Vetusta Morla recently returned from Mexico and is preparing a Valencia stop for the new album tour, Cable a Tierra. In a phone conversation with Levante-EMV, the band’s drummer David García, known by the nickname El Indio, said they had crafted a super special concert. They’ve woven elements that have sparked interest in recent years into the live experience. The plan includes a folk or popular orchestra of six musicians for the tour, and a stage landscape that mirrors the album’s art. García believes the result will be something truly memorable.
I could see it in networks that use everyday materials as tools.
That is exactly the spirit of this small folk orchestra. They play a variety of instruments, some traditional and linked to Iberian Peninsula customs that many listeners might not fully know, even if their grandparents practiced them generations ago. Everyday items—like spoons, jars, a sieve for wheat, or a large paprika tin—are repurposed as percussion. These distinct sounds will resonate during the concerts, giving the audience a tactile, almost ceremonial, listening experience.
How did they come to this union?
A few years back, the band began to foreground music that generations of city dwellers may have overlooked because it traces to rural roots. It was music that evoked moments of hardship or sorrow tied to past eras. Now, they approach these associations with a freer, more natural sensibility, highlighting the positive and intriguing facets they contain. They discovered new instruments and continually create with fresh materials. They started meeting musicians from this milieu, formed friendships, and invited them to collaborate on the first single, Finisterre. The collaboration sparked a desire to bring this sound to the stage on tour.
What do they want to convey in Cable a Tierra?
The songs illuminate the experiences of their creators. As the album unfolds and takes shape, the band gains clearer insight into the topics discussed and the artistic direction they want to pursue. Artistically, they aimed to introduce traditional musical elements reinterpreted through their lens, and lyrically, the album reflects moments related to the circumstances that unfold. There are reflections on human fragility during peaceful times, and on events that remind listeners how quickly life can change. The work also grapples with generational shifts and the tensions that arise when one generation steps aside in favor of another. The band offers its own perspective on these situations.
The album is accompanied by a three-episode video series. What does that mean?
This audiovisual project grew from a long-held ambition to create more than a single video clip. During the album’s development, the idea arose to produce a trilogy around the most representative songs. Patrick Knot, a filmmaker, collaborated to craft a narrative that threads through all three clips. A striking piece called Matría has already been released, featuring the songs Virgin of Humanity, Puñalada traper(a) and Corazón de lava. The band is pleased with the result, noting that the visuals align precisely with the music and enhance the storytelling power of the music itself.
In addition, Latin America hosted dates in European capitals such as Amsterdam and Paris for this tour. Is it challenging to bring audiences who do not speak the language into the live experience?
Indeed, much of their audience is Spanish-speaking. Some listeners are Spaniards living abroad following the 2008 financial crisis who relocated for work, while others are Spaniards traveling from Spain to see them in smaller venues. Touring these cities presents logistical challenges, but the experience remains highly rewarding for both the band and fans who connect deeply with the music across borders.
As Cable a Tierra approaches its conclusion, the question of what lies ahead for Vetusta Morla is raised. Will there be more years of music filled with new songs?
The band member smiles at the thought and replies that as long as there is the desire to create, they will keep pushing forward. The creative impulse is a constant fuel for them.
For now, is there a new project on the horizon?
Creativity never rests. The group notes that ideas are always floating around. While albums often define the peak, there are moments when certain songs don’t fit on an album but remain compelling. There are always tunes in a drawer—ideas that deserve to be explored later, and the team keeps them ready for the right moment.