Andrés Peñate

Interview with Andrés Peñate Mendoza

Andrés Peñate Mendoza was one of the musicians that I discovered during the online charity concert that the Lanzarote Musicians Unite group put on in aid of EMERLAN last month, in May 2020.

I was very impressed with the three pieces he played, one of which was a cover versions and the other two were home grown. (Watch this space for his playlist at the charity concert!).

Let’s get to know Andrés a bit better, including an Irish connection…

Where are you originally from, Andrés?

I was born in Santa Cruz de la Palma in 1954 at which time my father was in the army.

How long have you lived in Lanzarote?

When I was 2 years old my father left the army and the family moved back to Gran Canaria, where my parents are originally from and my father worked in the harbor. The company asked my father to come to Lanzarote for a year which we did and never moved back. I have lived here for 55 years and in Ireland for 2 years where my wife Catherine is from.

What do you like about the island?

The island is my home and I love it, the people the climate and the peace.

What is your favourite place in Lanzarote?

My favorite place is our home here in Playa Honda where I play and compose music. I love to go to the many lovely restaurants on the island with my family and friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

What do you play?

I sing and I play guitar and timple. I started with timple at 9 years of age, then progressed to guitar, I am self-taught.

Who is your musical idol?

My idol is José Feliciano. He has such a unique voice and his talent of mixing many different styles of music and an extraordinary guitar player.

How would you describe your music for someone who’s never heard you before?

My music is hard to describe as sometimes it’s ballads and sometimes it’s Canarian rhythms mixed with South America rhythms. God has given me something and I am able to put music to the poems of local poets, they are very happy with my interpretation of their work.

A God-given talent, no doubt!

Do you have any special projects on at the moment or coming up?

For many weeks now I have been posting original songs on social media every day to keep in contact with the many friends I have made entertaining on the island over many years in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and even America, mainland Spain and of course Las Canarias. To date I have posted 63 videos, 59 of which are original songs. I will keep doing this as long as the music keeps coming.

Wow, that is no mean feat, keep up the good work! Thank you and your lovely wife for your time… and for the music!

You can follow Andrés on his Facebook, Instagram (andrespenatemendoza ) and YouTube channel

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