Discovering the best in Catalan music at Primavera Pro
Primavera Pro — the industry-focused counterpart to Barcelona’s iconic Primavera Sound festival — will showcase artists shaping the sound of Catalan music this June at a series of free shows.
From the haunting melodies of traditional havaneres to the cutting-edge beats of indie and electronica, Catalonia’s vibrant musical heritage continues to inspire and innovate. This year, four of the region's most exciting talents will perform on the opening day of Primavera Pro, taking their place alongside artists from Austria, Luxembourg, Wales and Korea: GUINEU, xicu, okdw and Remei de Ca la Fresca.
GUINEU
GUINEU is known for her signature "#cuquitrash" style—a mix of sweet melodies, riot girl energy, and dark, melancholic undertones. She first gained attention with Putu Any, a 2020 pandemic-era hit and earned a Cerverí nomination for best Catalan lyrics. After winning over crowds at Primavera Sound 2022, she returns with her irresistibly raw and intimate sound to showcase at Primavera Pro.
How she describes her music
Honestly, I have no idea how it feels from the outside, but from the inside, my music feels like a soundtrack that follows you everywhere. I like to think that in a single song, I can express all the shades of our existence—joy, excitement, the thrill of being alive, but also fear of the future, nostalgia, and the constant doubt of whether we’re making the right choices. I hope that when someone listens to GUINEU, beyond understanding the lyrics, the melodies alone can make them feel multiple emotions at once—like a warm embrace that encourages them to keep pushing forward, whatever their personal struggle may be. But honestly, I’d love to ask someone who’s hearing my music for the first time what they think!
Her origins
Even though GUINEU was born around 2019-2020, I’ve been writing, playing, and releasing music since 2010. I was 16 when I first stepped onto a stage. Since then, I’ve gone from being a solo singer-songwriter to playing in various punk rock bands. I grew up surrounded by all kinds of music, but punk rock, indie, and pop have always been my biggest influences.
Her influences
Right now, apart from the classics that have always been with me, I’d say Alvvays is one of my biggest influences—or at least one of the bands I listen to the most! But my influences go way back.
Music has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid, thanks to my brother and my father, who are both drummers. Because of them, I grew up listening to bands like NOFX, Weezer, Rancid, Bad Religion, New Found Glory, and No Use For A Name. At the same time, I had my own pop idols—Avril Lavigne, No Doubt, Britney Spears, P!nk, Natasha Bedingfield, and so many more from the ’90s and 2000s. I think all these artists have left a massive mark on me, and you can probably hear their influence in my music in one way or another.
Her thoughts on the music scene in Catalonia
The music scene in Catalonia right now feels quite far from what I do (or maybe it’s the other way around—I’m the one who’s completely outside of what’s trending in Catalan music right now!). There are some amazing artists embracing current aesthetics and sounds, and I truly admire their work. But at the same time, there aren’t many Catalan-speaking artists that I feel I sonically fit in with. If I had to name someone, I’d say Angeladorrrm, but they have a very defined shoegaze sound, while I lean much more toward pop. So yeah, I do feel a bit lonely in that sense!
On her upcoming performance at the Primavera Pro showcase
Even though it’s a short set, it’s one of the most important shows I’ve played in a long time because it’ll be my first in a brand-new live format. Until now, I’ve always performed with a full band, but I’m now switching to a more stripped-down setup that allows me to explore different aspects of having a music project while also creating a different kind of show. I’ll be playing a few new songs from my upcoming release, and we’ll also be debuting some visuals—so yeah, everything will be brand new! I’m super nervous to see if the audience connects with it… I really hope they do!
xicu
A rising force in the Catalan scene, Xicu is known for his philosophy that pain fuels growth, as reflected in his collaboration with Maria Hein on "No és real si no fa mal" from the album Sacrificis. Blending experimental pop, urban sounds, and distortion, his his innovative and emotionally raw sound defies conventions.
How he describes his music
I think if there’s one thing all my songs have in common, it’s that they’re always full of emotion. I try to fill the music with little details and sensitivity, blending very pop and simple harmonies with distorted samples or 808s.
