Catalan music to shine at Primavera Sound

16 May 2024, 11:30

(dani6ixix & IZZKID) (LLUM) (Mar Pujol) (Primavera Pro)

A dozen artists from across the vibrant musical ecosystem of Catalonia will perform at this year’s Primavera Sound, rounding off the festival’s outstanding line-up - among them rising stars Llum, Mar Pujol and dani6ixix & IZZKID.

Catalan music’s place in the international scene is stronger than ever with the last decade producing some global superstars in the likes of Rosalía. This year Primavera Sound will present some of the region’s most exciting new talents of the last few years alongside the stars of tomorrow.

Pop, soul and lo-fi folk from one of the most relevant masterminds of Catalan contemporary music are represented by Ferran Palau, with new album Plora aquí. Guillem Gisbert - singer with the band Manel - is among the best Catalan pop lyricists and brings his first solo collection of work Balla la masurca! to the stage at Primavera Sound. Updating their observational pop with urban reflections and R&B transparencies, Renaldo & Clara's La boca aigua is full of charm, exquisite pop and delicate irony.

19-year-old Mushkaa has become one of the most relevant voices in the new wave of Catalan urban music with her recent mixtape Sexy Sensible – mixing dancehall, hyperpop, reggaeton with violins, piano ballads and more. Bedroom pop artist Ariox has earned an overnight following for her delicate and tender songs, and for her incredible debut record Ariox is super sad.

The sound of Girona-born Xebi SF brings together the old and the new and his latest record Hola elefante is full of effects, distortions and alterations of reality to reveal that what we understand as a normal world is anything but normal.

Finally, three artists representing the future potential of Catalan music complete the line up. We meet Llum, Mar Pujol and dani6ixix & IZZKID below to find out more about their place in the Catalan scene, and their hopes for Primavera Sound and beyond. The three artists will also perform at Primavera Pro, Primavera Sound's industry event, on Wednesday 29 May at 6.30pm at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona.

Primavera Pro is supported by Catalan Arts, the Catalan Institute for Cultural Companies’ internationalisation brand, in order to make it a reference event and a curator of the Catalan music industry, while at the same time promoting the Catalan programme at the festival to international professionals.

Mar Pujol

Hailing from Lluçanès in central Catalonia, composer, guitarist and singer Mar Pujol released her debut Cançons de Rebost earlier this year via quality indie label Hidden Track Records. Pujol’s alluring vocal - whispered, earthy and full of emotion - comes together on her music with minimal but space-filling instrumentation to create songs that speak both of everyday life and more transcendental events with poetic insight.

How she describes her music

Maybe like a voice recording. The sound of home or wood. Music to appreciate silence and pause.

How her career begin

It started when I was little and my father would play the guitar and sing songs. He encouraged me to compose our own songs. I think this is the root of my passion for music. One of the events that also marks the beginning of this project is when, during my university years, I decided to share my own songs and covers while busking on the streets (and eventually on stages) of different cities of Europe.

Her influences

Magalí Datzira, Kris Tena, Marala, Xarim Aresté, Anna Andreu, Silvia Perez Cruz, Maria Arnal, Adrianne Lenker, Nathalie Jane Hill, Jessica Pratt…

Her thoughts on the current state of Catalan music

I am deeply touched by projects that are created from the heart and that center their work on poetry. I think Tarta Relena are a good example of transgressive catalan music. They come from tradition but dress for today, almost like a fancy dress, but elegant at the same time. For me their art is sublime because they are able to invoke ancient souls with very few elements.

What can we expect from her performance at Primavera Sound

Nothing that is not from this world. You will actually find everything that's real here, a home, a warm fire, a forest, the small and quiet act of peeling a potato, and silence.

LLUM

Barcelona-born artist, composer and performer LLUM found her voice after taking part in TV3 talent show Eufòria and revealed a vast artistic vision across two conceptual EPs. They showcase a singular vision for her mixture of art-pop, dark techno and breakcore – and reveal one of the region’s most fascinating contemporary voices in experimental sounds.

How she describes her music

As a cinematic experience. I like to imagine my songs as little scenes or short films, where there's a progression of characters and a sense of storytelling. I think that allows me to imagine EPs and albums that feel like complete movies. Also my music is primarily pop, but I bring elements from classic productions or unexpected genres and styles, always aiming to tie a conceptual thread that glamourizes all tracks together to become and grow a self style.

