One of my favorite things about Ladino songs is that they’re full of strong women.

Women who gossip. Women who tease. Women who complain. Women who fall in love. Women who refuse to do what everyone expects of them.

No Kero Madre (“I Don’t Want To, Mother”) from my album Ke Haber, is my take on that tradition.

The song is an argument between a mother and her daughter. The mother is trying her best to find her daughter a husband. First she suggests a rich man. The daughter says no. Then a poor man. No again. Then a jealous man. Still no.

The mother is running out of ideas.
Finally, she sighs, “Well, you might as well marry the drunk.”
And for the first time, the daughter says YES.
Why?
Because she’s already in love with him.
She is hugging him while texting with her mother.
So this is Ladino at the age of whatsapp!

I always laugh and get the audience to scream with me the word “Borracho”, which means “Drunk” in Ladino (and also in Spanish). 

The daughter isn’t choosing the drunk. She’s choosing love.

Growing up, I heard so many stories about what makes a “good match.” Money. Status. A respectable family. The right profession. Everyone seems to have an opinion. 

But nobody has to live your life except you.

I composed No Kero Madre as a reminder that the most important ingredient in a relationship can’t be arranged by someone else.

♥️ No Kero Madre is on my album Ke Haber
♥️ Listen on: Spotify / Apple / Amazon / Deezer / Tidal / YouTube