His origins
Music has always felt like a safe space for me, ever since I was a kid. I started the typical band with some friends when we were 12, and from there I never really stopped playing or producing with people until I launched my solo project in 2019.
His influences
When I was younger, I was really moved by Coldplay’s pop harmonies—they hit me on an emotional level. Later on, I discovered the world of sampling through artists like The Prodigy and Kanye West, and it instantly clicked with me. More recently, I’ve been deeply inspired by artists like Frank Ocean, Playboi Carti or 070 Shake.
His thoughts on the music scene in Catalonia
I feel like the Catalan music scene is missing artists who are honest and actually have something to say. There’s a lack of punch. Especially in the mainstream scene—which, at the end of the day, is the one that takes up most of the space at festivals and town celebrations. Not many artists in Catalan really inspire me, but I’ve definitely been influenced by Manel, Socunbohemio, Pawn Gang, and Sr. Barabi.
On his upcoming performance at the Primavera Pro showcase
I think I’m gonna go for a high-energy, powerful show. I’m really excited to show the beats I’ve been working on these past few months. Clipped 808s with melodic synths and some live guitars and cello. I love that stuff.
okdw
Pronounced "ok-deu", okdw is the dynamic musical project of Virts Martos, fusing hip-hop, R&B, soul, and pop a way rarely heard in the Catalan scene. She first turned heads with Gatzara, an infectious track sampling Chaka Demus & Pliers’ Murder She Wrote and showcasing her knack for blending nostalgic beats with modern flair. Playful and bold, her music videos — like Només Amigues, which cheekily nods to La Isla de las Tentaciones — highlight her charismatic, genre-defying style.
Her origins
Pedro Campos (producer also known as Peter Party) and I studied music together. I called Peter to do a song together, and since the connection was so strong, we decided to do a whole album. The album was 08880, our first release with the label Hidden Track Records.
Her influences
We do have a lot of influences, all coming from the United States. The Internet, Bruno Mars and Tyler the Creator are some of our favorite artists that we draw inspiration from.
Her thoughts on the music scene in Catalonia
We are trying to create a new wave in the Catalan scene since there has not been a proper R&B act made in Catalonia until now. We do support artists like Galgo Lento, Ferran Palau and Filipin Yess for crafting a different and personal kind of pop music.
On her upcoming performance at the Primavera Pro showcase
There will be lots of energy onstage! From our previous concerts, people say that we do have an electric feel that makes you wanna dance. Let’s see what happens :)
Remei de Ca la Fresca
Remei de Ca la Fresca is a four-piece band from Arbúcies known for their poetic intensity and genre-blending fusion of classic and experimental rock. Their politically charged collaboration with Lebanese-Palestinian poet Rafeef Ziadah, Tots els tons de la ràbia, saw them merge music with activism, while their second album, L’ham de la pregunta, explored existential uncertainty through raw emotion and lyrical depth — even drawing inspiration from a poem by Maria Callís Cabrera that shaped the album’s hook motif.
How they describe their music?
As a weapon of mass destruction
On their origins
We are from Arbúcies and our town was being taken by big companies who were threating our homes by polluting the mountain and stealing the water. So we had to organise ourselves as an ecoterrorist group to defend the wild life and our collective properties vs. their private ones. We started listening the tree's complains and the insect's demands and with all this power in our hands, we started to play against all your criminal businesses.
Their influences?
Triana, Rage against the machine, Caterina Albert and Godai Garcia
Her thoughts on the music scene in Catalonia
We think we should make Catalunya anarchist again and we need more people involved in such a beautiful task. Definitely, we need more musicians as Mar Pujol, Carpa Negra or Minibús Intergal·làctic.
On what to expect from their upcoming performance at the Primavera Pro showcase
Respect existence or expect resistance.
GUINEU, xicu, okdw and Remei de Ca la Fresca perform on 4 June at Primavera Pro – as part of Primavera a la Ciutat – at the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB). Find out more at primaverasound.com/en/primavera-pro.
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