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“El Pelu”, Manuel Monje
Manuel Monje ‘Pelu’, was born in 1980. From an early age he woke up listening to flamenco, as his father was Manuel Monje Cruz, older brother of Camarón de la Isla. He started at the age of 12 as a guitarist accompanying dancers, among them the Academia de Baile Camarón de la Isla and Concha Baras (mother of Sara Baras). He has accompanied singers such as Juan Villar, Rancapino, Rancapino chico, Diego el Cigala, Niña Pastori, El Barrio… His contribution to the world of flamenco has been invaluable. Manuel Monje is also a committed person and always ready to take part in initiatives aimed at helping others.
I was lucky enough to be born into a deeply flamenco family, the Monje Cruz family, a lineage marked by art. I am the nephew of Camarón de la Isla, as my father, Manuel Monje Cruz, was his older brother. Flamenco is in my blood.
I was attracted to the guitar from a very early age, and I started playing it as soon as I can remember. My first professional steps were in the dance academy of Tronio, within the Group of the Peña Camarón de la Isla, at the age of 13. Since then, I have not stopped playing and learning, always linked to the roots and the rhythm.
I have had the privilege of accompanying great flamenco artists such as: Rancapino, Juan Villar, Rancapino hijo, Diego El Cigala, among many other singers and dance groups.
My guitar playing has been recorded with national artists such as: Niña Pastori, El Barrio, Andy & Lucas, Rancapino, among others.
I have toured twice with Niña Pastori. Since 2014 I am part of the group El Barrio. Currently I accompany Andy & Lucas.
admira: You come from a long family tradition of flamenco, what memories do you have of your beginnings in music?
El Pelu: Since I was born in my house I listened to a lot of juerga, as my father Manuel Monje Cruz (Camaron’s older brother) sang for Concha Baras and Sara baras and they came after singing with all the artists. Juan Villar, Rancapino, Pansequito, Remedios Amaya, my uncle Camaron…..
My memories of my beginnings in music I don’t remember…I’ve always been playing, but I used to take guitars from my uncle Camaron, from an uncle of mine who was a guitarist…. until my uncle Camaron gave me the first guitar.
admira: What do you look for in the sound of the flamenco guitar?
El Pelu: The sound of the flamenco guitar is what I look for, that it sounds flamenco! I want the bass strings to sound low but with brilliance and the trebles not to sound too strident…as we flamencos say, that it has a warm sound hehehe.
admira: What made you choose the admira Bulería-ECF, Flamenco Series?
El Pelu: Its clean sound and its comfort, it’s are an extremely comfortable guitar, its sound is clean and as I said before…(warm), it is a very grateful guitar.
admira: Looking to the future… What would your ideal guitar that doesn’t exist yet be like?
El Pelu: Pffff……. Looking to the future, the ideal guitar would have deep but shiny basses, trebles that are not strident, a low right and left hand, that gives off a good sound, and that is grateful when it comes to playing.
admira: We know you are currently on tour with Andy and Lucas. Tell us, what more plans do you have for this 2025?
El Pelu: Since 2014 guitarist of ‘El Barrio’ right now I am on tour with Andy & Lucas, I have a project in the forge of my uncle Camarón where we will make musical recording, live and podcast, besides I am with the group Spoticai that is composed by Raúl Obregón, Yona Luna the backing singers of ‘El Barrio’ Rubén Amador, Alex Fernández and me, and for 2026 if God wants we will resume the tour with ‘El Barrio’.
