Valencian band El Diluvi from Castalla and elsewhere in Alcoià make their debut first ballAn EP that symbolizes the end of more than 10 years. It was formed by Flora Sempere (voice and bandurria), Andreu Ferre (bass), Lluc Llorens (accordion), Txus Rodríguez (guitar), David Payà (voice and violin) and Dani Garcia (drums).Throughout its career, the band has combined a wide variety of styles such as cumbia, folk and traditional Valencian music. We spoke to their guitarist Txus Rodríguez about the news the band faced after announcing that they were taking a break from their music career.
What does the creation of the album mean for the band? first ball?
It was a different way of creating an album, trying a way of working that was fashionable a few years ago. We decided to gather together the various singles we released throughout the year and create an EP consisting of six songs. It was also a slower way of working because we didn’t record all the songs at the same time. This allowed us to think more about each of them, think about them more, and spend more time on them. But despite the fragmentation, I think the result is quite unified sonically.
Did you already think these singles would be part of an album?
Although the idea of collecting it on an EP was always in the air, it was a bit quick because we’re a bit of a purist and like to have the album in our hands. It seemed like a mistake to release the songs to keep them digital.
Behind every album is a presentation tour. However, they released this EP to end their career.
Yes you are right. Originally the tour was going to continue in 2024 but due to some circumstances we decided to stop earlier because we believed it was best for the band. On the one hand, it’s sad to release an album and not be able to play it, but these are the songs that were played live as soon as they were released. In a way, from this perspective, the album was also included in our live broadcasts.
Last song, WalkerHe draws a parallel between Hermann Hesse’s book and the course of the group.
Completely. The experiences of the character in Hermann Hesse’s novel, who escaped from Germany after the end of the Second World War, seem to be traumatic, but he embarks on a journey that goes beyond physicality. It is a journey of self-discovery, reflection on life, love and what you want from life. There are also parallels with the band’s history. All of our traveling as a band has allowed us to capitalize on those things by traveling and creating songs.
What was the purpose of creating Al Diluvi?
In principle, the group was created only to give concerts. When they opened Casal Popular Tio Cuc in Alicante, which fell on 9 October, several musicians were contacted to perform some versions of Ovidi Montllor. What happened was that after that first performance, requests started coming in for more gigs, and he decided it was time to form a band.
And now, seeing everything the group has achieved, they decided to put on the brakes. What will the future bring for them?
There’s nothing planned right now. We don’t even know if we’ll return to music. The idea is to give ourselves some time, enjoy other aspects of life and think. The lives of the band members have changed a lot over time. There are those who have children and have to give up many things for the group. That’s why we believe it’s time to take a break and meditate.
Is it mentally exhausting to keep a band going for so long?
It is tiring like any job. The thing is that working in a group has mechanisms that are very difficult to coordinate. It is also a job that we combine with other jobs. During the week we spend the day working and when the weekend comes we have to travel to play anywhere. And it’s so hard, there are times when you can’t see your family or be with your friends. You have to give up a lot of things and you don’t want to, it wears you out. You don’t have time to stop and think about it in that moment, but when you actually make the decision to stop is when you think about how good disconnecting could be for you.
They close out a stage with a nomination in the Best Fusion and Mix Album category at the Carles Santos Awards. Could this award be a good ending for the project?
Certainly. Being valued for the work you do is a great thing to be thankful for. We don’t work to get rewards, but if they give them to you, it’s a luxury. I think music in Valencia has developed a lot in recent years and awards like Carles Santos show the diversity we have and describe very well the musical panorama in Valencia.
Do you think they inspired other artists who came to this music scene later?
I don’t know, but we hope we can help in some way. Also look, now that we’re talking about awards, this Saturday they gave us the El Tempir award; among other reasons, for the use and promotion of the language, as well as being a reference group for subsequent generations of artists. It’s nice to see that you can stand still but other musicians will come after you and reap what you sow.
Are they aware of this inside?
I do not think so. When it comes to doing things, you don’t do it thinking about what you can contribute to those who come after you. Damn, that would be too ambitious. We do things the way we feel inside, and it is very satisfying to be rewarded for it, without even thinking about it. Moreover, this award I mentioned, El Tempir, is an award far beyond the musical part. This is to show that what we do in our facilities creates an impact on a social level beyond the purely artistic level.