
take the whole creative process pretty personal. I want to work with a
record
label, but they're not out there on the road working with me day in and day
out with the audience that's always been my mainstay, the folk audience. In
some ways this collection of songs is very personal but very universal. This
is just more a journey of emotions."
For good reason. Since last Hinojosa released an album, her marriage of 18
years ended.
"That's definitely between the lines in these songs" Hinojosa said,
obviously
not eager to dig into her personal life but again unwilling to do anything
except tell the truth. "These are songs about endings and beginnings and
acceptance."
Through the years, Hinojosa has become known for contributing her voice and
her songs to causes ranging from Habitat for Humanity to migrant worker
issues, from bilingual education to the National Women's Political Caucus.
Cause songs are not on "Sign of Truth." Why not?
"Rounder asked me that question," she said. "I didn't avoid it, but I have
some of those kinds of songs for the next record. That's one camp I get
pigeonholed into. The other is Spanish music. I don't fit into that totally,
either. I don't like it when it's totally not mentioned, either. I'm happy
to
be recognized for whatever important causes I contribute to. I appreciate it
and I don't deny it. But I don't want to write that way just to write it. I
don't want to be an angry singer looking for a cause."
Whether she writes a song decrying the effects of pesticides on migrant
workers or a simple love song, Hinojosa is quick to give a lot of the credit
for her writing chops to the Kerrville Folk Festival.
"For a homegirl, the Kerrville festival was a really big deal. It was during
my high school years," she said.
"In 1979, I entered the songwriters' contest. Rod Kennedy (the festival
producer and founder) was the first person to acknowledge me as a
songwriter.
My kids (Adam, 16 and Nina, 12) were essentially raised there. I've gauged
my
songwriting growth by the years I've played there."
Hinojosa talked about the lure of the festival in general.
"I'm biased," she added. "To me it's home."
Sounds like the truth.
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