“The Bilbao concert in Aste Nagusia is already one of the most important of our entire lives”
Between the high of his massive concert in Aste Nagusia, the most massive of Bilbao’s parties, a short vacation and the recording of his next disco. This is how it is Inigo Etxezarretathe composer, guitarist, singer and leader of In Tol Sarmiento (ETS), that he considers his recital in the Biscayan capital to be unforgettable, which brought together more than 15,000 people in the Europa Park in Bilbao. “He is already one of the most important in our lives. It was the final touch to years of paving the way in Bizkaia, a real gift”, indicates the musician from Alava in this interview.
On Saturday they performed in Iparralde, in Milafranga, but I don’t know if it fits with the rush of the concert on Friday in Bilbao, on the Big Day of their festivities.
We knew that it would be one of our most important concerts of the year, but given the repercussion achieved, it could be said that it is one of the most important of our entire lives. And not only because of all the people who attended, but because of what it meant as the final touch to all these years of paving the way in Bizkaia. It has been like a gift.
In Bizkaia they have always been treated very well.
Yes, it has always been a special land, fertile for the group. It was the first herrialde in which we began to make ourselves known in 2012, a decade ago. The previous seven years we barely left Rioja Alavesa until we made the leap to Bizkaia. What I don’t know is the reason, if it’s because you have more movement or because our label, Baga Biga, is from there. The truth is that we have always felt very pampered in the herrialde and in our concerts they dance more than in other places.
They have gone down in history by starring in the concert with the most public of the festivities. Proud?
Joe… imagine. Sometimes you are not aware of these things. We do see the numbers and we know that the group is very powerful lately, both live and on records and that the tour in theaters also went very well, but to be told that ours was the most massive party concert is amazing. We had already played in Aste Nagusia before, but in txosnas, and in Bilbo we didn’t control the spaces. For example, we didn’t know if it was better to play in Abandoibarra or in Parque Europa. The latter was a gamble because it is far from the city center.
And the stage has some vision and sound problem because of so many trees.
We saw that, yes. That was the feedback we received. We knew that part of the public still had trouble seeing and hearing, that it was not going to be in the best way. And that there was investment in equipment, but there were a lot of people. We did not see the end of the crowd.
The City Council estimated the attendance at 14,000 people, but the general opinion is that there was much more.
I don’t understand much of these scales, but I don’t think it’s the most important thing either, rather the taste in our mouths; It was very good and days later the social networks are still fuming. Now it’s our turn to stop and we’re going to remember this concert all year, we’d say all our lives. And more after these last and hard years. It has been like a gift that we greatly appreciate.
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In any case, the delivery is guaranteed with ETS, regardless of the capacity of the concert. He told me once: “we are a group of director, town and party”. And now, also capital.
We come from Rioja Alavesa, from Yekora, although some members live in other places, and yes, at first they told us that we came from a town and that we played there. Today, it seems important to be able to play in venues and festivals, but we don’t deny the circuit we’ve done all these years and where we’ve been treated very well. People have made us great, that’s what makes you grow; in our case, little by little. In Euskal Herria there is a very important circuit of town and city festivals; They are the ones that make it possible for us to live from this today. You have to value it.
Is ETS already a totally professional group? Before, they had other day jobs.
I only live from music. I am the person who coordinates, composes and leads the gear behind the group. The rest of the components continue with other works.
What do you see when you look back 17 years in the rearview mirror? The leap is undeniable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Do you feel some vertigo?
No vertigo, it has been a natural progression. It is true that there was a very strong change from 2011 to 2012, with the first album. There I did feel dizzy, but after all it was progressive, which has helped us to have our feet on the ground and a strong and quality structure, totally professional. There is a powerful base already. On the contrary, I believe that whoever goes up very fast has the same chance of going down.
Are they still so self-critical? They recently denied being in the First Division
Now yes, we cannot deny it (laughs). We never expected so many people to listen to us. And we were self-critical because most of us are not professional and conservatory musicians, and there is a high technical level of performance in Euskal Herria. We try to do the best we can with responsibility and humility, but we are not the best musicians. Another thing is that the songs I compose, especially the melodies, which are the strong base of the band, reach thousands of people. They are two different worlds. Some tell us that we have found the key, but we only make the music that we like. If it coincides that thousands of people like it, perfect.
They are always associated with the world of ska and rock, but they also sound very pop.
You are right, especially in the melodic lines. And with the new album that we’re preparing now, in which we’re moving away from what we’ve done for so many years, that more pop base is coming to the fore by taking away some of the guitar distortions and fast rhythms. It must be said that we are a very pop group, and without any complex. That’s why so many people like us. And it is a music that we hear, and more with a certain age and an evolution on top. There is no need to be afraid or complex to say that you are popper. The important thing is that we and the people enjoy the music, no matter the styles.
What can advance the new album? Does it incorporate less reggae, ska and rock?
There won’t be any more ballads, but it will be a quieter and more careful album. It will be a tribute to popular music and the towns, to street life and their festivals. the first album that we will deal with, from a production point of view, without looking back, where we came from and without thinking so much if people will like it or not. I’ve focused a lot on the songs and if you want to be honest, I’m hoping that people will notice. It’s about doing what comes out of you and not what we’ve done sometimes, bringing songs that weren’t rock or ska to those lands because it was our style. You have to be able to make the songs with the style and melody that they ask of you, and the album adapts to new styles.
Do you have a date?
We will go with the advance songs from September. It has had a title for a year and a half, which I gave some hint about at the Bilbo concert (laughs). Who will not be is Pello Reparaz to the production, since he is very involved with ZETAK. We collaborate with Genis Trani, who has worked with Green Valley and Buhos. The recording has not finished at all. It should be more advanced because it will be edited for the Durango Azoka. The other day I recorded the voice here, part of the work is done in Barcelona… It’s going to be very heterogeneous in that sense.
The latest is a very positive album, marked by calls to enjoy life and take advantage of new opportunities that come along the way. A vision like this is needed in the face of all kinds of dramas that plague us lately, don’t you think?
I think so. In fact, Zurekin Batera, which was released after the last album, came from a fairly negative emotion like confinement and we looked for a positive point to offer a point of hope. About Aukera berriak, some have told us that it seemed prescient, since then the pandemic came and we all had to reinvent ourselves after it. The main concept of the future album will be different, but there will continue to be a light of hope. I anticipate that there is a sad song, very sad, but the rest has a positive point.
Will your last two hits: ‘Zurekin batera’ and ‘Sumendiak’, be on the new album?
Good question (laughs). We have been thinking about this for many months. It will have between 8 and 10 new songs, and the question is whether to include those two recently released songs. The album is marked by the most recent reality that we have experienced and although it does not speak of a pandemic, its germ or first idea may be in Zurekin drummer. And I think people would value that song and Sumendiak, which are two of the ones that are being listened to the most, could be in a physical format. Therefore, in principle, they will go.