How her career begin

I think it started shaping when I was studying musical theatre while also teaching myself music production during the pandemic. After that experience on Eufòria, I felt validated and empowered to turn all the drafts, verses, songs, and ideas I had worked on after the show into my debut project NO LIGHT WITHOUT DARKNESS.

Her influences

Most of the artists who have influenced me aren't from Spain, but I've got some local inspirations too: Las Bistecs has inspired me in an anti-establishment vibe and non-academic way, while Bad Gyal has been an example of how to navigate the industry and approach an artist's career. Rosalía has shaped my musical direction with his whole 360-degree vision thing going on, and Camarón de la Isla for his "duende", a term we use to describe the unique magic of his some crafty or vocal performances. Lately, I've been into that European clash-disco sound, so Locomía has been on my playlists.

And beyond Spain, my thing is David Bowie, Chemical Brothers, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Kraftwerk, Charli XCX, Björk… They're legends. Each one has their own flavor, whether it's pushing boundaries, being unapologetically themselves, or just creating just bangers.

Her thoughts on the current state of Catalan music

I'm really excited about what Catalan music is turning out right now. It's evolved a lot over the past year and a half, and the cultural scene is being opened by incredible personalities. Really exited about artists like Marina Herlop, Tarta Relena and also for some of my close friends who are on the way of becoming icons, like LaFrancesssa and Fades. It's an exciting time to be part of this boiling point.

What can we expect from her performance at Primavera Sound

You can expect all the unexpected from my show. As a pop girl, I bring solo performance, high-energy moves, bold style, and an ethereal yet visceral jazz. For me, being on stage is like being back on the playground; I just let loose, have a blast, and connect with the audience.You can also expect a little hotness, and not just because of the summer in Barcelona :)

dani6ix & IZZKID

dani6ix & IZZKID hit it big with "Van Gogh", which went to the top of Spotify's most viral tracks, and led into last year's debut mini-album Stem Vius. Their sound redefines the contours of Catalan pop with a distinctive and contemporary touch – and covering themes such as friendship, love and human relationships and youth.

How they describe their music

We consider the music of dani6ix & IZZKID to always be authentic, speaking about what surrounds us, what we feel, or what we have experienced at some point, always striving to sound with our own style and a freshness that identifies us. We believe that the energy perceived by the listener is very important and that they can relate to our lyrics.

How their career begin

It might sound cliché, but since we were very young, we have been surrounded by music, whether it was what our families played at home, playing an instrument, or simply because we've always enjoyed having headphones on and spending hours listening to different artists and genres, sharing music with our friends. In 2018, together with another friend, we decided to officially start what was a group project that lasted about 3 years. After this and spending some time apart, we reunited musically in 2023 in the current project forming the group "dani6ix & IZZKID."

Their influences

This question is always difficult to answer. In the end, we could say that we have had a lot of admiration for all the movement happening in the United States and Canada, from more underground things to globally influential artists like Drake, Kanye, Frank Ocean, PartNextDoor, etc. In our first project, this was reflected, but today we have focused on finding another sound that fits where we are, which is where reggaeton and different experimental rhythms appear, but without neglecting our touch. Feid or Rels B could be great examples of artists who have influenced us, and then artists like Raul Clyde, Leïti, Polima, Rojuu, etc.; and we could name a large number of people who have inspired us in some way for a long time.

Their thoughts on the current state of Catalan music

It's incredible to see how Catalan music grows every passing day. The perception of this type of music has changed, and fresh air has entered its surroundings, with new genres and different proposals approaching the urban scene that was not known here in Catalonia. It's a very good time for Catalan music, and we're excited to see that people are so eager for it to grow.

The Tyets have reached numbers that seemed unattainable by doing certain styles in Catalan and are marking a new generation. Artists like Mushkaa and Julieta are also reaching across huge borders and reaching people who don't live in Catalonia. Flashy Ice Cream has shown that you can fuse Catalan with Argentinean and it sounds perfect. And like them, there are great projects here at home that are changing the perception of what Catalan music was.

What can we expect from their performance at Primavera Sound

As always, good vibes, naturalness, and connection with whoever is watching/listening to us. We are very grateful for the opportunity you have given us, and we are looking forward to the 29th.