Nach a Pop: A Modern Look at the Spanish Icon’s Comeback
Nacha Pop remains relevant well into today’s music landscape. Over the past five years, even amid a global pandemic, the band released a compilation featuring their most beloved songs, including The Girl from Yesterday and other tracks that helped define their sound. They published a memoir titled No, I Won’t Forget and issued a fresh studio project, Sudden Impact (2017). While Antonio Vega, a central pillar of the group, is no longer with them, the duo’s vitality continues. Vega’s absence has never meant a retreat to the past; the act moved forward with purpose. A notable reunion occurred in 2007 when the two cousins behind the project reconnected during a tour that proved highly successful and was documented in Reiniciando. They toured again in 2013, continuing to evolve even though Vega was not the author of Yesterday’s Girl. In the wake of recent health challenges, the band pressed on, returning to the stage with renewed resolve. The present interview with Nacho García Vegas precedes a performance in Caravaca as part of the Power Pop tour, scheduled for Saturday.
How would one describe the return to Murcian soil?
The mood is one of joy and anticipation. The group looks forward to returning to Murcia, with plans for what might be the final or near-final show of the season in Caravaca. They played almost thirty concerts across Spain this year, and the experience again underscored the endurance of a public that continues to connect with songs from the eighties while embracing a contemporary edge that keeps the music fresh.
How is the leg injury faring after the Chamartín show? Is a cast involved?
There is no cast, though movement is limited. The artist can bend the leg but must rely on a stool for part of the performance. The spirit remains, even if the physical constraints make the show feel distinctly different from the usual high-energy presentations. The aim is to deliver a powerful performance while acknowledging the new circumstances, and the audience understands the constraints without diminishing the experience.
The immediate comeback occurred roughly thirty years after the release of Nacha Pop’s last album. Was the return planned or spontaneous?
The revival was both spontaneous and conditional. When the split happened in 1988, it was clear the partnership would endure in some form. Breakups often stem from personal or professional rifts, but in this case, the split was neither dramatic nor permanent. The 2007 reunion came with a renewed enthusiasm to expand beyond live shows to new recordings, acknowledging Antonio Vega’s enduring influence even in his absence. The decision to carry the project forward was one of the most meaningful moves in the artist’s life, a tribute to the original spirit while embracing a broader musical horizon. The presence of Vega remains in the music and in the soul of the performances, a testament to the enduring bond of the catalog. A track titled Do Me a Favor, recorded by Vega before his passing, was integrated into the live sets, sometimes feeling as if he himself were guiding the performance. The shared history sits at the heart of every concert, a landscape that feels almost tactile to listeners and critics alike.
The launch single Your Best Moment during Nacha Pop’s return carried a message of optimism. Was the song addressing a specific audience?
The message targets a generation. In the 1980s, many were navigating young adulthood with a growing sense of self and purpose. The track speaks to that evolving confidence, inviting listeners to trust in their paths as they move forward into the next decades. It emphasizes health, balance, and the power of perseverance, urging people not to surrender to doubt. The song serves as a tribute to everyone who has built resilience across different life chapters.
With roughly two and a half million streams for Nacha Pop, the catalog sits comfortably in the current streaming era. What keeps the music resonant amid urban trends and reggaeton?
Eighties music carries a magnetic pull—its spontaneity, directness, and unfiltered energy offer an immediate spark. Nacha Pop maintains a musical sensibility that remains accessible, avoiding over-nostalgia while preserving the core vitality of their sound. The band’s emphasis on musicality and a timeless spirit helps the songs endure, ensuring that the performance style and attitude still land with audiences today, whether in Madrid’s revival scene or in the broader international circuit.
Is it challenging to stay aligned with contemporary trends?
The adjustment feels natural. The band continues to lean into rock and roll’s raw energy, a mode that translates across generations. While the leg injury has altered some aspects of touring, the commitment to delivering a vigorous, spirited show remains intact. The focus is on channeling power and emotion into every performance, honoring the music while embracing the present moment.
Nacha Pop’s second act shows no signs of winding down.
The enthusiasm is contagious. On stage, the group thrives on mutual joy, and that energy has spurred a creative wave in the studio. Several songs are already near completion, with more in advanced stages of development. The band is revisiting catalog material with fresh ears, while new pieces echo the same rebellious spark that defined their early days. The dynamics on stage resemble a living organism, with the audience feeding the momentum and the performers feeding back into it. The team compares the current mood to legendary touring outfits that never lose their stride, underscoring a simple truth: when a band loves what it does, the audience can feel it and responds in kind.
How is the focus on the repertoire managed today?
The setlist balances nostalgia with discovery. The eight or nine most iconic tracks remain permanent anchors, ensuring a familiar foundation for long-time fans. The rest of the program features B-sides from the 80s, plus a few rare cuts and perhaps occasional remixes. The approach keeps live shows vibrant without sacrificing the authenticity that defined Nacha Pop’s appeal from the start.
What does Nacha Pop mean today after Antonio Vega’s departure in 2009?
The loss remains deeply felt, and it never fully leaves. Vega’s absence adds a layer of poignancy, yet the band’s identity endures. Continuing with Nacho García Vegas at the helm, the project maintains its original spirit while expanding into new territories. The live experience remains a tribute to what the group started, and audiences leave convinced that Nacha Pop still matters. Since taking on leadership in 2014, the performer has faced questions about the legitimacy of the act without Vega—but the concerts and the repertoire have repeatedly proven the doubt unfounded. Nearly two hundred live shows across Spain and Mexico have reinforced the idea that Nacha Pop remains an authentic, ongoing chapter in Spanish rock, with a clear sense of purpose and a faithful following.