This 2022 marks 30 years in the music world. how do you celebrate
The artist does not chase ephemera or anniversaries. The milestone slipped by unnoticed until a friend reminded him that three decades have passed since his first album, La luz que sabe robar. From the start, the musician has felt as if he were older than his years, and yet the passage of time feels impressive because it represents a long, fruitful journey. Rather than dwelling on the past, he embraces the present with gratitude. He finds joy in making new music. He has never sought out a chart-topping hit and has rarely re-recorded material; instead, he has explored rare songs, B-sides, a duo album, and experimental projects. Celebration for him means continued creation and staying present in the moment.
Walk or explode or in your case walk and reinvent. What does experimentation, which is a constant in all your sound work, mean to you?
Walking becomes a metaphor for rediscovery and growth. Experimentation is a core process of life, a dynamic balance that stays in motion. Trying new things prevents life and creativity from going on autopilot, which would dull any artistic sense. It is about testing the edges, listening to responses, and acting on what is learned.
I’d be shocked if I didn’t ask what he’s prepared for Mallorca.
A carefully chosen team of six performers—three men and three women—will take the stage. For the first time the project will be led by someone who has assembled an equal gender balance onstage, reflecting the audience’s demographics. It is a personal and artistic experiment, a new lens for the music, tours, and collaborations. Meritxell Neddermann from Barcelona plays keyboard; Alana Sinkëy from Guinea-Bissau contributes vocals and percussion; Myriam Latrece from Madrid adds vocals and percussion; Javier Calequi from Buenos Aires handles guitar and vocals; Carles Campón from Barcelona operates electric bass and programming; and Borja Barrueta from Bilbao, who has played with the artist for 17 years, anchors the drums. Each musician also maintains a thriving solo career, which makes the partnership feel especially privileged.
Do the public need to come prepared to the dance?
The concert concludes with the audience still rising from their seats, a tradition that has persisted. Fans are encouraged to bring their dancing shoes because dance is a fundamental expression that engages multiple brain functions. Across various cultures, people dance from childhood, whether in kitchens, through conversations, or during celebrations. Dancing connects mind and body and fosters social connection. The artist speaks from a personal history, recalling a time when dance was scarce due to social constraints, and he recognizes how breaking that block has shaped his physicality and artistry.
His concert will take place at the old Calvià Aquapark, where he won his victory a few weeks ago. C. TanganaBefore more than 25,000 people. What do you admire about the man from Madrid with whom he had several collaborations? Touching you?
The musician admires C. Tangana for his songwriting and the clear aesthetic vision that envelops his work, from costumes to video clips and stage presentation. The artist even notes that his own son, Pablo, joined Tangana on keyboard during some performances. Tangana represents the essence of rap with a strong rhythmic flow and often yields compelling melodies. Collaborating with him has been a meaningful learning experience that broadened the artist’s perspective.
Unlike many people who are not interested in urban music, you are an advocate of trap and reggaeton.
If someone doubts urban music, they should witness a setting where people listen with open ears and let themselves move. Every generation has its own way of expressing and dancing. The artist especially appreciates the early reggaeton rhythms and Bad Bunny’s latest work, which illustrate how the heartbeat of rhythm travels across regions. The core pattern remains potent, capable of moving hips and evoking a sensual response.
Have you ever felt idolized?
There are moments when others treat him like an idol, yet he works to minimize that dynamic. He does not seek adoration nor foster fan club culture, believing that idolization can flatten a person. He cites Caetano Veloso and Antonio Escohotado as reminders that proximity to someone reveals complexity rather than simplicity.
Who was your last hero?
Antonio Escohotado stands out as a hero for his fearless intellect and devotion to freedom. The artist visited him in Ibiza shortly before Escohotado passed away, and he recalls him as a remarkable mind who read intensely and lived with a relentless work ethic.
Why did you choose the terms? ink and time to name your last job?
There are three titles in total. The third appears on the album cover, on stage, and on the blank page. Ink and time refer to the act of writing songs. The artist sings about leaving marks in writing rather than carving them into stone. He cautions against self-idolatry and argues that songs emerge when not forced. He loves writing and has practiced it for many years, but he cannot control the moment of inspiration or the weight of a career. He echoes Leonard Cohen about letting love be free and accepting that control is an illusion. In the end, humans are chaotic, and navigating that chaos is part of the craft.”