New York based singer-songwriter and musician ROREY told us about her Santana experience...
Rorey: When I was ten I screamed, “Got a black magic woman” so loud, I thought Santana could hear me. Of course, he didn’t. I was a child, singing her favorite song in a sold out arena. I swear, I made my parents play it every morning on the way to school. He’s literally the reason I play guitar.
He was captivating. His fingers moved with delicate ease, his body twisted differently to each song, and I could feel his passion so viscerally like I was invited into his inner world. My dad, who passed, hoisted me on his shoulders for the entire the show to make sure I saw the stage, and I’ll never forget Santana smirking at us. He knew exactly what he was doing to the crowd.
All that to say, I learned from his stage presence: that I don’t need to be perfect, my voice can crack, I can close my eyes, and play guitar like my body’s possessed and still connect with an audience. I mean, that's what I enjoyed most, watching Santana and his band doing what they loved.
Rorey's "Temporary Tragedy" is out now.
Photo by Emme Andre
