Elena was a dancer before working as a street musician. She was a dancing teacher, until she realised that it is difficult to survive having as an income what she earns only from dancing. So she started working as a waitress. During the pandemic, however, when everything was closed, all the artists, and Elena as well, had to face very difficult days. "It was the moment I decided to use all of my knowledge about music and go out on the streets to sing and make money. It was the best decision I have ever made, it helped me see clearly that singing is my passion," she said. Zaragoza, Spain. Tatiana Eleftheriadou. May 2022.
Elena lives with her father. She has a small room right next to the entrance of the apartment. She chooses to spend most of her time there in order to do the rehearsals and also to avoid intercoursing a lot with her father. “It’s not a big room, but it’s fine. The colour of the walls and the decoration were chosen by my father…too much purple for my taste. It’s a colour I prefer to have on my clothing.” she says. Zaragoza, Spain. Luca Garelli. May 2022.
Elena at her father's house in Zaragoza, preparing a cold coffee on a hot morning to start her rehearsals with energy, in order to sing on the streets. Weather is not always an ally in her work, but the love for what she does always gives her the courage to step out of the comfort zone of her home and do what fills her most, to sing. Zaragoza, Spain. Luca Garelli. May 2022.
Elena, rehearsing in her room the songs she will play on the streets today. All of the songs belong to other artists. "I do not write my own music, nor my own lyrics, because it is very difficult for me to transfer all of my feelings in words. I prefer to sing songs by other artists," she says. Zaragoza, Spain. Sofia Konstantinidoue, May 2022.
In Zaragoza, the life of a busker is quite difficult. Most of them are facing financial difficulties, especially in winters, when it is very cold and people prefer to be on the streets as little as possible. The wind of the city, known as Cierzo, also leads to many technical problems. All this affects the monthly income of a street artist. "We musicians have a hard time financially, especially during the winter months," she says. Zaragoza, Spain. Luca Garelli. May 2022.
Elena lives with her father and her dog. They share a flat, a bedroom and a life. Artista, her dog, is with her for almost three years now, and she has never been happier. She is her partner in life whenever she goes. They have made a daily routine together, and of course she named her after her favourite thing in the world: arts. Zaragoza, Spain. Sofia Konstantinidoue. May 2022.
The outfit of the day. It consists of a black vest, white shoes, a bodysuit, a belt, and a bandana for the hair. Anyone who has seen Elena singing on the streets of Zaragoza can easily recognize her from afar. Elena has a certain style when she works, because she wants people to recognize her through this style. "To stand out you have to have your own identity," she said. Zaragoza, Spain. Tatiana Eleftheriadou. May 2022.
Street music is written by people who love what they do. Every day they go out to beautify the mood of passersby. Even for a few minutes the soul of every passerby rejoices, and his mind is distracted by the timeless roar of the city. "Playing music for people is like psychotherapy for me," says Elena. You will find her scratching her guitar and singing in different parts of the city such as Gran Via, Plaza Aragon, Parke Grande, Plaza San Francisco, as well as many festivals in Zaragoza. Zaragoza, Spain. Luca Garelli. May 2022.
The profession of a street musician is not very profitable. The daily wage depends on many factors such as health, weather, voice and the time of year. It's not an office job, where one knows one must work for eight hours. Street artists go out there to beautify the world every day. And if you cannot leave a price, you can at least give a smile. It's your way of showing them they have achieved their goal. Zaragoza, Spain. Vincenzo Tortora. May 2022.
A painting created by Elena describing the importance of music in her life and the different emotions she has been through, accompanied by music. It says: “With music I have danced, I have cried, I have laughed, I have remembered, I have kissed, I have loved. With music I have lived.” Zaragoza, Spain. Luca Garelli. May 2022.
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