After a period away from the spotlight, Pig Voice embarked on a national tour last spring, presenting their 2021 album Diversión, in which the band reflects on the experiences of that time and the drive to pursue dreams and goals despite the passing of time. The Madrid group closed the year with a fresh release, a new single crafted by Álvaro Benito. The pop-rock track, titled Motor, carries the band’s signature sound and connects with earlier hits such as Nothing to Lose, I understand you, and I’m sick, alongside lines like I don’t care, Nothing can save you, and I’m staying in hell.
Pig Voice first gained widespread recognition when Nothing to Lose appeared on the soundtrack of the TV drama Los hombres de Paco. The success propelled them into a recording deal with Warner DRO, yielding the album Television Announced in 2006, which achieved Platinum status. Within eighteen months, the band performed more than 170 concerts across Spain, establishing themselves as a major live act.
Pignoise is led by Álvaro Benito, a former Real Madrid player who serves as vocalist and guitarist. He is regarded as a standout member of the Merengue collective academy, a footballer who began his career during the Valdano era and who faced a turning point following an injury.
Is Pignoise entering a new phase? What continues to drive so many fans today?
When the band returned to activity after a roughly six-year break, they noticed a surge of interest from younger listeners who knew their songs by heart. Time has passed, yet the songs endure long after their first release. The band acknowledges that staying relevant is challenging, especially when much of the music scene shifts rapidly.
Is there a common thread in Pignoise’s entertainment approach?
Facing new professional challenges is tough. The artist’s success can feel like a trap, pushing a person to define themselves through a particular expression and to seek inspiration from a select circle. The aim is to preserve a recognizable style without becoming repetitive. The balance between consistency and innovation remains a continual effort as both the artists and their fans grow. The longer a career lasts, the harder it is to strike that equilibrium.
Pignoise owes part of their breakthrough to Los hombres de Paco, doesn’t it?
The band expresses immense gratitude for the platform that show provided, a exposure they might not have achieved otherwise. The songs resonated with audiences and changed their lives forever.
Was there a sense of leaving football behind or is there still a connection?
Football is a chapter that has closed. At the peak of his career, Benito could imagine how far he might go, but the path took a different turn, and the ceiling remained unknown.
What inspired the release of My Strength to aid those affected by the pandemic crisis?
The band felt a shared sense of helplessness as the crisis unfolded. They saw an opportunity to contribute through their music, choosing to lend a helping hand without overthinking it. The decision came from a desire to offer something meaningful during difficult times.
Pignoise continues to honor its origins while acknowledging age. What is the message in Bones about the passage of time?
The band notes a clear evolution in its lyric writing. Early on, opening up and sharing personal truths was hard. Over time, the focus shifted to capturing what a man of a certain age has seen and felt. As years pass, the weight of the message behind the melody grows stronger.
Two decades ago, their sound drew from California punk-rock giants like Green Day and Blink-182. How does that legacy fit into today’s landscape?
Everyone is a product of their era, and Pignoise is no exception. When they started, the influence of those bands was undeniable. With time, tastes broadened, yet staying true to their own voice remains essential. Bands with strong songs endure, while others fade. Green Day became a global stadium act, and Blink-182 revived momentum with older material—an example of staying relevant by evolving while staying recognizable.
How does it feel to perform classics like I Understand You and There’s Nothing to Lose today?
The band feels proud that these songs have become embedded in listeners’ memory. Even people who aren’t fans know the melodies, which have grown into timeless staples of their catalog.
El Canto del Loco, Pereza, and Pignoise all reference eighties guitar-pop. Do they see themselves in that era? What about La La Love You as an influence?
Though their backgrounds differ, the bands share a broad audience. The cultural barriers often touted by some media outlets do not reflect the public’s experience. Festivals today are diverse, and fans sing indie, pop, and Latin songs with equal enthusiasm. Influence matters, and it excites the group whenever younger acts cite them as a source of inspiration. Time may pass, but the sense of connection endures.
Have radio formats ever constrained Pignoise, and did that limit their career?
The band grew up with a radio landscape that was fairly open and democratic. They listened to Guns N’ Roses, Radio Futura, Michael Jackson, and Depeche Mode, among others. The industry has shifted substantially since then. While being played on every station would have broadened reach, the choice to remain independent has served them well for years, running their own record label for over a decade without external support.
Does Pignoise have a voice that fits nowhere?
Music is an outlet for personal expression, not a quest to fit a predefined mold. The band has never aimed to chase trends. While they have always existed in a minority space in their country, audiences have proven that loyalty and curiosity can overcome such labels when people have the chance to discover them.
Engine, a bold start to the year, signals potential new material. Are there plans for a new album and how will the new songs sound?
There are no immediate plans for a full album of new songs. Ahead of Pignoise’s twentieth anniversary, collaborations will lead to an album released later in the year, followed by a tour. Engine and another as-yet-unreleased track will be released as singles. A substantial collection of material is in the works to enrich live performances.
After a hiatus, what is the sense of this comeback, and what emotions accompany it?
The return feels like entering a cycle of ambition, with a renewed appetite to savor every moment. The audience growth has been a pleasant surprise, and the band believes this comeback could be enduring for the long haul.